Election 2012 - Volume 108, Issue 9

Election October 31, 2012

4

ELECTION 2012 vote Nov. 6

Mitt Romney Barack Obama Republican Massachusetts Governor Age: 65 Born: Detroit, Michigan Graduated: Brigham Young University 1971, Harvard Law School 1975

Democrat President Age: 51 Born: Honolulu, Hawaii Graduated: Columbia University 1983, Harvard Law School 1991

Joe Biden

Paul Ryan

Obama's VP pick

Romney's VP pick

Vice President (D) Age: 69 Born: Scranton, Pennsylvania Graduated: University of Delaware 1965, Syracuse University College of Law 1968

Wisconsin Congressman (R) Age: 42 Born: Janesville, Wisconsin Graduated: Miami University in Ohio 1992

Romney's stand on issues

Obama's stand on issues

STUDENT LOANS AND GRANTS Governor Mitt Romney supports private bank lending for students loans instead of public ones. That could result in higher interest rates for students. Romney’s Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan has a budget plan, aimed at lowering the national deficit, which would cut more than $15 billion in Pell Grant funding beginning in 2013. That is a 42 percent cut in Pell Grants.

President Barack Obama has worked to lower student loan interest rates since taking office. Obama doubled the funding for Pell Grants during his first term. He also switched from privately funded loan providers to public ones. That freed up billions to be put towards Pell and other grant programs. He capped federal student loan repayments at 10 percent of the person’s monthly income as part of his “Pay As You Earn” program.

JOB CREATION Governor Mitt Romney’s stance on job creation is based on his time working in the private sector with large amounts of money. He plans to reduce taxes, spending, regulation and government. He does not give any specific cuts on his website. Romney said the number of unemployed in the U.S. is 23 million people. This number has been proven to be false. Romney, as a conservative, will try to cut back on interference from the government on businesses.

During his term, President Barack Obama has focused on getting manufacturing jobs into the U.S. The auto industry has been the most touted among Obama’s supporters. Obama is trying to help the private sector by investing in the nation’s infrastructure. This includes roads, bridges and airports. The possible infrastructure jobs have been estimated at 400,000. He is also spending to increase job-training programs and incentives to hire certain types of people.

MILITARY BUDGET President Barack Obama plans to reduce military spending. In his latest proposed budget, he suggested reducing the Pentagon’s base budget to $5.7 trillion over the next decade, which means defense spending would decrease from 20 percent to 11 percent of total federal spending by 2022. Obama said in January, “Our military will be leaner, but the world must know the United States is going to maintain our military superiority.”

Governor Mitt Romney will increase the Pentagon’s base budget (which excludes war funding) by $2 trillion over the next decade by reserving four percent of the Gross Domestic Product for it. He will not increase total defense spending, but will shift war funding to the Pentagon’s base budget. On his campaign website, Romney wrote, "This will not be a cost-free process. We cannot rebuild our military strength without paying for it."

HEALTH CARE Governor Mitt Romney is a supporter of state-by-state health care reform. Romney says on his first day in office, he will repeal the full legislation of Obamacare. His vision for health care is to help promote free markets and fair competition, restore state leadership and flexibility and empower consumer choice. Romney’s website says he will “pursue policies that give each state the power to craft a health care reform plan that is best for its own citizens.”

President Barack Obama’s universal health care plan, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, was a monumental legislation. Obama’s website says the plan expands access to free preventative services and gave 3.1 million young Americans health insurance. Obama’s website says he wants to “put an end to the health insurance company practice of charging women more than men for the same coverage.”

FOREIGN POLICY Governor Mitt Romney’s foreign policy plan is to build and modernize military capabilities, as stated on his website, mittromney.com. Romney said he will speak with commanders in the field in Afghanistan and work with the goal of trying to get American troops out of the country in 2014. He plans to build economic-based relationships with countries in Asia and Latin America.

President Barack Obama's foreign policy plan is to draw down American troops in Afghanistan and responsibly end the war there in 2014, according to barackobama.com. He has been working internationally to help secure all vulnerable nuclear materials. He has worked to keep these nuclear weapons out of Iran and North Korea. He has also formed alliances and coalitions with Israel, Asia and Latin America, as well as NATO.

IMMIGRATION Governor Mitt Romney says he will build a fence along the entire southern border of the United States. He favors deporting all illegal immigrants, though he says the solution is selfdeportation, which means the immigrants go home themselves because they can't find work in America. Romney has been pretty vague on what he would replace Obama's policy with, or if he would even replace it, but favors comprehensive reform on illegal immigration.

President Barack Obama passed the Dream Act in his first term, which allows many illegal immigrants brough to America as children to have a chance to get citizenship. Obama has prioritized deporting dangerous immigrants over the average illegal immigrant. Obama has given Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents new guidelines when dealing with illegal immigrants that give many immigrants some protection from deportation.

HOMELAND SECURITY Governor Mitt Romney said fighting terrorism will be one of his top priorities. He has said other than global jihad by radical violent Islam, domestic issues such as immigration is the biggest threat to America. He wants to secure our borders and have an employment verification system. Romney believes we should stop runaway spending and devote more money to stopping the next terrorist plot through additional funding for the FBI and CIA.

President Barack Obama wants to strengthen the country's biological and nuclear security by strengthening and enhancing the nuclear detection architecture. Obama wants to improve intelligence capacity and information sharing to promote resiliency of the physical and social infrastructure. Obama believes we must take a comprehensive approach to securing our borders, including working with international partners.

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ucaecho.net

Candidates differ at congressional debates

by Mary DeLoney and Lee Hogan Editor and Sports Editor

District one and two candidates vying for congressman talked about their differences on a variety of subjects Oct. 22.

The debate was hosted by Arkansas Education Television Network at its studio in Conway.

District one congressman candidates Scott Ellington, Democrat, Jacob Holloway, Green Party, and Jessica Paxton, Libertarian, answered questions about the federal farm bill, food stamps, gridlock in congress, the Affordable Health Care Act, campaign reform and insurance when it comes to faith-based employers. Incumbent Rick Crawford, Republican, declined to participate in the debate.

During the debate, each candidate pointed out their differences when it comes to their views on the federal farm bill. Ellington criticized Crawford for not getting the farm bill signed before the election. Holloway said the farm bill does not focus on nutritional foods and government needs to stop setting commodity prices and Paxton said the bill should fall under states rights.

When it comes to the vast amount of people receiving food stamps, Ellington said there should be tighter qualifications for the program and that more people just need jobs.

Holloway said people in the program do not have adequate access to good food and people need to learn how to grow their own food.

Paxton said government should lower taxes and decrease regulations on businesses so they can provide jobs and people will not have to use the program.

Each candidate said they are willing to work across party lines to get things done in congress. However, Paxton said she would not veer from personal beliefs of smaller government and personal freedom when it comes to voting on issues.

On the Affordable Health Care Act, Ellington said he supports and opposes different parts of it. He said he is concerned about how it will affect small businesses.

Holloway said he does not believe the government should control insurance and more doctors and nurses need to be trained.

Paxton said she favors a free market health care system.

Each candidate agreed there is need for campaign reform, but each was unable to give specific changes that need to be made.

When it comes to faith-based employers providing insurance for employees, Ellington said he struggles with the idea because a small church daycare and a faith-based hospital provide insurance for a very different number of people. Holloway said contraceptives are affordable without insurance and Paxton said she believes the faith-based employers have a right to run their businesses as they see fit.

Ellington, 49, is the 2nd Judicial District prosecutor from Jonesboro. Holloway, 24, is a masters student working to complete his degree in agriculture science at Arkansas State University from Jonesboro. Paxton, 28, is a stay-at-home mother who runs a small sales business out of her home in Marion.

Candidates running in Arkansas’ Congressional District 2 offered their ideas and solutions with media members from the district and the audience Tuesday afternoon.

The debate drew all four candidates on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The candidates are: Tim Griffin, the Republican incumbent seeking a second term, Chris Hayes, the Libertarian nominee, Herb Rule, the Democratic nominee and Barbara Ward, the Green Party nominee.

The candidates fielded questions from panelists Malcolm Glover of KUAR, Jacob Brower of The Daily Citizen in Searcy and Lance Turner of Arkansas Business. The questions ranged from issues on this year’s ballot, economic problems and solutions, Obamacare and possible cuts to PBS. Herb Rule, while fielding a question on whether sexual orientation should be added to the list of things that cannot be discriminated against during job interviews, said that Arkansans got it wrong when voting against same-sex marriage in 2004. The vote, which received 75 percent support in 2004, made a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in Arkansas.

“The question of same-sex marriage has been decided by the voters in Arkansas, but I believe that it was decided wrongly,” Rule said.

“I think I join Ms. Ward in supporting human rights. Human rights to choose their own partner.”

In a press conference following the debate, Rule was asked to clarify his stance on Arkansas’ banning of same-sex marriage.

Rule said he did not say voters were wrong and that “you’ll have to look at the tape” to see his answer.

“I don’t have a problem with the voters.

This is a democracy,” Rule said. “You’ll have to take it up with the voters.”

Rule was also asked during the debate about his DWI arrest on August 9 in Fayetteville. Rule is fighting the charge and maintains his innocence.

“I would urge anybody who is interested to take a look at the video of the stop, which is on the web now, and judge for themselves,” Rule said. “Others have done that and I think it speaks for itself. I wasn’t drunk and I’m not guilty.”

The other candidates refused to go into detail on Rule’s arrest, citing that Rule will have his day in court to fight the charges.

