76th District House — Democrat
October 25, 2008
Carol Strickland of Emporia is the Democratic challenger vying for the 76th District House seat, which covers parts of Lyon, Coffey and Greenwood counties. She will answer questions from readers during a one-hour chat at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
Moderator: This morning we’re chatting with Carol Strickland, Democratic candidate for the 76th District Kansas House seat. The 76th District includes parts of Lyon, Coffey and Greenwood counties. In the Nov. 4 general election, Carol faces incumbent Republican Peggy Mast. Carol enters the race as a retired educator. She taught for 19 years in Oklahoma and Colorado before coming to Emporia High School. After a 20-year career there, she now teaches part-time at Emporia State University in The Teachers College. She is married to Glen Strickland, professor emeritus at Emporia State, who will teach a communications class next spring at ESU. Although this is Carol’s first try for political office, Glen was elected to the Emporia school board in April 2007. Don’t forget to refresh your screen during the chat to keep up to date. A full transcript will be published Monday in the print edition. And watch for details of upcoming candidate chats during the next week.
threecs: Why do you recommend that we increase early childhood learning opportunities at a time when taxpayers are saying they want no tax increases.
Carol Strickland: I have always felt that education is the very foundation of a sound democracy and a sound economy. Historically, states that invest in education realize a greater return in higher wages, greater tax revenue, etc. In fact today, the 25 states with the highest per capita incomes also are the highest investors in education. If we start with early childhood education and encourage staying in school through a degree in higher education, our state coffers will show a direct impact. For example, a person with a bachelor's degree will earn, on average from 50 to 80 percent more in a lifetime than will a high school graduate. It's that multiplier effect from Economics that we need to look at. For every one dollar invested in education, an average of seven dollars will be generated into the economy. We need to prioritize education investment in order to boost the economy. And we can do this without tax increases.
DJrocksthemic: Kansas to date has managed to stay out of the states considered to be "in recession," but are considered by many experts to be "at risk." What must be done by the state government to ensure that Kansas remains one of those states not experiancing a recession?
Carol Strickland: I think the first step has been taken by Governor Sebelius: cutting across the board by 2% by all state agencies. This will create hardships by many agecies, but others won't even feel it. The proposed 5% cut for next year could be devastating, especially to our colleges and universities and social service agencies. Action could prevent this: 1) we need to get more of the federal funding that should be coming to Kansas in transportation funds, disaster relief, and business incentives. This will free up some of the state money that can be re-directed to offset the cuts rather than having to spend state money on needed infrastructure repair and maintenance. We also need to modernize our state taxation system. It's antiquated and hurts the very people that it should help. Our property tax and income tax structure hinders spending and promotes saving. This then affects state revenue. I also think that we can market Kansas as the logical hub of scientific research (NABF in Manhattan) and scientific/ technological development at KU Med and PSU. We need to attract more high-paying jobs to the state. Also, eventually, the state-owned and regulated casinos will show some needed revenue to help us stabilize and move away from the "at risk" status. If we focus on growth and not stagnation, we will return to William Allen White's image of a progressive Kansas.
DJrocksthemic: Higher education is clearly a concern of many Emporia residents with ESU providing a large amount of city and county revenue. What must be done to ensure that state college continue to run in the black and will recieve all the funding they need amidst the current "credit freeze?"
Carol Strickland: Higher ed in Kansas has taken a hit in the past few sessions, and the deferred maintenance issue finally called attention to the needs of our colleges and universities. Tuition increases have been implemented to cover some of the missing funding, but that prices many of our students out of college attendance. The answer is not a simple one, but we need to encourage our students with some scholarships that invest in their future, with an agreement that they will stay in Kansas and "give back" to the state. Too many of our graduates leave for more profitable markets, and, hopefully, with a growing economy, we can provide those jobs here after graduation. I think that ESU has adopted an aggressive recruitment activity, espcially among international students. The state legislators must be supportive of measures needed to attract, retain, and utilize graduates for ESU. I would like to see more legislators focus on helping all students who want to attain education beyond high school to do so. In today's society, advanced training beyond high school is a must, and ESU serves so many students well. The Teachers College at ESU produces huge numbers of our state's teachers each year, and the recognition factor is there, but often the funding is not. They are some of our greatest recruiters for future students! We must use the funding and prioritize the need in order to strengthen the state economy.
elebrown: I heard an accusation from Peggy Mast saying that an endorsement from KNEA requires the candidate to raise taxes for schools. What's your "take" on KNEA's recommendation procedures?
