The University Daily Kansan
October 18,2000 Page 6A
Election guide
Candidate breakdown
State Senator
19th District
**Anthony Hensley (Democrat, Incumbent):** Wants to ensure quality education for Kansas children. Advocates affordable health care and reducing taxes.
II Quentin L. Martin (Republican): Promises to lower taxes and crime and improve education in Kansas schools.
State Representatives
M. Ephidyn M. Turner (Republican, Incumbent)
44th District:
Barbara W. Ballard (Democrat, incumbent): Considers herself a strong advocate for students. Will fight for more funding for schools and keeping tuition rates low.
III Pictura G. Tiffany (Republicans): Will provide leadership in Topeka for families, businesses, communities and institutions. Will be a liaison for citizens and the Kansas Legislature.
45th District:
**Tom Slean (Republican, Incumbent):**
Supported legislation that increased basic state education aid $41.4 million. Committed to cleaning up Kansas winter and reducing taxes.
46th District:
III Nancy K. Stubba (Democrat); Concerned about local issues; wants to help education and make college available for anyone academically prepared. Concerned about the economy collapsing.
Trey Findley (Democrat, independent);
Warts local schools and universities to succeed and wants to increase financial aid assistance.
Pote Hunter (Republican): Wants to reduce sales tax on food; supports tuition plan and rights for graduate teaching assistants.
47th District:
**I Lee Tafanili (Republican):** Wants to lower taxes, improve education and will maintain solid values in Kansas.
Lana Leach (Democrat): Supports tax breaks for small businesses, assisting family farms and reducing taxes for homeowners.
District Attorney
7th District
■ Christine Kenney Tonkovich (Republican,
incumbent)
Local Officials
2nd District County Commission:
Dan Gregg (Democrat)
Bob Johnson (Republican)
2nd District County Commission
Dan Gregg (Democrat)
Bob Johnson (Republican)
Larry Kipp (Democrat)
3rd District County Commission:
Patty Jaimes (Republican, incumbent)
Bardister of Daube
Jere McElhaney (Republican)
County Clerk
■ Sue Neustetter (Democratic, Incumbent)
Treasurer
Pat Welts (Democrat, incumbent)
Diane Kennedy (Republican)
Sheriff
Glenn R. "Rick" Trapp (Republican)
Ben Wilson (Independent)
Compiled by Mini Nguyen and Kerstin Phloeps
important dates
Today: Advanced voting begins
voting begins
Saturday, Sunday and Monday; Douglas County Clerk's office open 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. for voter registration
Monday, Oct. 23: Deadline to register to vote
- **Monday, Nov. 6:** Advanced voting ends
- **Tuesday, Nov. 7** — Election day; polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Still need to register to vote? You can register at the Douglas County Clerk's office at 1100 Massachusetts St. or at the Student Senate office on the fourth floor of the Kansas Union.
Credits
The University of Kansas Student Senate and Student Legislative
Awareness Board helped compile information for this election guide.
Candidate information and information on platform issues was obtained either directly from the candidates or their campaigns.
Kursten Phelps served as the lead reporter and coordinator for the guide.
Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Kan., talks to members of Supportive Educational Services Sunday evening. Moore is a KU alumnus and is in his first term as a representative. Photo by Brad Dreier/KANSAN
Victor Frost, director of the Information Telecommunication Technology Center, left, discusses the University of Kansas' involvement in technology Monday with Phill Kline. Kline is trying to return the 3rd District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to Republican control after Dennis Moore defeated incumbent Republican Vince Snowbarger in 1998. Photo by Tara Kraus/KANSAN
Competitive U.S. House race heats up
Candidates focus on government spending, education
By Rob Pazell
writer@kanson.com
Kanson staff writer
The heated race for the U.S. 3rd Congressional District has been one of Kansas closest campaigns this fall.
Incumbent Democrat Dennis Moore, who won the seat in 1998, is running for reelection against Republican Phill Kline and Libertarian Chris Mina.
Kline, who has been a member of the Kansas House of Representatives since
1992, said the student vote was important and urged students to vote so they could be heard on issues such as Social Security, which they would want in the future.
"Decisions we're making have a big impact on the lives of students and on any other voting population," said Kline, who earned his law degree from the University of Kansas. "They need to engage themselves so they can be heard."
"We have to realize government is spending more," Kline said. "I support setting aside Social Security, a growing government and putting the surplus back into tax relief."
Kline said he supported many tax cuts in the Kansas House and planned on putting the projected $1.3 trillion federal surplus to the task of relieving taxes.
