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For Immediate
Release
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
FARM BUREAU CANDIDATES FORUM.
Making a good showing
06/14/06
A group of about 50 people gathered Tuesday night to hear School Board,
County Commission and State Representative Candidates speak. Missing from the
line-up was District #9 School Board Candidate Kent Runyan. Each Candidate was
given 3 minutes to speak and then each group could field 10 minutes of
questions.
Republican School Board Candidate Jana Schaffer, though talking the same
rhetoric we have heard before, at least sounded informed and concerned while her
opponent Brad Patzer (Iris Van Meters relative), made it clear that in his
opinion Creationism should remain and Darwinism should go. He would like to see
good Christian values taught in all our schools.
Special Note Here: All the Republican Candidates put down the school finance
package. Upon examination it would appear that they are, at least in this
County, pushing for school vouchers. The informed believe that it is because
institutions such as Christian schools cannot afford the empire they have built and will need
school vouchers to maintain there kingdoms and survive.
County Commission Democratic Candidate Lee Caine, who is a former County
Commissioner, appeared at ease and poised as he spoke of his background. The
Republican Candidate who had spoke before Lee had memorized and recited verbatim
the Republicans TABOR handout. Lee very expertly and quickly, without mentioning
TABOR, offered up solutions for tax relief in Montgomery County.
I was able to stop Frank Miller cold on the subject of Eminent Domain when an
audience member asked Miller about the seven year clause in the Eminent Domain
Bill. Before Miller could take the microphone I fielded the question and stated:
"According to Representative Miller a Corporation would never get government to
claim a property under Eminent Domain then wait for 7 years to be able to make a
low bid on that property. I say that is not true! Most people will not have the
original cost of the land after 7 years and a person, especially a farmer, who
has 2nd or 3rd mortgages on their property are going to be hard pressed to
acquire another mortgage. Especially if it is an older person. Corporations will
wait 10, 15, 20 years to get what they want. Remember, corporations are
conglomerates not individuals and they can wait, we can't. The current bill is
Eminent Domain lite. We need a stronger bill to better protect property owners
rights." Millers response was to talk about how he had wanted the bill to be a
constitutional amendment but he didn't get it. He stated that he did not like
that the bill was a statue and could be changed. The M&E bill also was brought
up and Miller talked about how it would help out corporations. I pointed out how
it would injure the small business owners and poorer counties. I stated: "It is
another example of a bill designed to assist the rich corporations while putting
the shaft to the small business owner. Larger counties will benefit while
counties like Montgomery will foot the bill. As a small business owner I would
rather pay the small amount that I do now in M&E taxes than face the alternative
later on. Do you think your property taxes are high now? Just wait, the lost
revenue has to come from somewhere and it is the property owner who will pick up
the bill.
Independence Daily Reporter Editorial
Cartoon
The highlight of the evening however came when former District #11 Democratic
Representative Jim Miller called now District #11 Representative Virgil Peck on
his statement that he would not support any bill that would increase taxes. Jim
Miller cited a bill number that concerned school finance and that would have
raised property taxes that Peck voted on. Jim insisted that Peck explain how he
could state that he does not vote to raise taxes when the record proves
otherwise. Peck tried to counter by starting out claiming that Jim Miller had
the bill number wrong which he did not (Jim had full text of the bill in hand).
Peck then when on for the next 2 minutes using political double talk. Mentioning
bill numbers, LOB's (stating they were not tax increases) and mill levies. It
was a confusing babble of jargon that sounds impressive but that most people
would not understand. When Peck had finished speaking District #11 Democratic
Candidate Ralph Anthony went to the podium and said: "Show of hands, how many
people understood any of that? Now you know why I am running!" Laughter and
applause followed.
Historically a Farm Bureau crowd is a tough group to for a Democrat to face. We
were definitely out numbered, 9 Republican Candidates to our 3 Democratic
Candidates. It is my belief however that we did ourselves and the Democratic
party proud. We addressed the issues smoothly, calmly and with informed
opinions. I truly believe that we gave them something to think about and that
the 3 of us proved that we are a force to be reckoned with. If the Republican
party thought that this would be an easy election for them, well let me just say
that we destroyed that notion last evening.
"The elected official works for the people! You do not make promises to your
boss which are beyond your power to keep and expect to hold your position."
-Jim George- Democratic Candidate, Kansas State House of Representatives
District #12
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