Voter's Guide: Kansas Senate, 7th District, Republican

Following is information about the Republican candidates running for the 7th District seat in the Kansas Senate. Candidates were asked to keep their answers to the questions about issues to 70 words or less. Some answers have been edited for length.

Name: David Harvey

Occupation: President/CEO, StoneCreek Properties

Education: University of Kansas.

Political experience and community involvement: No previous political experience. Over the past 25 years while working in senior management positions, I used my free time to actively support my community in activities ranging from school boards, athletic boards, community service boards, coaching youth sports,  LPGA Golf Tournament Co-Director and numerous charitable endeavors.

Does the school finance formula need to be rewritten? If yes, what changes need to be made? If no, why not?

Our children deserve the best education we can provide. Since only one of every three Johnson County tax dollars are sent back to Johnson County by the Kansas Department of Education, I think the finance formula needs to be revised.

Would you support continued cuts in certain areas of the state budget to balance the budget or are further tax increases the best way to solve the expected budget shortfalls?

This current budget crisis wasn’t solely caused by the recession. It was primarily caused by the unsustainable growth in government spending during the three years prior to the recession. … In addition, for the seven years prior to the recession the Legislature suspended the statutory requirement to have 7.5 percent of that year’s budget on hand at year end for emergencies. … Therefore, it’s the irresponsible fiscal behavior of the legislators who voted to dramatically increase state spending and remove the safety net that caused the current fiscal crisis. 

What is your stance on abortion and should it be an issue in the 2011 legislative session?

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on the abortion issue. However, there was a bill that provided for safeguards against the abuse of late-term abortions that was narrowly defeated in the 2010 legislative session. These safeguards should be passed in the 2011 session to protect women and unborn children.

Name:  Terrie Huntington  

Occupation: Marketing communications, retired.

Education: University of Kansas graduate, B.A., 1971.

Political experience and community involvement: Elected four terms to the Kansas House of Representatives; appointed to serve in the Kansas Senate in 2010; served in key leadership roles in the House, including chair of Higher Education, vice chair of Economic Development, and co-chair of Joint Committee for Development of Engineering Students; voting member of committees on Investments, Pensions and Benefits, Education Budget, Commerce & Labor Higher Education; Mission Hills Planning Commission; Johnson County Education and Research Triangle Authority Board; Kansas Children’s Cabinet; United Community Services Executive Board; Northeast Johnson County Chamber of Commerce.

Does the school finance formula need to be rewritten? If yes, what changes need to be made? If no, why not?

Yes, the finance formula must be re-written. The current percentage of SGF funds allocated to education is unsustainable. The formula should be re-drafted to base funding on actual costs, either by eliminating weighted funding categories and increasing the base-state-aid-per pupil, or equitably funding the current weightings based on classification for special ed and at-risk students. If funding is “suitable,” per the Kansas Constitution, then each district should be allowed to spend above the per-pupil-base to enhance their curricula – local control, local spending.

Would you support continued cuts in certain areas of the state budget to balance the budget or are further tax increases the best way to solve the expected budget shortfalls?

Over $1.5 billion has been cut from the Kansas budget, and deeper cuts would cut services to education, the elderly, disabled, and require release of offenders. I would not support further tax increases to solve the budget shortfalls. We could address the shortfall by: providing enabling legislation and incentives for the consolidation of school administrations and city/county governments, especially in sparsely populated areas; reviewing Kansas tax credits that are not being utilized, or are being under-utilized, to free up encumbered funds. …

What is your stance on abortion and should it be an issue in the 2011 legislative session?

I do not support government intrusion into the private health care decisions for women facing unintended pregnancy. In the past I have supported pregnancy maintenance funding, and I successfully carried an amendment to require inspection of all out-patient surgical units, including abortion clinics. I believe in comprehensive sex education, including abstinence, and access to contraception.  Kansas law is extensive with respect to abortion, and I support those provisions.  I do not believe it should be an issue in 2011, …

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