MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2004 NEWS THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 7A Kansan profiles candidates for area elections BY ANDY HYLAND ahyland@kansan.com KANSAN STAFF WINTER Tomorrow the Kansan will profile candidates for county clerk, county commission, 3rd district and 2nd district, county treasurer, and State Board of Education, 4th district. DISTRICT ATTORNEY. DOUGLAS COUNTY Charles Branson Charles Branson is the Democratic candidate for Douglas County District Attorney. He said he wants to start a consumer protection division in the county, similar to those in other Kansas counties. This program would prosecute things like unscrupulous acts of businesses and scam artists, he said. He also wants a better witness and victim awareness program, where someone from the office would instruct witnesses and victims about the process, so that they could allay their fears. Another priority for him is to improve the record of the office in jury trials. Christine Kenney Christine Kenney is the Republican incumbent District Attorney for Douglas County seeking re-election. She said she wanted to focus her efforts on domestic, child and elder abuse with another term. "More and more of our senior citizens are being targeted because of their unique resources," she said. She said senior citizens who had savings accounts and investments that they had saved up their whole lives were targets for criminals. She also said she wants to coordinate with other agencies to improve services for those who have been victimized. "My view is that we need to take a pro-active approach to criminal activities, and not just respond to crimes," she said Mark Buhler STATE SENATE, 2ND DISTRICT Mark Buhler, Republican incumbent State Senator for the Second District, wants to keep focusing on education. "Of all the things states do with their money, education may be the most important," he said. He has always been supportive of higher education, he said. He also wants to get more of secondary and elementary education funds into the classrooms. He also said he supports small business development throughout the district. Marci Francisco Marci Francisco is the Democratic challenger for the Second District State Senate seat. She said she wants to support the Democratic governor, Kathleen Sebelius, and her initiatives. She said she wants more funding for higher education. "We need to fund higher education well enough that we're not looking to student tuition to fund improvements to academic buildings," she said. She also wants to look to wind energy as an option for the future, and she wants to raise the Kansas minimum wage, which she said was at $2.65 per hour. Jim Mullins is the Reform party candidate for the Kansas Senate's Second District. He said he supports allocating money to Kansas schools for the next three years, building in the rate of inflation, so that they know what they'll be getting. Then he said he would expect the schools to divert more money to the classroom, from 58 percent currently, to 61.5 percent. This would bring Kansas up to the national average. He said the people of Kansas should vote on quality of life issues, like gay marriage and gambling. He said he would want universities to have more autonomy and accountability, and would support a tax increase as a last resort. Jim Mullins Rich Lorenzo KANSAS HOUSE,10TH DISTRICT Tom Holland Rich Lorenzo is the Republican candidate for the 10th District seat in the Kansas House of Representatives. He said he wants to focus on business issues and health care reform. "We should be working hard to create jobs in the state," he said. He also supported the creation of health care savings accounts in Kansas. He was in favor of "responsible funding" of higher education, and said he needs to get involved in the state legislature and figure out what the needs were and would address the problem more then. The Democratic incumbent for the 10th District seat is Tom Holland. He supports increased funding for higher education in Kansas. "I do not think the state has done its job," he said. He supports more funding for schools to attract "the best and brightest to KU." He said University resources could be used to bring jobs into the state, as well. He said he also wants to work with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kan.) to create a major medical program to help get more people health insurance. He said he supports a tax cut for small businesses to help promote job growth in the state. Robert Garrard A third candidate for the 10th district seat in the Kansas House is Libertarian Robert Garrard. He said he is running to provide an alternative to a vote for a Democrat or Republican. He said he supports economic liberties and civil liberties. This includes tax cuts in the short term, and a long-term goal of making public schools completely private in the state of Kansas. That would provide parents with more choice in which school to send their children and would provide teachers with more choice in what to teach, he said. He also doesn't think the government should be involved in marriage of any sort. "The government doesn't give licenses to make love or have babies, so why should they give licenses to get married?" he said. STATE SENATE, 3RD DISTRICT Roger Pine The 3rd State Senate district in Kansas features Republican Roger Pine, who said he is focused on three key areas that need to be improved — economic development, good education and government efficiency. He said he supports higher education funding, and would be willing to raise taxes for education funding