Old Lyme — The voices of three parties with distinct views on the economy, environment and education filled the packed Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School auditorium on Tuesday.

Incumbent Sen. Art Linares, a Republican, debated Democrat Emily Bjornberg and Green Party candidate Colin Bennett for the 33rd state Senate seat in an hour-long debate sponsored by The Day and the Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce.

The 33rd District encompasses Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook.

Linares, of Westbrook, is co-founder of Greenskies Renewable Energy, a Middletown-based solar company. He is serving his first term in office. Bjornberg, a Lyme resident, is the director of Youth and Family Ministries at the Deep River Congregational Church and a steward of the Lyme Land Conservation Trust. Bennett, of Westbrook, has served as a marine science technician in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and various community organizations.

The three candidates tackled priorities for boosting the state's economy.

Bjornberg said she will advocate for fiscal responsibility but "won't balance the budget on the backs of seniors and children."

She spoke about the need to ease property tax burdens and make sure local education districts, such as Lyme-Old Lyme, get their fair share of the state's education funds.

Linares stressed the need to address the state's deficit and reform the state's tax code, explaining that Connecticut has higher income, sales and gas taxes than other states.

"We need to have competitive taxes with other states," he said.

Hailing the environment as his number one priority, Bennett supported investing in clean renewable energy, such as wind and solar energy.

Bennett later pointed out that he has run many times for public office and his ultimate goal is to leave a planet with clean air and water for his 15-year-old daughter.

The candidates also were asked what ideas they would bring to Hartford to address the state's underfunded pension obligations.

Bjornberg, who emphasized throughout the debate that she was a voice for small businesses, stressed improving the economy. She said it was important to create a "climate for businesses to grow organically." Her ideas included removing "red tape" for small business and easing the property tax burdens "that unduly burden homeowners and small business owners."

Bennett said he agreed with Bjornberg.

Linares said the state has to come up with a plan to pay back unfunded liabilities and supported lowering spending.

"We cannot continue to spend money we don't have," he said.

At times, the debate turned contentious. Bjornberg attacked Linares' voting record on environmental issues and issues such as chemical safety. For example, she said Linares could have done more to investigate the issue of cadmium in children's jewelry and also said he voted against chemical safety bills, including one to keep pesticides off school athletic fields.

Linares defended his record and said the allegations were inaccurate. He said such a law against pesticides already exists for elementary and middle school fields. The bill in question concerned high school fields only and had requirements that would have cost communities, such as Westbrook, hundreds of thousands of dollars.

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich