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Monday, October 13, 1986 / University Daily Kansan
David Brandt/Special to the KANSAN
Hayden says towns need business
House Speaker Mike Hayden, Republican gubernatorial candidate, speaks about economic development. Hayden addressed an audience of about 150 people Friday in Alderson Auditorium of the Kansas Union.
By KAREN SAMELSON
Kansas House Speaker Mike Hayden, the Republican nominee for governor, said Friday that the agricultural economy was one of the biggest problems facing Kansas and that the migration from rural America needed to be reversed.
Staff writer
"There are, in fact, things we can do for small towns, and we must join together to do so," Havden said.
He stressed the importance of attracting business to Kansas communities in his 30-minute speech Friday afternoon at the annual Economic Outlook Conference. About 150 business and community leaders attended the
speech in Alderson Auditorium of the Kansas Union.
Hayden's Democratic opponent, Lt. Gov. Tom Docking, also spoke at the conference.
Hayden said a small town was the best place to raise a family if economic opportunities existed there.
Hayden said he had voted on the side of business interests 86 percent of the time during his 14 years in the House. He represents Atwood, a town of about 1,600 people in northwest Kansas.
Business leaders consider numerous factors in deciding where to locate, he said, and Kansas workers' compensation laws are one aspect in which Kansas is not competitive.
Awards given to workers in Kansas are substantially higher than awards given for the same injury in other states, he said.
"None of us are against compensating the injured worker," he said, adding that the laws are driving jobs away. "We better wake up."
Another factor that business leaders bring up consistently is that of unemployment security laws, Havden said.
In Kansas, workers who quit their jobs also receive unemployment compensation, he said. Unemployment insurance is a federal and state program that partially reimburses workers who are involuntarily unemployed.
"Why pay for employees to
cuit?" Havden said.
He said that he had voted three times to change the laws but that the bills had been vetoed, twice by a Democratic governor.
"If I'm governor, we're going to take a different stance on that."
when asked about the community college system, Hayden said he strongly supported it.
Hayden also said he had supported a bill that permitted community colleges as well as Board of Regents schools to bid for programs in the Centers of Excellence network at Regents schools.
More than 50 percent of Kansas high school graduates who continue their education enter higher education through the community colleges, he said.
Docking stresses economic recovery
The Associated Press
Lt. Gov Tom Docking, like his opponent in the governor's race, stressed his commitment to getting the state's economy moving again in separate appearances Friday at the annual Economic Outlook Conference at the University of Kansas.
the 1986 Kansas Legislature.
Docking, the Democratic candidate, said the next governor must move swiftly to put into effect economic development initiatives authorized by
Docking also said he was prepared to support an increase in the state's motor fuel taxes if that was needed to provide money for a new highway in southeast Kansas, improvements on U.S. 50 and 54 in the Wichita area, and a four-lane highway between Wichita and Hutchinson.
that statement was similar to one made by House Speaker Mike Hayden, Republican gubernatorial candidate.
Docking said he could provide better leadership and get Kansas moving economically. He said Hayden opposed the types of changes the state needed in order to progress.
Doeing cited Hayden's opposition to liquor by the drink, pari-mutuel wagering, and liberalization of banking laws.
Kansas can achieve growth, Carlin says
Docking said the next governor of Kansas must be prepared to provide the leadership that will be necessary to make changes.
By BILL RAYNOLDS
Staff writer
Kansans have been given a second chance to achieve economic growth, but they no longer can rely on traditional industries to pull the state through economic difficulties. Gov. John Carlin said Friday.
However, Carlin said these traditional industries could no longer carry the state economically.
"We've been blessed with a little bit of luck and some basic resources that carried us very well for a long period of time," Carlin said, referring to the state's economic dependence on agriculture, aviation and the oil and gas industries.
Carlin gave a 30-minute speech Friday at the Economic Outlook Conference at Alderson Auditorium of the Kansas Union. About 150 local and state business leaders attended the conference.