“I have not commented on [Rule’s] recent arrest or the one before that,” Tim Griffin said.

Griffin was referring to Rule’s previous drunk driving arrest in 2010 in Rogers, which was later acquitted. Rule said in the press conference after the debate that the arrest has not hurt his campaign. Candidates were also asked their stances on Issue Five of the Nov. 6 ballot, which deals with the legalization of medical marijuana use in Arkansas.

Griffin was the only candidate to oppose the act.

“If you look at what’s happened in other states, there’s a problem, in terms of youth getting their hands on [medical marijuana],” Griffin said. “I would also say that we have to remember marijuana is illegal under federal law. It’s a federal crime to market in marijuana, and to grow and transact with marijuana.”

Barbara Ward said she supports the act, because of people she knows that have been helped by the use of medical marijuana with various illnesses. Ward said regulation would be key if the act passes on the ballot.

“As long as it is a controlled environment, I do believe that it will do a lot of good,” Ward said. “Therefore, I would be in favor of voting for that.”

Chris Hayes said he supported the act to legalize medical marijuana use, but brought up different reasons in addition to helping those with painful illnesses.

“Let’s face it, prohibition doesn’t work.”

Hayes said. “It didn’t work in the ‘30s, it hasn’t worked all this time. All we’re doing is creating larger jails, putting more people in jail for petty little crimes in a lot of cases.”

Hayes said the end of prohibition and “bootleggers” led to the creation of NASCAR in the U.S. “I’d say everybody would agree [NASCAR] has been a very profitable adventure,” Hayes said. “To continue to put people in jail for petty crimes, such as marijuana to me, is a waste of tax payers’ money.”

Rule said he supports the use of medical marijuana, with a doctor’s prescription, for people suffering from a painful illness such as cancer. He would not say definitively during the debate whether he supported the act.

Rule was asked in the press conference afterward if he would be in support of the act, but would only say he was “leaning towards supporting [the act],” but did not know enough of the specifics of the act to give a definitive answer.

The candidates were asked what industries they saw as the future of job growth in the U.S. All of the candidates’ answers pertained to either small businesses or the technology industry.

Hayes said the government should be helping small businesses. He said that helping farmers in the state, or encouraging residents to begin farming, should be looked at.

Ward said she would like to see more money be given to small businesses and for people to “shop America,” and try to buy items made in the country. She said she would like to see jobs created in the wind, solar and other alternative energy fields to create job growth and cut down on fossil fuel dependency.

Rule and Griffin said they saw job growth coming from the technology industry in the future. Griffin said he would like to continue to see exploration in energy sources in Arkansas to create more jobs.

Ward said she would like to see cuts made to the military funding.

“I think enough is enough,” she said. “I do want to be safe, I do think the military is important. My father was a 30-year military man, so I know about the military, but I think we need to look at that and see about taking the money from that, putting it towards the deficit, that’s growing all the time.”

Rule said using the Bowles-Simpson plan, authored by Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson who are co-chairs of President Barack Obama’s Deficit Commission, is the best plan for the country.

Rule said the plan would make cuts in many government funded programs. It would also make major cuts to defense funding, according to Rule.

“It also calls for tax increases for the middle class and the super rich,” Rule said.

Rule said this plan in effect, after 10 years, would lead the country back to the “zero deficit” of former President Bill Clinton’s administration.

Hayes said he would like to see cuts in taxes and military, specifically military bases around the world.

Early voting began Oct. 22. Election Day polls will be open Nov. 6, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Mayor

Tab Townsell

Randy Herrold

Mark Elsinger

October 31, 2012/5

Expenditures District 35 State Senate candidate expenditure reports for September

by Mary DeLoney

PAC. Tyler received two $2,000 donations during the month. One was from Mark Pryor for U.S. Senate and the other was from Stephen Brighton of Arnold, Md. Both candidates received several $1,000 donations.

Rapert received $1,000 donations from Cotton for Congress of Dardanelle, Koch Industries, Inc. of Wichita, Kan., Scott Coffey of Conway, Charles Cella of St. Louis and the McDonald’s Local Owner Operators of AR PAC. Tyler received $1,000 donations

Editor

In September, State Senate District 35 candidates, Jason Rapert (Republican) and Linda Tyler (Democrat) raised a combined total of $37,536, according to their campaign contribution and expenditure reports.

Rapert raised $15,101, and Tyler raised $22,435.

Rapert received one $2,000 donation during the month from the AHC-SPAC (Arkansas Health Care Senate Public Affairs Committee)

District 70 House Representative candiates

by Lee Hogan

a proposed budget that increased spending by $80 million, which passed.

Meeks said on his website that he would continue to fight against Obamacare coming to Arkansas.

Cody Bassham said he has different ideas for District 70.

“My focus is on state issues and not on federal issues, because we’re not running for Congress,” he said. “We’re running for state representative and the last thing we need is more Washington in Arkansas. We just need to take care of our business.”

