Pedro Celis
Pedro Celis

Former Microsoft engineer Pedro Celis, a Republican who is challenging incumbent and former Microsoft exec Suzan DelBene for the seat in the 1st Congressional District of Washington, has stumbled into the debate over women in technology.

At a debate hosted at the Microsoft Conference Center on Wednesday, Celis noted how most of his role models in technology have been women, including his mom and his first boss in the San Francisco Bay Area.

But then Celis — a native of Mexico who says he’s lived the American dream— noted that “women, in general, are less nerdy” than men.

He continued: “But I don’t feel that they are not being treated — at the jobs they are currently are — that they are being treated with unfair pay. I think lost opportunity.”

Earlier, Celis noted that it is a “lost opportunity for Microsoft” to not have more women advance, and he said that men and women should be paid the same. The remarks follow a public apology by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella related to pay of women in technology. (Previously on GeekWire: Internal Memo: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella sets new diversity plan after ‘humbling’ experience)

In addition to the discussion over equal pay, DelBene and Celis debated immigration reform, the ebola outbreak, the minimum wage and other topics. Full recap of the hour-long debate here from The Herald.

You can see Celis’ remarks about equal pay for women in this video.

Hat tip to PSBJ

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