"We've been given a second chance to get our act together and get the job done," he said.
Carlin said Kansans must support the five constitutional amendments on November's ballot. The property tax classification amendment was the
most important of the five,he said.
The other four constitutional amendments concern liquor by the drink, pari-mutuel betting, a state-run lottery and giving the Kansas Legislature control over the State Board of Education.
"There will be economic chaos if we turn it (the classification amendment) down," Carlin said after the speech.
He said the classification amendment would protect homeowners and agricultural land owners from massive property tax increases.
Docking campaigner asks Hayden to stop ad
The campaign manager for LL Gov. Tom Docking, Democratic candidate for governor, requested last
POLITICAL PULSE
By KAREN SAMELSON
Staff writer
In the ad, former Gov. Robert Bennett talks about House Speaker Hayden's role in securing funding for highway construction in Johnson County.
Tom Laing, Docking's campaign manager, said last week in a press release, that the ad "clearly crosses the line of partisanship to fabrication."
week that the Republican opponent, Mike Hayden, remove a radio ad about highway funding because of "gross distortions."
Laing said in his request, "The funding for the expansion of I-435 is 90
percent federal funding; 10 percent is matching state funds."
Laing also said Hayden had repeatedly criticized the use of federal funds during his campaign.
"The record shows that Hayden worked hard to prevent funding of the kinds of projects like those going on in Johnson County today."
However, Kelley Hayden, as his brother's press secretary, said that Mike, had played a key role in obtaining the funding.
"There's no reason to take the ads off, so we're not going to."
"We must have hit a nerve," he said.
Kline. Slattery to meet
Candidates for the Kansas 2nd District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives agreed last week to debate on Nov. 2, two days before the election.
Stephan indifferent to Moore's strategy
"When you try to sell hamburgers, you talk about how greasy the other one is." Winter said. "But I have a personal thing about negative campaigning — I think it's bad."
By NANCY BARRE
Political candidates shouldn't be sold like hamburgers, said State Sen Wint Winter Jr., R-Lawrence, at a fund-raiser for Attorney General Bob Stephan Saturday night.
Winter said he was referring to the campaign strategy of Dennis Moore, Johnson County district attorney and Stephan's Democratic opponent for state attorney general.
Dan Watkins, Moore's campaign manager, said yesterday that just because Stephan refused to answer questions about the lawsuit didn't mean that the voters should stop pressuring Stephan for more details about the settlement.
He said that until recently, Moore had waged a negative campaign against Stephan. Moore had been trying to get Stephan to discuss in greater detail last year's $24,000 out-of-court settlement Stephan made in a sexual harassment lawsuit. The suit was filed in 1982 by Marcia Tomson. Stephan's former employee.
said. "We've run a positive campaign and I've led a good life. One lawsuit doesn't destroy a lifetime of work."
Stephan has refused to discuss the settlement, and Moore announced last week that since Stephan had shown no signs of talking, he would tone down his demands.
At the rally at the Teepee, junctions of U.S. 24 and 40 highway, Stephan said that he was indifferent to Moore's announcement that he would tone down his inquiry into the settlement.
"It's obvious that Mr. Stephan would like the questions to stop." Watkins said. "But the questions still need to be answered."
"It doesn't matter to me how he wants to run his campaign," Stephan
About 40 Douglas County Republicans, who sponsored the rally, gathered to enjoy live jazz music, beer, roast pig and a short speech by Stephan.
In the speech, Stephan expressed optimism for his chances in the upcoming election and thanked all of his "true friends" for standing by him in a time of adversity.
"We're looking very good in the polls," he said. "There are so many pluses to being in public office, and I've appreciated the opportunity of being able to participate in the laws of this state."
Winter also expressed hope for Stephan's chances in the election.
Watkins said that although Stephan had accused Moore of waging a negative campaign, Stephan was the candidate who had created the problem in the first place.