Moore, who won the 3rd District seat in 1998, disagreed with Kline on what to do
with the federal budget surplus, favoring debt reduction over a tax break.
"We should use roughly half of the true surplus for debt reduction," said Moore, who also is a KU alumnus. "If we can substantially reduce the debt, then we can drive down interest rates."
Moore also said that he was a strong believer in local education but that the federal government must also play a role in getting more technology into classrooms.
"I think the federal government should be a strong a junior partner and we need to have schools modernized." Moore said.
Kline said he advocated local control of schools, with the federal government playing a limited role.
"We must have local control," Kline said. "We must block grant money back so that local teachers, parents and administrators can decide for the students."
Mina, who is vice chairman of the Kansas State Libertarian Party, said he would work to eliminate the federal income tax.
"There's no reason you can't pay for government with excise taxes and tariffs," Mina said. "I would legally abolish the IRS."
Mina said he would also remove the government's hand in schools.
"It ties the university's hands and makes it spend money on administration and not students," Mina said.
Mitch Trope, Overland Park junior and moderate Republican, said it would be tough for him to vote.
Irrelevant issues keep young away from polls
- Edited by Warisa Chulindra
"Kline's too conservative, and Moore's too liberal," Trope said. "I might just have to write somebody in."
By Jennifer Valadez
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
In 1971, 18-year-olds were granted the right to vote.
But in 2000, fewer than half of American adults ages 18 to 24 said they would cast their votes in the presidential election, according to the Associated Press.
Mark Joslyn, assistant professor of political science, said young voter apathy was the result of candidates not focusing on the 18-to-24 age group.
"The candidates know what part of the electorate votes, and it happens to be the older and more educated," he said.
Sjoslyn said candidates' platform issues were a substantial contributor to the low interest of young voters.
"Iissues like Medicare and Social Security are pointed at baby boomers," he said.
"When someone 18 to 25 watches the debates, they tend to think, 'Why should I care?' They see no reason to go out and participate because no one is talking to them."
On the local level, Douglas County records showed that in 1996, 702 out of 1,399 registered KU students voted in the presidential election at the Allen Fieldhouse precinct, which typically serve student voters living on Daisy Hill and in Jayhawker Towers. However, more students may have voted at other locations. Records from 1998 showed that 118 out of 1,034 registered students voted in state government elections.
Jo Alquest, Douglas County clerk, said presidential elections typically saw higher voter turnouts.
"They'll be heavy for the presidential election and very light for any other election," she said.
Liz Prosser, Lawrence sophomore, said she thought most candidates weren't concerned with addressing the college-age group.
"As far as presidential and more important leaders, you never see or read about them coming to talk to us," she said.
Nationally, 1996 election results showed that one-third of adults between 18 and 24 voted, and one out of five cast ballots in 1996's midterm elections.
Joslyn said that issues candidates could address to attract the young vote included financing university education and issues regarding employment after graduation.
"Whoever is sitting up there in the presidential spot reflects me
as a voter, and if there's someone who doesn't reflect me, it's my fault."
Lanard Paden Kansas City, Kan., sophomore
Joslyn also said that young voters showed interest typically for politicians such as President Bill Clinton and Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, who were highly exposed to young voters. He said Ventura's former professional wrestling career undoubtedly contributed to his success.
Lanard Paden, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore, said he saw larger efforts being made to attract young voters in national programs such as MTY's Choose or Lose and at universities with student organizations holding registration drives.
"In past years, the reason why a lot didn't vote was because no one publicized teens to
vote," he said. "They've come a long way in registering, but they will not know until the next step is taken and people start voting."
Joslyn said the 2000 presidential candidates showed little concern about young voters compared to Clinton in the '96 elections.
"I don't think they stimulate a lot of the attention that Ventura and Clinton did," he said. "The issues of today are not pointed at that part of the electorate."
Christopher Kennedy, Effingham sophomore, said the issues candidates addressed didn't immediately affect young voters.
"Issues like gas prices are what we care about because it affects us now," he said. "But issues like social security we'll care about later when we're more active voters." Kennedy said he voted in the past and
Kennedy said he voted in the past and saw it as his patriotic duty to cast the ballot.
"I see it as something you have to do to make the country run." he said.
Despite young voter apathy, Paden said voting was important.
wnoever is sitting up there in the presidential spot reflects me as a voter, and if there's someone who doesn't reflect me, it's my fault," he said.
