Tuesday gave voters their first chance to see all the gubernatorial candidates, Republicans and Democrats, compete for the first time on one stage.

For the most part, they walked away impressed.

Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College students Andrea Smith and Brittany Perry showed up for extra credit at school. They were glad they went.

Perry was pleased with Rep. Nikki Haley, R-Lexington, saying “every time she spoke, I wrote it down.”

Smith called it a great debate and left pleased with what she heard from Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, a Republican.

She was unimpressed, however, with one of Democratic Sen. Robert Ford’s recipes for jobs in South Carolina: building the film industry.

“Everybody in South Carolina is not going to try out for a movie — we want a job,” she said.

The bipartisan debate was broadcast from the OCtech campus Tuesday afternoon. It focused on the state’s natural resources, with candidates presenting their visions for balancing South Carolina’s need for jobs with protecting the environment.

But people say they’re listening for the candidates’ take on other issues before they make a decision.

“We’re fortunate to have good candidates, so I’m trying to put the policy side before the personal side,” said state Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers, a Republican. He was especially listening to see if the candidates mentioned agriculture in their discussions on development.

State Sen. John Matthews, D-Bowman, says the state needs to focus on providing a quality education, jobs and health care.

He says he’s not endorsing anyone yet, and, “At this point I’m just listening to get a feel for the candidates.”

Orangeburg businessman Jim Roquemore said he’s friends with many of the candidates, but “I’m conflicted because there are a lot of good choices.” He helped bring the debate to the auditorium bearing his name.

He went to the debate to hear which candidate strikes the right balance between economic development and protecting natural resources, including protecting the state’s waterways and continuing support for the state’s conservation bank.

Several of the local politicians on hand say they’re not ready to make endorsements. It’s too early in the process.

Orangeburg County Sheriff Larry Williams called himself “a bipartisan listener” who was impressed with all the candidates.

“I want to commend all of them. They all did a good job,” the Democrat said.

With Democrats and Republicans sharing the stage, state Rep. Jerry Govan said he thinks South Carolinians may be willing to look beyond the Republican Party for the governor’s race.

“If the Democrats can sharpen their message and articulate the needs and concerns of working-class South Carolinians, I think their chances will be just as strong as the Republicans’ in the future,” the Orangeburg Democrat said.

State Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, said she was impressed with the quality of the candidates — and how OCtech and Orangeburg presented themselves in the statewide spotlight.

“I think it was a great opportunity for people to get an early look at the field,” she said.

T&D City Editor Gene Crider can be reached by e-mail at gcrider@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5570.

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