New London — Experience versus youth remained an underlying theme Wednesday during a mostly cordial debate between incumbent state Rep. Ernest Hewett and Democratic challenger Chris Soto.

Hewett, the party-endorsed candidate, and Soto are vying for the 39th Assembly District seat and will face off at an Aug. 9 primary.

Soto challenged the six-term legislator on his lack of leadership roles in the legislature and a sparse record of introducing new legislation over his 12 years in office.

Soto said the city is in need of someone who could offer new ideas and a new vision.

“He’s been there for 12 years. I respect that service,” Soto said. “I can count on one hand in the 12 years Representative Hewett has been in office how many bills have been introduced by him and have been passed.”

He said he was in favor of term limits and said “if I’m up there for 12 years and I’m not productive, please, someone vote me out.”

Hewett said it’s the relationships he’s built in Hartford through the years that have helped save New London, especially this year, from the major drops in state funding faced by neighboring municipalities such as Groton and Waterford.

The common thread in those towns is “rookie” legislators, he said.

Hewett said the city is at a crucial juncture and nearing the end of a conversion into an all-magnet school district — a plan he has championed and supported.

“We now have a waiting list of children standing by for acceptance. But this does not happen overnight. At this critical time in our city, we cannot afford to hear about promises, we need results,” Hewett said.

He admitted he did not like introducing a lot of bills and that, in some cases, they can be counterproductive.

“I think we should get rid of some of the bills being introduced ... like bingo halls and stuff like that,” Hewett said. “You can bet your bottom dollar the ones I do introduce have merit to it and will take this state forward.”

Hewett co-sponsored a bill this year and obtained a two-year waiver for the New London school system that gives the district some leeway — a 3 percent buffer — in meeting the state racial balance requirements.

Responding to questions about the controversy over his introduction of a bill proposing a special taxing district at Fort Trumbull, Hewett challenged the notion he did not have a clear understanding of the bill. He said it was aimed at sparking development.

Soto said he did not have an issue with a proposal in support of economic development, but did with Hewett’s apparent lack of understanding of the bill.

“It was about submitting something ... without knowing what it was about,” Soto said. “After 12 years, it’s about kind of not keeping your eye on the ball and making sure we are paying attention to those details and paying attention to the things that are going to be important to New Londoners."

Hewett, 59, is a former three-term New London city councilor who has represented the 39th House District since 2004. He is seeking his seventh term in office.

Hewett hasn’t had a Democratic challenger since his initial run for the seat vacated by former state Rep. Wade Hyslop. Hewett forced a Democratic primary that year and defeated party-endorsed candidate Lloyd Beachy and later Republican nominee John Russell to secure the seat.

Soto, 35, graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 2003 and went on to earn a master’s degree in public affairs from Brown University.

He founded the nonprofit Higher Edge with a focus on helping local youth to overcome the hurdles they face when trying to get into and stay in college. Higher Edge has an office in New London and earlier this year announced an expansion into Willimantic.

Hewett narrowly secured the party endorsement with a 22 to 18 vote in May.

Two years ago Hewett asked Soto to run his campaign. Soto declined and said Wednesday he recalled Hewett saying, “Once I’m done, you’re going to be great for the office.”

Soto said while he enjoys great support, there are some who took issue with the timing of his announcement to run.

Hewett, during an exchange with Soto that brought laughs from the audience, said “That’s not what I told you. What I told you was when I retired I would endorse you for office.”

The two have similar ideas on some issues.

Both support the proposed merger of Lawrence + Memorial Hospital with Yale-New Haven Health System. Soto added that he wants to see a “community benefits agreement.”

Both think better community policing should be used to address the divisions between police and minority communities.

Neither of the candidates are enthralled by the idea of the construction of the National Coast Guard Museum in downtown New London.

Hewett said, “I would love to see it in an area that’s bigger than downtown New London. But that’s not reality.”

He said the idea locating it at Fort Trumbull, as some have suggested, might shut off promised funding.

Soto said he wanted the museum built but, because of the number of obstacles being created, he does not support the location. He said he would not actively try to derail those plans, however.

Wednesday's debate, attended by more than 200 people, was held at the Science and Technology Magnet School of Southeastern Connecticut in New London.

 g.smith@theday.com