Thursday, August 20, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 5
Candidate Sawyer makes campus stop
By Jason Pearce
Kansan staff writer
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Sawyer visited the University of Kansas yesterday and gave students an overview of his plans to improve the overall quality of education in the state.
Sawyer, who will face incumbent Bill Graves in the November general election, discussed his progressive agenda with prospective student voters at the Rock-a-Hawk picnic behind Ellsworth Hall.
"Improving educational opportunity for Kansas students is my top priority." Sawyer said. "My STARS (Student Tuition Assistance Recognition Scholarship) program would make it possible for working families to send their children to college."
Sawyer said STARS would reward Kansas students who earn a B- average or better in high school with free tuition to any Kansas university, college or vocational school.
According to the Kansas Board of Regents, the program would need $42 million in Kansas Lottery revenue to finance the scholarships every year. The lottery reported sales of $192 million last year, with about $59 million financing state programs.
The state uses most of the $59 million for economic-development programs, but Sawyer said some of those programs either were not held accountable or had failed to bring new jobs to the state.
"The most important economic development tool is a well-educated work force," Sawyer said. "For $42 million, we could help students to receive a college degree and still fund the other programs that work."
Sawyer said he thought that this program also would increase high school test scores because
parents would become more involved with their children's education.
For students in earlier grades, Sawyer said he wanted to reduce class sizes to 17 students in kindergarten through third grade.
This program would help more children to read, write and do math at the third-grade level when they leave that grade. he said.
Sawyer said that because of his proposals, he was a better candidate for governor.
"Graves is missing many opportunities to improve the quality of life in Kansas," Sawyer said. "He is a stand-still governor with no real initiatives of his own."
"Graves has done a lot for Kansas, especially in the area of cutting taxes," Cools said. "He has cut the car-registration tax and property taxes and has worked to reduce the state work force."
- Ward Cook, KU College Republican chairman,
said he did not think that Graves had been a "stand-still" governor.
Cook said he thought Graves was the first governor in the last 35 years who had tried to consider all people's opinions in major decisions.
"I think he is the most popular governor we have ever had, and that just doesn't happen by standing still," he said. "Most Kansans feel more than satisfied with the job Graves has done."
Cook, however, said he didn't know much about Sawyer or his proposals.
Phil Stevenson, KU Democrats president, said he agreed with Sawyer.
"Although Graves has been a popular governor, he didn't offer enough leadership last session to make significant changes." Stevenson said.
As a KU Democrat, Stevenson and others have been busy drumming up support for Sawyer and other Democrats, although most Kansas voters register as Republicans.
For Sawyer to gain enough support to beat Graves in the general election. Stevenson said
Tom Sawyer, democratic candidate for governor, discusses his political agenda with students at the "Rocka-Hawk" picnic. Sawyer said his top priority was to improve educational opportunities for Kansas students. Photo by Joseph Griffin/KANSAN.
Sawyer would have to get his message to all potential voters.
"In the end, I think people will see him as a better governor with better proposals than Graves," Stevenson said.
Stevenson said the KU Democrats' plan was to promote Sawyer to students who may be frustrated with the political system.
Stevenson said the KU Democrats also are working to register students—both Democrats and Republicans—to vote in the general election.
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