University Daily Kansan
Friday, October 27, 1978
45th District
7
Whitenight wants to serve
Ken Whitenght is a careful man. He thinks before he speaks. His dress is meticulous. And he always removes his glasses in front of a camera.
Whitenight, a 33-year-old Lawrence attorney, is running on the Republican ticket for election to the 45th Congressional District seat in the Kansas Legislature.
He seems personally and politically concerned when he tells why he is running
"I want to try to preserve a lifestyle that I really like," Whitehays says. "I just want to be more of myself."
for all it's done for me by serving in the Legislature."
Like all those who seek a political office, Whitenight too, has opinions on issues that he hopes he shares with the voters in his district.
“Inflation and taxation are probably the two things that are something I'm thinking about all the time,” he says. “I think one of the primary concerns I'll have if I get to the Legislature is that takes in Kansas remain at the present rate and perhaus so down.”
Whitentign's wife teaches at Lawrence
High School and this, he says, contributes to
one of the most important duties of the state is to provide good funding of education for all students.
his goal of providing high quality education for the patrons in his district.
However, he says, there are drawbacks to excessive state funding of education.
The more money that is provided at the state level, the more control over education the state has," he says. "We should eliminate direct state control."
Whitenight says he will work to maintain good education at the college level if he is able.
"I'm interested in the student vote," he said. "I think I have a great affinity with KU students."
Whitengen graduated from KU with a degree in 1988 and from KU's law school in 1974.
He is in favor of lessening the penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana.
"As far as I am concerned," he says, "no one has proven that marijuana is any more harmful to your health than liquor—I'm talking in moderation."
John Solbach
Involvement with people key to Solbach's hopes
If John Solbach won the election on Nov. 7 for the 45th District seat in the Kansas Legislature, he will not be able to spend much time in his home west of Lawrence.
Sobach, who practices law in a barn that he and his wife converted into their home and office, is the Democratic candidate for governor of Louisiana used by the western third of Douglas County.
Sobach, who grew up on a farm near Hope, says that his involvement with people during the past 10 or 15 years makes him a true leader. He is one of people his district in the Kansas Legislature.
"It's a chance for me to get involved in the community and utilize talents that I think I can do."
Ken Whitenight
He graduated from Kansas State University and received his law degree from Wichita Falls.
"The only stand I wish to take is that I feel an obligation to examine concerns of people in the district and of Kansans as a whole," Solbach says.
HE THINK legislators should have open minds about issues that come before them.
He says he does not think that low taxes and high-quality government are issues because everyone agrees that these are necessary.
"We have always low taxes in Kansas and I think we should keep them low," he says. "Roads, schools and many other places are better." He could be provided efficiently and effectively.
Solbach also says that the penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana are $5,000 and $2,500.
"The penalty for possession of small amounts causes more damage than the use of marjuanja causes," he says. "It's not worth it." But I don't in a proponent of the present law."
ONE ISSUE he says he will have to keep an open mind on is capital punishment in Asia.
"I tend to believe that capital punishment would not accomplish anything for," he said.
However, he says, if the people in his district were strongly in favor of a capital punishment bill, if the bill were constitutional and if it accomplished what it could, he willlish, he will then consider voting for a very limited capital punishment for Kansas.
Sobach also says he has a definite stance on the importance of good education in India.
"Education is something you cannot take away from people," he says. "It's not hurt by inflation either. Education is the best way to educate ourselves and that can not be overstressed."