Candidate forum — Peggy Mast
July 30, 2008
Peggy Mast, running for the Republican nomination for the 76th District Kansas House of Representatives seat, will answer reader questions.
Moderator: Welcome back, our next guest is Peggy Mast, the incumbent in the 76th District of the Kansas House. She has been representing the people of her district for 12 years. She is married. She and her husband, John, have four children.
glarson: What are your reasons for running for office?
Peggy Mast: I love serving the people of the 76th District. It is the greatest learning experience of my life. Just today, I was on the phone with the EPA in Kansas City learning about herbicides. Yesterday, it was the Kansas Department of Agriculture and Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
dottie: Supporters of Tony Trimble have accused you of having "multiple husbands" and having left your kids in Madison, KS to be raised by someone else. This is not at all characteristic of the Peggy Long Mast that I had heard about or even come to know before you became my representative. Would you please tell your constituents the truth as you so characteristically do? Thank you.
Peggy Mast: It is no secret that I have been married more than once and I guess that qualifies my experience to be defined as multiple. I have been more than happy to tell my life story to anyone who asked. Our children were raised in Hamilton. I was married to their father for 26 years and moved to Madison after the divorce. I am now married to one great man who loves me unconditionally. He has three grown children and one grandchild. I have four grown children and 9 grandchildren.
Moderator: Now, it's on to energy. This question was posted by Dr. Mac for Mr. Trimble, but is being asked here for Rep. Mast as well: What are your plans to enhance energy projects within the state. Are you in favor of the coal fired plants development, wind, solar, and adding to Wolf Creek?
Peggy Mast: There is no doubt that the need for more energy is very real. I am supportive of the coal fired plants in Western Kansas. The technology that was planned for them would provide a combination of new technology that would make them the cleanest plants in the state. They planned on working with KSU in using a closed system that would use the CO2 to grow algae and then use the algae as a fuel source. I am also excited about the possiblity for H2O. I just viewed a video this morning of autos that have been developed that can run on water. Jim Hill who recently lived in Emporia came to Topeka with my invitation and made a presentation before our Utilities Committee as well as speaking with Mark Parkinson. Adding on to Wolf Creek would be a wonderful event for my entire district. It would bring new economic development, create some good high paying jobs, and help with future energy needs. I have done all I can to help that happen and will continue to do so. Solar and wind are both more expensive than most other types of energy but I have pledged that if my district want wind power, I will support it.
Emporia_Spartan: What is your position on how Kansas should deal with the illegal immigration issue?
Peggy Mast: We worked hard last year to address this issue and the surrounding states have already passed legislation that makes it important for Kansas to do so as well. I polled my district on this issue this past session and found that 84% of my district wants it to be addressed. My hope is to work on it again in 2009 and hopefully get legislation passed that will help to curtail the problem.
alfalfa: What do you see as the primary differences between yourself and Tony Trimble?
Peggy Mast: As I see it, the biggest difference between the two candidates would be experience. I have worked on so many issues in the legislature and served on so many committees. That has given me the knowledge needed to get things done in Topeka. It takes a while to gain confidence in the process as well as moving up to positions on leadership. I have attained both objectives by serving as Chair of Legislative Post Audit and Vice Chair of Health and Human Services, Social Services Budget Committee, and Business, Commerce and Labor.
neighbor: In your time serving as the 76th District House Rep., is there a Legislative action that you have been involved in that you are most proud of? What are some issues that you plan on addressing should you be re-elected?
Peggy Mast: The issues that I take the most pride in are the ones that involve people from my district. With the help of the local police department and KBI, we were able to pass legislation that would give law enforcement an opportunity for arrest of individuals who had illegal identification. This was an important issue for those who suffer from identity theft. It took us three years to get it through the process, but it was well worth it. Of course, a very memorable experience will always be a seventh grade class in Olpe who aspired to name the state fish. I will always remember having to pile statute books on the floor so that they could talk over the podium when they were testifying before the Federal and State Committee. I was so very proud of those kids! At this time, I don't have any legislation that I am thinking about introducing new, but I am always open to new ideas.