Carol Strickland: I was shocked during the KVOE forum last Tuesday when Peggy made that accusation. I later checked with Eleanor Browning and with Blake West, KNEA President, and they were both as shocked as I was. This is not true. I was told that the endorsement comes for an incumbent based on three things: 1) the votes cast in the legislature 2) the questionnaire that each candidate is sent, and 3) a personal interview by an NEA representative (Eleanor) in this district. I was told that KNEA gave Peggy Mast a 12% rating on her voting record (up from 11% the year before); she did not return the questionnaire; and she e-mailed a response that she didn't have time to do the interview. There was never a mention of tax increases, and KNEA does not support that idea to aid school children. I am endorsed by KNEA and Emporia NEA as well as the Six Rivers Uniserv District, primarily because I do support education, answered the questionnaire, and met for the interview. Don Hill also was endorsed after he went through the process. Teachers know that when a representative continually votes against the school finance bill, early childhood education funding, and teacher incentives and scholarship, that representative probably will not "earn" an endorsement from their professional organization. Rep. Mast also created some furor when she voted to re-allocate at risk funding to the Wichita, Topeka, Johnson County and Wyandotte schools, while taking $81,000 away from Emporia, over $200,000 from Fort Scott, and many other smaller school districts. Fortunately, that bill failed by only one vote, thanks to the efforts of Shirley Palmer, a first term legislator and former teacher from Fort Scott. I think Rep. Mast's vote for forced consolidation of schools also raised a red flag. Fortunately, the other legislators prevailed, and the amendment was defeated. NEA endorses candidates that will be fair and equitable for schools, and their choice is not tied to taxation! I hope that this dispels that misconception.
Moderator: We've got two more submitted questions left for Carol with about 25 minutes left to chat. If you'd like to ask a question, now's a good opportunity to get one in. Just type your question into the box and submit it.
elebrown: Is there any hope that the bill that makes retired teachers "second-class" educators and are only rehired as "at-will" employees, which means not being paid on the salary schedule, no benefits, no due process, etc.--being changed?
Carol Strickland: This is definitely one that I would like to work on in the next session. We have many very qualified teachers who have taken early retirement from districts because of benefits available, but who are still very capable teachers in the classroom. I would like to see us reward those who are willing to remain in teaching because without them, our teacher shortage will be even more devastating in the next few years. The legislation change will need bipartisan support to become a reality, but I think that I can be convincing about our needs and what these retirees have to offer. School districts are able to get a "cheaper hire" and at the same time get a veteran teacher. It doesn't seem fair, and I think we can make some headway, especially in terms of needed personnel across the state.
jhawker1957: There seems to be a lack of leadership in the Kansas Legislature. How would you help change that when elected?
Carol Strickland: There IS a problem of lack of leadership as well too much petty party politics in our Kansas legislature. As a graduate of Leadership Kansas, I learned that only those brave enough to take the criticism are the ones who step forward to lead. Often the leadership is by example; often, by consensus-building; but always by respect. I think that my credentials of leadership in the classroom, on the state level as The 1999 Kansas Teacher of the Year, on the national level as a member of Jerry Moran's executive committee, and internationally as a leader in the US Department of State International teacher-student exchange program will serve me well as a leader in the legislature. I already know many of the Representatives (some of whom are former teachers), both Republicans and Democrats, so I think that I can make an easy transition. Also, leadership comes with the ability to work well with all people, not just the members of a small caucus or a wing of the party. I have been asking voters to see me not with a (D) or (R) after my name, but with a (K), which stands for Kansan. I would hope that I could convince others in the chamber to put party politics aside and try to move Kansas forward again. I really don't think that the state can survive another divisive session like the last one. There could have been many compromise proposals emerge, but people just wouldn't talk to each other, and some even walked out. We deserve better from our Representatives, and I will use my heart, my conscience, and my communication skills to realign the chamber as one that works for the best interests of the people. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not afraid to advocate and lead. I promise my full efforts to the people of the 76th District to make you proud of me as YOUR leader and your voice in Topeka.
jhawker1957: It is my understanding reading the expense reports that Peggy Mast has taken money from the following: Wallace Energy, DaMar Resources, & the Sunflower Electric Power Corp. If she is in the pocket of all the oil drilling and coal plant pacs, how can she say she is for alternative energy sources?
Carol Strickland: I have asked the voters of the 76th District to look online at the financial reports to see where the money comes from for our campaigns (www. kssos.org-- and click on campaign finance) My research shows that Rep. Mast has accepted very large campaign contributions from Sunflower Electric and other oil and gas corporations, some out-of-state, as well as from the Prarire band Potawatomi Tribe (casino), Anheuser Busch and the Kansas Beverage Association (alcohol), Reynold Tobacco in Winston-Salem NC (tobacco), and numerous other large corporations such as Koch industries in Topeka. Even though Rep. Mast decries gambling, drinking, etc. she accepts large campaign contributions from them. And, yes, she supported Sunflower Electric's bid to build two plants in Holcomb which would have emitted 11 million tons of carbon dioxide into the air every year. I am a supporter of a comprehensive energy policy that includes all sources that Kansas can reasonably harness without endangering the environemnt and health of our sitizens. I'm confused about where Rep. Mast actually stands because of her contributors. Can candidates refuse contributions from entities that offend? Absolutely!
Moderator: That’s all the time we have today. Thanks for your questions for Carol, and thanks to Carol for taking time to answer them. Keep checking back for a schedule of candidate chats throughout next week. The Gazette has invited all candidates in contested local and state races to participate. Right now, we’re working to coordinate their schedules. As we schedule them, we’ll post links so readers can ask questions. Watch for announcements in the print edition, but make sure to check back here, too, for up-to-the-minute announcements. Finally, the deadline to register to vote has passed. But for all our readers who are registered, don’t forget to vote on Nov. 4 — or advance vote through noon Nov. 3. It’s a constitutional right, and we believe it’s a civic responsibility. Please exercise it.