Despite a disappointing turnout, the three candidates for the seat in the 183rd Legislative District staged a lively debate Saturday morning at Springhouse Middle School, South Whitehall.

Democrat businesswoman Terri Powell and Independent Mike Molovinsky, local activist and blogger, both attempted to draw sharp differences between themselves and longtime incumbent Republican Julie Harhart.

The event was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Northampton County, as the newly redrawn district takes in portions of both Northampton and Lehigh counties.

Among the Northampton County municipalities it includes are Allen Township and the boroughs of North Catasauqua and Northampton.

In Lehigh County it includes Districts 5, 6, 7 and 8 in South Whitehall Township and Districts 7, 10, 11 and 12 in Whitehall Township.

Powell repeatedly tied Harhart to unpopular incumbent Gov. Tom Corbett, saying Harhart has "rubber-stamped every legislative initiative of Corbett's." Powell promised she would not take donations from large corporations, so she would not be beholden to them.

Molovinsky declared, "Harrisburg is broken … paralyzed with partisan politics."

He said he is a candidate for real reform because he has "a history of being a public advocate against special interests."

He pledged to serve only two terms if elected, and criticized Harhart for not fulfilling a similar pledge she made when first running for office (Harhart has served as a state representative since 1995).

Harhart stressed her record of constituent service and helping residents of her district cut through bureaucratic red tape.

All three candidates agreed the charter school system needs reform.

"There is legislation out there" which would address some of the problems, Harhart said.

Molovinsky said charter schools have "turned into de facto segregation."

Powell repeatedly criticized Harhart for not supporting a severance tax on the natural gas industry, which Powell said would help erase the shortfall in state education funding.

She said an 11 percent severance tax would raise more than $1 billion annually.

"Of course there should be a severance tax," Molovinsky agreed, saying revenue from such a tax should be distributed equally throughout the state.

Harhart pointed out she supported the impact fee on the gas companies which pays fees to the municipalities where natural gas drilling is taking place, but Molovinsky called the $225 million raised by that fee "peanuts for the gas industry."

He said fracking is "degrading our environment" because there aren't proper safeguards in place, and expressed skepticism that the Department of Environmental Protection is up to the job.

Harhart responded an Association Press study has found no water pollution as a result of fracking.

In response to a question about addressing the growing amount of student debt to pay for college education, Molovinsky said, "I don't have that much interest in the question," contending in the current higher education system, everyone can find an avenue they can afford.

Powell said she agrees with Mass. Senator Elizabeth Warren that more needs to be done to help make college more affordable.

Harhart said the state has put $1.7 billion into higher education, including $25 million for scholarships.

"I think we are doing everything we can," she said.

All three said the minimum wage should be increased. Harhart said she would support raising it incrementally, but doesn't want to see businesses scale back on employment.

"Raising the minimum wage is the right thing to do," Powell said.

She said studies have shown states which have raised the minimum wage have not seen job losses.