as a last resort. "Government efficiency is the responsibility of all of us," he said. "To look carefully at the dollars we are receiving, and make sure those dollars are being spent in the best way possible." He said the state needs to improve conditions for small businesses and the agriculture industry to encourage growth. Jan Justice Jan Justice is the Democratic nominee for the State Senate 3rd District seat. She said she would work to lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs. She said she is also interested in funding creating a "life-long learning system" in the state. "It's critical that we fund higher education," she said. "With the cost being high and higher, it makes it difficult for students." She also wants to focus on a better security system against terrorism in the state and wants to bring better renewable energy options to the state, such as wind energy and ethanol. KANSAS HOUSE,45TH DISTRICT Tom Sloan Tom Sloan is the Republican incumbent for the Kansas House of Representatives' 45th District. He said he wants to continue to fund pre-K through University education. "I think it takes a tax increase, from both income and property taxes," he said. He also said he was one of the leaders in the House on issues like more fully developing wind energy resources and improving the quality of water in the state. He also said he is a supporter of classified employees at the university level, who he said deserve higher pay. Patrick Wilbur Patrick Wilbur is the Libertarian challenger for the 45th District's Kansas House of Representatives' seat. He said the current increases and level of funding for education are adequate. "It kind of alarmed me that the legislature thought that the solution to the K-12 problem was to raise taxes," he said. He said he would not support State Senator Susan Wagle's (R-Wichita) efforts against the sex class taught by Dennis Dailey, professor of social welfare. "That bothered me a lot," he said. He said he would support a "minimalist government" and more freedom for the people. A year's "experience Reasons for Change The Douglas County D.A. has asked voters to "trust her experience." Consider: - D.A. admits her office routinely fails to respond in writing to defense motions for lighter sentences until after sentences are imposed. [University of Texas, October 28, 2013] - D. A. flip-flops on charging Baldwin teen who threatened suicide and bombing of Baldwin festival. — *L.J. World*, 10/19/2004 - Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice questions D.A.'s delays in properly charger shooter who injured 11. * -L.J. World, 10/13/2004 - D. A. waits 3 months after police investigation is complete to charge Basehor man in vehicular homicide that occurred on March 14, 2004. - L.J. World, 10/1/2004 - After a delay of almost 2 years, D.A. charges dad with attempted murder of three children in near-fatal car crash. - L.J. World, 8/27/2004 - 3 men arrested in Pinkney neighborhood with $6,000 in cocaine,$10,000 and a handgun, are released when D.A. fails to file charges. -L.J. World, 8/10/2004 - Accused scam artist who is charged with stealing $1 million in 1990s, missing for 5 years, flees for 2nd time after bond reduced. - D.A.'s office performance below average for state prosecutors, local newspaper reports. -L.J.World, 7/12/2004 * D.A. defends sub-par conviction history as being "about what I would expect." -L.J.World, 7/12/2004 * D.A. can't explain why county lags behind in enforcing law to get drug offenders substance abuse treatment. -L.J.World, 6/16/2004 * D.A. says it is more efficient if consumers go to Topeka for help with consumer fraud than if problems are handled in Douglas County. - Jurors, critical of lack of evidence, find defendant not guilty on aggravated burglary and aggrivated sexual battery charges. --L. Ward, 302049 - D.A. announces program to set suspected drug dealers free without bond after initial arrest. -- J.L. World, 3142004 - Republican Senator John Vratl blames prosecutors for sentencing inequities in Douglas County. - L.J. World, 12/26/2003 - Killer gets 5 years in prison after D.A. reduces charge, allows plea. - D.A. pushes for 11 year sentence for drug user, opposes probation. — J.L. World, S/23/2004 - Prosecutors bungle charging, shooter who injured 11 gets minimal sentence. - L.J. World, 12/19/2003 - D.A. agrees woman who fleeced elderly couple of $305,000 should only pay $7,000 in restitution. - L.J. Wendt, 1/2024 CHARLES BRANSON BELIEVES DOUGLAS COUNTY DESERVES BETTER. Course conflicts? KU INDEPENDENT STUDY offers more than 160 online and print courses ENROLL ONLINE www.kuce.org/isc Call 864-KUCE (5823) Or visit the Continuing Education Building 1515 St Andrews Drive Consult your academic advisor before you enroll. Graduate and undergraduate courses are available. The University of Kansas School of Fine Arts Department of Music Dance presents UNIVERSITY DANCE COMPANY FALL CONCERTS 2004 GUEST CHOREOGRAPHER: Michael Simms Tickets on sale at the Lied Center, Murphy Hall, and SUA Box offices: $10 public, $7 students and senior citizens. Call 864-ARTS (2787) for tickets. Experienced Leadership Common Sense Commitment to our Children Bill Wagnon State Board of Education www.billwagnon.com Paid for by Wagnon for State Board of Education Joan Wagnon, Treasurer I will work with our governor to strengthen our Kansas economy by - Fully funding public education - Making health insurance more affordable - Caring for our natural resources www.marcifrancisco.org Political advertisement by Mark Masci for Sargent, Turtles Inc. marci francisco 2nd District • Kansas Senate