Voter Guide
Attorney General re-election almost certain for Stovall
Associated Press
TOPEKA — Republican Carla Stovall seems a shoo-in to win a second term as attorney general, something Democratic challenger Dan Lykins concedes even if it will not keep him from trying to unseat her on Nov.3.
Stovall was elected in 1994 and is the first woman to be the state's chief law-enforcement official.
There are questions about whether she will run for governor in four years.
"I think about it because people talk
aboutit,butmygoalis to be re-elected attorney general," she said.
Lykins, a Topeka lawyer and political activist, said the odds are stacked against him. Of the 40 state attorneys general since 1861, only five have been Democrats.
"There has to be an Stovall unpollared Republi-
anpun can, and it's obvious she is very popular," said Lykins, a member of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association.
Lykins is pinning his hopes on a coalition of Democrats, labor and anti-abortion advocates. Stovall supports abortion rights.
But Lykins said that he would not conduct a negative campaign and that voters would benefit no matter who wins.
"I'm not going to throw mud at Carla Stovall," he said. "I think she has done many good things, and she is trying to make the state a better place. The people of Kansas are in a win-win situation."
Likewise, Stovall is complimentary of Lykins, saying, "I think he's a fine lawyer for his area of expertise — personal injury and medical malpractice."
Lykins, whose campaign slogan is "People before Politics," said victims' rights would be a priority. At 14, a gang attacked Lykins in his town of
Lykins
Atchison, costing him the vision in his right eye.
"I can feel for the victims,' he said. "They would have a friend in the attorney general's office.I think I can do it better than her because of my 26 years experience as a trial attorney."
Stovall is a former prosecutor in Crawford County and has argued cases before the Kansas Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court.
Stovall successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court for the state's Sexually Violent Predator Act.The nation's highest court upheld the law,after it was struck down by the Kansas Supreme Court.
Kubota, Jones focus on growth
By Chad Bettes
Kansan staff writer
One Douglas County Commission seat is up for grabs this fall, and the two candidates seeking to fill the position offer differing viewpoints about the commission's direction for the future.
The main issue that separates the two candidates is their philosophy regarding growth for Douglas County and Lawrence.
Brian Kubota, R-Lawrence, wants to continue the growth the area has experienced in recent years. But, he said, he wanted to help the commission plan better for the growth.
"We need to do some darn good planning, including physical land-use planning," Kubota said. "This will result in orderly growth."
Hesaid that the county and city had a good comprehensive plan, called Horizon 2020, but that a road map was needed to carry it out. He said he thought he could be instrumental in creating a road map.
Kubota said his career in land-plan engineering would serve him well on the commission. He founded an engineering company in 1978 that he sold in 1996.
Charles Jones, D-Lawrence, said the county could manage growth better by encouraging investment in the center of the city rather than on the perimeter of town.
He said the commission had encouraged growth in new areas by subsidizing new infrastructure. In turn, he said older parts of town suffer when businesses move or close.
If he is elected to the commission, Jones said he would advocate assessing total growth costs, which would then be paid completely by developers.
He said there would still be growth, but it would pay for itself and be at a more realistic pace. He said Lawrence was overbuilt for retail space at this time.
"Growth shouldn't leave blight in its path," Jones said.
Kubota and Jones agreed that other important issues facing the county were the completion of the South Lawrence Trafficway and the reduction of property taxes.
Jones favors completion of the trafficway and said he was working on a positive solution to the issue. Kubota said he favored the 31st Street plan that includes landscaping for noise, providing visual barriers and preparing a water runoff system.
Both candidates advocated holding down property-tax increases.
Kubota has lived in Lawrence with his wife Jonny since 1969. They have two adult children.
In addition to his work as a land use planner, Kubota said he had been an assistant University of Kansas professor of architecture and planning, and developer of a housing project called Villas at Alvamar.
Jones now works as an environmental consultant, property manager of a rental home near Central Park and writer.
Jones received his bachelor's degree from KU and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University. He lives in Lawrence with his wife, Carol.
Bauman
Additional candidate information
Alvin Bauman, the Reform candidate for U.S. Senate, is not in the voter's guide because the Kansan was unable to contact him.
Kansan Voter Guide staff
Kansan Vol.
Editor...Jodie Chester
News Editor...Gerry Doyle
Staff writers...Chad Bettes
Sarah Hale
Chris Fickett
Seth Jones
Wire Editor...Melissa Ngo
Design Editor...Angie Kuhn
Copy Chiefs...Mary Corcoran
Micki Jones
Special thanks to:
The Kansan staff designers,
graphic artists and copy editors.
Tom Moore and other members of SLAB.
This voter guide is brought to you by
The University Daily Kansan and the Student Legislative Awareness Board.
Page 6
The University Daily Kansan/ SLAB
Thursday, October 29,1998