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Candidates get chance to speak out on issues at local forum
Three hopefuls running for different spots in the state legislature spent more than two hours Wednesday afternoon answering questions and giving statements during a candidate forum hosted by the Resource Center for Independent Living.
Candidates spoke to about 20 people at the Scottview Apartment Building, 315 Scott Ave., addressing questions prepared by the RCIL before the floor was opened up to audience queries. Director of Independent Living Services at RCIL Rosie Cooper served as moderator.
First-time candidate Denise Cassells, D-Mound City, who is seeking the District 12 Senate seat, sat next to former state Rep. Shirley Palmer, D-Fort Scott, going for the House District 4 seat, and Sen. Bob Marshall, R-Fort Scott, who is running for re-election in Senate District 13.
Gary Deloney represented Republican House District 4 candidate Marty Read, who was unable to attend the forum, but did not participate. All four candidates' names will appear on the Aug. 7 primary ballot. Cassells will face either Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, or John C. Coen, R-Wellsville, in the Nov. 6 general election.
Read will square off against Palmer in the November contest. Palmer lost the District 4 House seat to Tyson.
Cooper said the reason RCIL organized the forum was to give people a chance to find out where the candidates stood on certain issues.
"It's so they can make the informed choice and hopefully go out and vote," Cooper said.
Candidates were asked a variety of questions ranging from their stance on the home and community based services waiver programs to drug screenings for those who receive state assistance. They were also quizzed on other general issues or concerns affecting the elderly and disabled. The waivers can be used to fund services not otherwise authorized by the federal Medicaid statute, such as respite care, home modifications and non-medical transportation, references said.
Cooper opened the forum by asking the candidates what election issue they are most focused on.
"Everybody is very concerned about funding for almost every agency and issue in the state of Kansas," Palmer said. "I'm very concerned about public school education funding... I'm also concerned about taxes. I'm not a tax increase person."
"The No. 1 thing, though, is funding and getting jobs in Kansas," she added.
Echoing Palmer's response, Marshall said the primary issue in the state, as he sees it, is "jobs, jobs, jobs and the creation of jobs." Marshall, who serves on a number of legislative committees, said the primary issue he ran on the first time was transportation. Marshall will face fellow Republican Jacob LaTurner in the Aug. 7 primary. Marshall beat LaTurner, of Pittsburg, in 2008. Whoever wins the primary will go against Democrat Gene Garman, also of Pittsburg.
"I've always been a pro-business and pro-transportation person and will continue to be," Marshall told attendees.
Cassells said her main concerns, based on what she's heard within the district, is the need for more education funding.
"Our schools need to be funded and we have a constitutional mandate to fund them," Cassells said.
When the topic of the lengthy waiting lists across the state for people needing home-based care assistance was brought up, it initiated a major discussion on what the candidates plan to do to address the current situation. Cooper said there are "plenty of people" on waiting lists to receive home-based care that enables them to remain in the communities they want.
"Absolutely, the waiting lists have to be stopped," Cassells said. "Constitutionally, it's wrong."
Marshall said he's been "very involved" and a strong advocate for those services. From a financial standpoint, he said it's a "no brainer."
"We can take care of a person in their own home with a home care-based services worker for about a third of the cost of what it would take to put that person in a nursing home, which is where they will go," Marshall said.
Palmer said she agreed "almost whole-heartedly" with Marshall, adding that she felt that the services are "extremely, extremely important."
"It's a difficult task," but "it's a proven fact that if we could fund those types of services, we will save the state money," Palmer said.
After asking the generic questions, the forum was opened up to attendees.
Independent Living Specialist Casey Gaines said one purpose of the forum was "to enable the consumers to have a voice and be able to speak their concerns and ask their questions personally of the candidates."
One issue that sparked an applause among those attending was how the candidates feel about drug screening, as other states have started to require, for anyone who receives public assistance such as welfare, housing or food assistance.
Marshall was cautious about saying he would support legislation requiring the drug screening because he said he wouldn't want to push a bill that could potentially be detrimental to the people it serves.
"On the surface it sounds really good and is a no-brainer," he said. "And I understand your position and am supportive of that."
Palmer went as far as to say she "totally supports that concept," suggesting random testing those who get assistance.
The financial burden from the required tests concerned Cassells, though. She said there "must be a way to pay for it."
"If they are the ones getting the service, they should be the ones paying for that test," Cassells said.
After nearly two hours, the candidates gave their final, three-minute statements to potential voters hoping to sway them.
"We're all human and I know that we can't please everyone, but I sure want to try," Palmer said. "As I have said, I will take those issues with me to Topeka and take them to the proper place and we'll see what we can do."
Marshall said some of the bigger concerns he's heard from constituents are about home based-services and other social rehabilitation services matters.
"It is very helpful to us, or at least me, to be here and hear you all speak of the problems that you face," Marshall said.
Cassells said she feels more people need to participate and advocate for what's important in the state.
"We have to maintain small communities and the only way to do that is to properly fund them and provide services," she said.
Fort Scott resident Kimmie McKinley said she didn't attend because of any particular issue she wanted addressed, she just "wanted to meet the candidates."
"I wanted to see who they are and if they sound like they are going to be knowledgeable about what they are doing," she said. "You have to have a drive and they seem to have it."