GOFFSTOWN--Both candidates in the state Senate District 18 race agreed that spending and the state budget are the most important issues facing the state.

Doug Kruse (R-Manchester) and state Sen. Betsi DeVries (D-Manchester) participated in their only debate, which was sponsored by Manchester's Mayor's Youth Advisory Council.

"The first and foremost issue facing us is the running spending in Concord," Kruse said. "If we had a roaring economy, which I think we all understand we don't have today, a 17.5 percent spending increase would be unacceptable."

Kruse also said that when voters he meets tells him "they cannot afford to send more of their money to Concord."

DeVries said it was critical for the state government to maintain a balanced budget.

"Maintaining a balanced budget is how we keep the tax burden from rolling to the taxpayers of New Hampshire," DeVries said.

 "If we had a balanced budget we wouldn't be talking about cutting spending," Kruse said.

DeVries responded, "which programs would you cut" and listed a serious of programs that she called, "responsible and essential."

The debate rules prohibited Kruse from following up to DeVries.