Edited by Warisa Chulindra
Kansas Democrats struggle for votes
Special to the Kansan
Democrats in Kansas are a perennial but feisty underdog.
If history holds true, Democratic candidate Al Gore has a tough task in Kansas.
Not since 1964 have Kansas' electoral votes gone to the Democratic candidate. That year, Lyndon B. Johnson won 44 states including Kansas, which he won with 54 percent of the vote.
John F. Kennedy couldn't crack 40 percent of the popular vote in the republican stronghold of Kansas; Bill Clinton no better.
"If you want a political career in Kansas, you're better off being a moderate Republican," said Donald Haider-Markel, assistant professor of political science.
There is no Democratic candidate in the 1st Congressional District this election year. The district stretches across more than 75 percent of Kansas' area.
Haider-Markel said Democrats in Kansas were more moderate and presented their messages differently from other Democrats.
And although Lawrence has traditionally been one of the rare Democratic strongholds, the city's suburban sprawl may be strengthening the Republican vote.
"Because of a change in demographics, more people not associated with the
University live in Lawrence". Haider-Markel said. "They're people from Kansas City and Topeka who are relatively young urban professionals who tend to vote Republican."
Haider-Markel also said polls showed that student voting had tilted toward the Republican column in the last 20 years.
"Democrats are more organized and enthusiastic in Kansas," Merz said. "There's an interesting dynamic; you have to try a little harder."
Julie Merz, president of KU Young Democrats, said Kansas Democrats found strength in adversity.
Troy Findley, the incumbent Democratic candidate for the 46th District seat of the Kansas House of Representatives, beat the odds. He said his party had to be enthusiastic.
"We've got to campaign harder and answer no doubt about it." Findley said.
Although it takes hard work, Democrats have won high seats in Kansas government.
"No one expects that in the last 50 years there would have been a Democratic governor in Kansas," Findley said.
But instead, no Republican governor except for Gov. Bill Graves has been re-elected in more than 30 years.
Findley traces Democratic support in Lawrence to the rise of former Gov. George Docking, a Democrat and Lawrence businessman who won the governor's race in
Alice Lieberman, associate professor of social welfare and Douglas County Democratic Party chairwoman, said she was confident of her party's ability to win.
1966. His son, Robert, was a Democrat who served as Kansas' governor from 1966 to 1974.
"You recognize that every race is that much harder because you start at a disadvantage," she said.
Kansas voters sometimes follow party lines less closely as they hug the political middle.
"When you have a very, very conservative Republican and a moderate Democrat, (voters) feel more ideologically close to the moderate Democrat." Lieberman said.
Presidential candidates George W. Bush and Gore have avoided Kansas.
Tucker Poling, Lawrence senior, said he was thinking about voting for Harry Browne, the Libertarian Party candidate.
"Both campaigns have written off Kansas because one, Bush wins and two, Kansas is small." Merz said.
Sometimes voters in Kansas vote for third party candidates instead of either the Republican or Democratic choices.
"Everyone assumes that Kansas will vote Republican and voting is a waste of time." Poling said. "Sometimes people are more likely to throw in a protest vote for a third-party candidate."
Edited by Amy Randolph
1. 438,894 registered Kansas voters
1996 STATEWIDE
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS
1. 438,894 registered Kansas voters
1. 076,237 (74.7 percent) voted
2. 693,235 (63.2 percent) 54
Dole (Republican): 583,245 — 54 percent
- Clinton (Democrat): 387,659 — 36 per.
■ Porot (Reform): 92,639 — 8 percent
1984 DOUGLAS COUNTY
52,114 registered Douglas County voters
102,737 people voted
38.429 (57/percent) 16.116 — 31 percent
Data (Republic): 16.116
Dose (repeudant): 18, 116 - 47 per-
Clinton (Democrat); 18, 116 - 47 per-
Perot (Reform): 2,630 - 7 percent
1992 — STATEWIDE
1. 3,65,849 registered Kansas voters
2. 627,875 registered Kansas voters
1,161,927 (85 percent) voted
Bush (Republican): 449,951 — 39 perc.
- Clinton (Democratic): 390,434 — 34 per cent
1992 — DOUGLAS COUNTY
Perot (Reform): 312,358 — 27 percent
49,628 registered Douglas County voters
49,197 184 percent voted
Bush (Republican): 12,949 - 26 percent
Bush (Democrat): 19,439 - 40 per-
Perot (Reform): 9,630 — 20 percent
-- Source: Kansas Secretary of State's office