Democrat Helena Foulkes promoted a plan to build 20,000 housing units, funded with revenue from the state’s new millionaire’s tax. She said the goal was to create homes affordable to middle-class residents and argued that she was the only candidate with a defined construction target.

Independent Ken Block said the state should acquire land and partner with municipalities and developers to advance housing projects, but did not give a target for the number of units. “We will build the units we need to have,” he said. Foulkes called his answer insufficiently specific.

Republican Aaron Guckian described Foulkes’ proposal as “one of the biggest con jobs.” He called for a housing village for veterans and a “permitting czar” to speed up approvals.

The candidates also addressed Flock automated license-plate readers used by police departments. All three favored regulation, but none called for the cameras to be switched off. Foulkes backed model guidelines proposed by Gov. Dan McKee and said the technology could help police if privacy protections are in place. Block said he was concerned about unauthorized access to the databases, while Guckian said police chiefs should help shape state rules.

On health care, Block proposed a regional insurance marketplace intended to lower costs. Guckian called for a loan-repayment program to help medical providers pay down debt. Foulkes said she would send trained experts into communities to help residents complete paperwork and avoid losing benefits amid federal changes, and pledged to defend provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

Foulkes also defended her leadership at CVS a decade ago, following the company’s $315,000 settlement with federal prosecutors the previous week over opioid allegations. She said CVS reduced opioid prescriptions by 40% and stopped filling prescriptions from 600 doctors she described as operating pill mills. She called the period difficult for families and pharmacists, saying pharmacists were caught in the middle when filling prescriptions.

Guckian urged Foulkes to donate millions of dollars to organizations addressing overdoses and said she owed the country an apology. Foulkes said there was always more she wished could have been done.

The candidates differed on pensions as well. Foulkes said she was open to discussing whether some reductions made in Rhode Island’s 2011 pension overhaul could be restored, but would not promise a change she could not commit to. Block proposed additional payouts for state employees who retired before 2012 if the pension fund exceeded performance expectations. Guckian said savings from budget cuts could support more benefits for retirees.

Guckian pledged to cut the state budget by 10%, or $1.5 billion, and said he would not seek reelection if he failed to meet that goal. He also reiterated a promise to lower taxes and fees.

The debate included disputes over campaign transparency and financing. Block defended his decision not to release his tax returns, which Foulkes had released Monday, saying disclosure could expose business information to competitors. He pointed to financial disclosures filed with state ethics officials and said he would keep his returns private.

Guckian defended taking a private plane to a Florida fundraiser in late September, saying Henry Mellon paid for the flight and that the trip was intended to raise campaign money. He had not yet reported the travel information to state campaign finance officials; his campaign said it was waiting for an invoice. Elaine Pelino, his former primary opponent, said Tuesday she was filing a complaint.

The candidates opened with attacks on one another. Guckian called Block a “spoiler” and later accused him of making a “preposterous lie” after Block said Guckian had sought his support before Block entered the race. Block responded after Guckian interrupted him: “I can be as rude as he is being right now.”

Foulkes argued that Rhode Islanders wanted change and said her business background could help create jobs and address housing and health care challenges. Block said he could fix the state’s problems and portrayed Foulkes as a new face of the existing political establishment.