Emporia_Spartan: Long-time supporters have recently felt that you've lost sight of the 76th District needs and have focused on things like gansta rap and taken a negative political side to issues that affect our jobs and economy. After a decade in the House, what is your most significant accomplishment for this District? How would you answer Mr. Trimble's charge that it's time to change leadership?
Peggy Mast: I was suprised when people took offense of my compassion on one man who walked around the Capitol every day; carrying an American flag and wanted someone to pay attention to the message of "gangsta rap" music. I did not feel that took me away from the 76th district when an individual had written a letter of concern when that music was played at a local football game with his young son present. I wish that you would define your negative note on my actions against our economy. I cannot imagine where that comment is coming from. Regarding the need to "change", I feel that we have challenges ahead regarding our economy, energy, and healthcare. My experience in those fields gives me a better understanding of how to address them. I would welcome a call anytime regarding anyone's feelings about the job I'm doing. I'm always open for comments.
iamfree: During Mr. Trimble's chat time, he indicated that as a "powerful" 12-year representative, you should have stopped various legislative wrongdoings, including overspending, failure to curtail the power of the bureaucrat who single-handled stopped the Sunflower coal fire plant, etc. Apparently he believes he could have done so had he been in office. What, if anything, do you believe a freshman representative could accomplish that a veteran could not?
Peggy Mast: I think that it is impossible for someone who has watched the process from the gallery to understand how the legislative process works. That is why I regularly invite people to come up and "shadow" me for a day. That gives them the opportunity to learn a lot more about the task of serving the legislature. It is interesting that my opponent does not find fault with my votes, but rather with my inability to change the votes of other people. The Kansas Legislature is as diverse of the people of our great state. Each person who casts a vote has their own reason for doing so. My job is to represent the people of my district and hope that my vote is in the majority.
TheWatcher: 1) Do you consider yourself a George W. Bush Republican? 2) Do you agree with the policies of George W. Bush including his war in Iraq, the budget deficit and the rising price of gasoline? 3) Why have you spent time dealing with Ganster Rap rather than with positive programs to help small business?
Peggy Mast: To be honest with you, I don't think much about my response on federal issues, or on local issues. I try to deal with state issues and my own responsibility as a citizen, both locally and nationally. I don't like the rising cost of gasoline any better than anyone else. I hate it that gasoline prices in Kansas as higher than in surrounding states. My husband runs a small business in Emporia and I feel that I have done a great deal to help small businesses in my district. Just recently, I traveled to Salina with a small business that I had recommended to the Department of Commerce for their efforts to expand, employ more people, and expand their product line. The National Federation of Independent Business has recognized me for my support of their membership and that is usually small business.
justthefacts: The Emporia Police Department is sadly lacking in the financial resources to replace aging equipment and cannot meet staffing levels, what will you do to help find funding to help the department get up to the standards that most police departments in the state are at?
Peggy Mast: This is the first time I have heard about the unmet needs of the local police department. At this time, I cannot think of a way to address it because it is largely a local issue. I do know that other law enforcement agencies in the state have gotten help with equipment from the highway patrol or from federal sources. I would be happy to help link the department up with contacts for those agencies if they would like.
EsqEB: Peggy, With the coal plants in Holcomb on the backburner for now, what plans do you have to bring more industry and jobs to Kansas? With all of the wasteful spending the legislature seems to be able to pass ($250 million to rehab the Capital building, $15 million for a parking garage), it seems they need to spend some time trying to bring some more of a tax base into Kansas.
Peggy Mast: I regret the coal fire plants would have expanded the tax base to Kansas. The legislation would have also sent a message to other industry that wanted to locate in the state that we have regulatory stability. Right now, that message is not there. I agree with you that the Capitol building has been far too expensive and unneccessary when we have pressing needs in the state. My Grandad always told me "You can't eat scenary". I am thankful that our single biggest industry in Kansas is agriculture and that sector is looking very good right now. Hopefully we can go back and restore some confidence in our state this next year.
Moderator: That's our chat with Peggy Mast. We thank her for agreeing to answer questions and we thank those people who sent in questions. Even with double the usual time for this afternoon's chats, not all the questions submitted could be answered. A full transcript of this chat and the chat earler this afternoon with Rep. Mast's primary opponent, Tony Trimble, will be published in Thursday's edition of The Emporia Gazette.