Alan Jilka, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Congress in the first district, spent Tuesday in Emporia and talked to locals about issues affecting them. He also attended a meet-and-greet at the Granada Theatre, where he addressed the crowd and spoke of his stance on several issues.
He served on the city commission in Salina for 12 years and was mayor three times.
“I really enjoy people and have a passion for public service,” Jilka said.
About an hour into the meet-and-greet, Jilka thanked the crowd for attending and spoke about why he wanted to run for office.
Jilka said he would work on balancing the federal budget, work on securing the border and immigration.
He noted several differences between himself and his opponent, State Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler. Among them, Jilka said Huelskamp seems unwilling to work with others and doesn’t understand immigration and border security issues.
During the last week of July, Jilka and staffer Jeffrey Dinger took a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border and met with police chiefs and mayors of several U.S. and Mexican towns, including El Paso, Texas; Juarez, Mexico; and Tucson, Ariz.
Jilka said he learned many things on the trip, including the magnitude of the crime that is happening just across the border in Mexico. While visiting Juarez, they were accompanied by armed security guards.
“I learned that you can’t do justice to these multi-layer issues with soundbytes,” Jilka said.
Jilka said he thinks immigration reform is needed that protects economic interests and that the border needs to be secure. He said instead of deporting thousands of people, the government should work to install an earned citizenship status, where immigrants learn English and pass a background check with no criminal activity in both their home country and in the U.S.
“It’s unrealistic to think we can deport them all,” Jilka said, adding that deporting all immigrants would harm the economy.
After an audience member asked what his stance was on several other issues, Jilka said he’s in favor of wind and solar energy and said that a one-size-fits-all education plan doesn’t work. He also said the health care bill needs repair, but should not be repealed.
Mike Ireland of Cottonwood Falls said he doesn’t often get the chance to meet the candidates he votes for. Ireland, who teaches at Flint Hills Music, said he would do research before the November vote, but said he will likely vote for Jilka.
Harry Stephens, who organized the meet-and-greet, said about 75 people attended in all.
“I wanted more people to have the opportunity to get to know Alan and talk on an informal basis,” Stephens said.
Jilka told the crowd that he respects Jerry Moran, who vacated the Congressional seat to become the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate seat.
“Government is all about bringing people together to solve problems,” he said. “That’s the type of congressman I want to be.”