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DALLAS -- Republican Gov. Rick Perry defended a school property tax cut passed in a recent special legislative session as substantial, but independent challenger Carole Keeton Strayhorn called it “paltry” in their televised debate Friday.

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The showdown came early in the candidates’ one and only debate this election season and during questioning by a panel of journalists.

“It is indisputable that there is a $15.5 billion property tax reduction over the next three years,” Perry said, noting that he reached out to Democrats and helped pass a plan that also raised teacher pay.

Strayhorn, the state comptroller, blasted the governor in answering a subsequent question. She said teachers still aren’t paid enough and that the governor is misleading the public in television commercials that claim Texans will get an average $2,000 cut.

“We need to tell Texans the truth—it’s a paltry tax cut,” she said repeating her assertion that for most Texans the reduction amounts to only about $52 per year.

Democrat Chris Bell also participated in the debate. Independent Kinky Friedman, a mystery writer and comedian who was dressed in his trademark black outfit and black cowboy hat, got off some of his usual humor lines, including his definition of “politician.”

“‘Poli’ means more than one. ‘Ticks’ are bloodsucking parasites,” Friedman said.

The debate among the four major candidates took place in the Dallas studios of Texas Cable News Inc. and was to be shown in television markets across the state. Libertarian James Werner was not invited to participate.

Some of Perry’s opponents had criticized him for only agreeing to debate on a Friday night, when Texans would be occupied with high school football or other activities. It also was the evening before the big Texas-Oklahoma football game in Dallas.

The challengers were looking to use the debate to gain ground on Perry, who leads in polls and had the most at risk entering the one-hour debate.

Perry took over as governor in 2000 when George W. Bush resigned to become president then was elected to a four-year term in 2002.  If he wins the Nov. 7 election and serves his full term he will become Texas’ longest-serving governor.

Representatives of the campaigns met a few weeks ago and agreed on the debate format and rules. Friedman, a mystery writer and comedian, was allowed to wear his trademark cowboy hat. Independent candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn, notably shorter than the men she’s running against, was permitted to stand on a platform.

KHOU-TV

A panel of Belo Corp. print and television journalists asked questions of the candidates.

11 News anchor Greg Hurst served as moderator.