Bassham said his platform centers on education and infrastructure, ranging from roads to Internet and whatever the future holds.

“If we have a trained workforce in fields that are desperately needed, that will help equal economic success,” he said.

Meeks grew up in Springhill. He attended Greenbrier High School until his junior year when his father took a job in Florida. Meeks finished high school there, and joined the Army, where he served for five years. After receiving an honorable discharge, Meeks graduated college

Sports Editor

Republican incumbent David Meeks and Democrat Cody Bassham are running for District 70 state representative in the Nov. 6 election.

The district covers the west side of Conway and extends farther west into Perry County.

Meeks has served one term as a state representative, but not for the newly drawn District 70, which was drawn as a result of the 2010 census numbers.

Bassham has worked on various campaigns, but this is his first run at political office. Bassham worked on campaign staffs for Dustin McDaniel, Robbie Wills and Joe White.

One of Meek’s top priorities is creating jobs by cutting taxes and regulations.

“The private sector is where jobs are created,” Meeks said, on his website. “We must look for ways to decrease their tax burden and regulations so they can hire more people and put more of their money back into their business.”

Meeks has been against an increased state budget, voting against

by Clark Johnson

business degree from the University of Texas, Lawrence began working as an explosives salesman. Lawrence left his sales job and began “dabbling in the medical field.” His wife, Debra, is co-owner of Cosmetic Laser Solutions and the Conway Women’s Health Center. The couple have two children attending Conway Christian School, Carly and Wyatt. They are members of Second Baptist Church in Conway.

Lawrence is a National Rifle Association member, a Life Choices sponsor and has an Arkansas Real Estate License and appraising license.

A Republican, Lawrence says he opposes government intervention in the private sector and recently, healthcare. Lawrence has vowed

Staff Writer

The position of state representative in District 72 of the Arkansas House of Representatives will be decided between Republican candidate Rocky Lawrence and Democratic candidate Steve Magie.

The campaign won’t be the first time Lawrence has run for public office. Lawrence unsuccessfully ran a campaign for Faulkner County Sheriff in 2011 after serving for three years with the Sheriff’s Department.

Magie has never run for public office.

Lawrence, a Texas native, served as a local businessmen for years before going to work for the Sheriff’s department. After obtaining a

Local Candidates

Tax Collector

Steve Simon (D)

Melinda Reynolds (D)

Josh Hooten (R)

Marvin Lessmann (R)

Tommy Earnhart (D)

Aaron Knight

Theodore Jones

Bill Milburn

Andy Hawkins

Mark Vaught (R)

Sheriff

County Judge

Preston Scroggin (D)

to work in opposition to universal healthcare, and wants to help establish a reformed free market for competition.

Magie has been an ophthalmologist for over 30 years.

He is the owner of Magie-Mabrey Eye Clinic in downtown Conway.

Magie began his education at UCA, then obtaining a degree in medicine from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Magie finished his ophthalmology studies at Louisiana State University.

Magie is a member of the Conway Chamber of Commerce and is secretary for the Faulkner County Medical Society. Magie and his wife, Becky, have four children. They attend St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

County Clerk

Darren Roland

Craig Cloud

with a bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministries from Trinity Baptist in Jacksonville, Fla. Bassham grew up north of Salem.

He graduated high school at the Arkansas School for Mathematics and Sciences in 2003. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He is a part-time law student at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Meeks worked as an associate pastor and at an inner-city charter school in Jacksonville after college.

In 2003, Meeks took a job as a customer service agent with Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Florida. He moved to Conway in 2008. He and his wife, Naomi, of three years live in Conway and attend Bible Baptist Church.

Bassham has worked in the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk’s office.

He is now a consultant for online advertising.

Bassham and his wife of three years, Marlys, live in Conway and attend Second Baptist Church. Both have volunteered with the college and children’s ministries there.

District 72 House Representative candiates

City Council Ward Two

City Council Ward Four

from The Stephens Group LLC, Lisa M. Allen/Cox Communications of Wichita, Kan, Joan Klassmeyer of Conway, The Cranford Coalition, Inc. of Little Rock, the AHC (Arkansas Health Care) PAC and Southwestern Energy Company PAC. Both candidates received many smaller contributions from around the state, but mostly from Faulkner County residents.

State Senate District 35 includes part of Perry County and almost all of Faulkner County except Greenbrier.

To find your voting place, visit the secretary of state’s website at voterview.ar-nova.org/.

Candidate Biographies

City Council Ward One

City Council Ward Three

Mark Ledbetter

Elections

James Quinn

Andy Shock (R)

Wes Pruitt

Polls open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. in Conway.

Early voting will continue through Nov. 5.

Election day is Nov. 6.

Students who registered to vote on campus will be able to vote on campus.