POLLS ARE OPEN FROM 6 A.M. TO 6 P.M. ON NOV. 3
VOLUME 96 • ISSUE 11
MCCONNELL V. MCGRATH
THIRD PARTIES
A10
A3
ON-CAMPUS POLITICAL OPINION
A5
WEEK OF 11•2•20
CAMPAIGNING
DURING COVID-19 By Debra Murray
HOW DID THEY DO IT?
debra.murray940@topper.wku.edu
Having an election during a pandemic creates difficulties for candidates to effectively campaign in traditional ways. Each candidate has to find new creative ways to reach out to voters. There has been less of a focus on door knocking and more attention to a candidate having a social media presence. Amy McGrath, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, mentioned how COVID-19 has impacted her campaign for the 2020 Senate race. “It's difficult right now to campaign,” McGrath said. “People are still engaged, and they know that things aren't going well. They know we need better leaders.”
McGrath also mentioned that a majority of her campaigning is done online, since it’s harder to plan things in person. “We don't do a whole lot of big rallies,” McGrath said. “We do everything outdoors. But I'm still trying to meet people where they're at, so I'm doing a lot of online. [I’m doing] Zoom calls and Facebook Lives and things like that.” She has also been working with other local politicians to discuss issues virtually with citizens. “We do a ton of this Instagram and Facebook Lives,” she said. “We're doing Telecom, we just
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A3 Third party candidates present options outside of Democrats By Shane Stryker shane.stryker614@topper.wku.edu. Election day is coming up, and the deadline for picking a candidate is getting closer. There is no denying this is a very contentious election, and it’s evident that the undecided voter population is much larger than it usually is, although it is smaller than the 2016 group. “Third parties” are political parties that are different from the two dominating parties in American politics, Democrats and Republicans. There’s more support for third parties whenever there is an election where the Republican and Democratic candidates for president don’t have a vast majority of support from their parties. While the Democrats and Republicans compete to sway the undecided voters, some of the biggest third party candidates, whether they are Libertarians, Greens or independents, are rising to the forefront. On with the local level, Leanette Lopez is running for state legislature in District 20 against incumbent Patti Minter. Lopez’s main points of issue are pushing for COVID-19 relief bills, reducing civil liability for small businesses and ensuring funding for the large Medicaid population, according to her website. Lopez is motivated to represent the values of her community as a state legislator. “As your elected official, I will represent the values of this community: the value of doing a good job, the value of fair treatment for all, the value of working together, and the value of faith and family,” Lopez said on her website. Lopez is running as an independent, meaning that she is not attached to one of the major parties or any smaller parties. This is common practice for candidates attempting to convey bipartisanship, something that Lopez emphasizes on her website. In Kentucky’s U.S. House of Representatives second Congressional
District, incumbent Republican Rep. Brett Guthrie is facing off with Libertarian candidate Robert Lee Perry. The Libertarian Party promotes civil liberty, non-interventionism, “laissez-faire” capitalism and increasing limitations to government, according to its website. Perry’s platform is focused on law enforcement reform, immigration and healthcare. Perry said his motivation to run was sparked by a libertarian desire for freedom from the grip of the twoparty system in the U.S. “Robert's disdain for our ‘two-party’ system and its encouragement of fear and envy has driven him to action,” according to Perry’s website. Most of Perry’s solutions to his platform's biggest issues involve lessening government intervention on multiple fronts, allowing for a freer society. Libertarian candidate Brad Barron is running against Mitch McConnell and Amy McGrath in the Kentucky race for U.S. Senate. Barron’s main platform issues are a right to self-defense, bringing troops back from foreign wars, government accountability and anti-abortion. According to his website, “Brad’s stance is that the function of Government is to protect the rights of the individual.” For the upcoming presidential election, the only third-party candidate that is on the ballot in all 50 states is Libertarian candidate Jo Jorgensen. Jorgensen plans on breaking many records, hoping to be the first female president and the first third-party president. Jorgensen is a psychology professor at Clemson University, and a lifelong member of the Libertarian party, registering as Libertarian in 1983. Like most Libertarian candidates, Jorgensen takes pride in being another option for those dissatisfied with the Republican and Democratic candidates.
and Republicans “I would rather die fighting for liberty than live voting for tyranny,” Jorgensen tweeted on Oct. 30. “#votegold if you want to see a real change by real people for real people.” Some of Jorgensen’s biggest stances involve ending the war on drugs, privatising healthcare, creating a freer market and criminal justice reforms. Jorgensen also aims to relieve government barriers on replacing fossil fuels with sustainable energy, as well as pulling the U.S. military out of foreign wars, according to her website. Although he is not on the ballot in all 50 states, Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins would be the next biggest third-party candidate for president. Hawkins is a co-founder of the Green Party, which is mainly concerned with environmental issues, social justice and grassroots democracy. Hawkins main goal for running is to “build the Green Party as an activist and viable opposition to the two-capitalist-party system of corporate rule,” according to his website.
As for his platform, Hawkins is motivated by the worsening environment as well as economic and racial justice. “I have decided to run because so many Greens and independent progressives and socialists have urged me to,” Hawkins said on his website. “We have conceived of a campaign designed to grow the Green Party rapidly as we move into the 2020s and provide real solutions to the climate crisis, the new nuclear arms race, and ever-growing economic and racial inequality.” Hawkins plans to enact a program that transitions the United States to renewable, clean energy by 2030. He plans to achieve this goal by enacting “ecosocialism,” transitioning military industrial complexes into green industrial complexes and increasing taxes on income, wealth and estates.
Shane Stryker can be reached at shane.stryker614@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter @shanestryker.
ILLUSTRATION BY DYLAN HARKREADER
A4 COVID-19 CAMPAIGN • FROM A1 did a telephone call [Oct. 7] with Representative [Charles] Booker talking about things like voting and how we tackle racial justice in this country, and John Yarmuth talking about the kind of aid that we need right now.” Tom Morris, a Democratic writein candidate for mayor of Bowling Green, shared how he has been campaigning during COVID-19. Morris has been practicing social distancing guidelines while door-to-door canvassing. “We were hesitant for a long time to do door-to-door canvassing,” Morris said. “So two or three weeks ago, I tried it with the mask on. I’ll ring the doorbell and stand way back. I try to be very careful not to get within six feet of anyone, but a lot of people are more than willing to talk. I think it's forcing us to use their means of communicating more. The experts say that door-to-door face-to-face contacts are always the best.” Morris also mentioned that he and
his team have reached out to people through phone banking and handwritten postcards. “We knew from the beginning that we were gonna have to do a lot of outreach,” he said. “So we've been phone banking a lot, and I've really focused on social media. The other thing we've done is a postcard campaign. We have sent around 4,000 handwritten postcards to potential voters.” Social media has been the main way that Morris has gotten the attention of younger voters, and he describes how useful it has been for his campaign. “The main way to reach out to younger voters on social media,” He said. “We've also got a Twitter account. But that's not as much a part of our strategies as Tiktok and Instagram. We’ve gotten quite a few supporters in the 18 to 29 demographic.” Francisco Serrano is running to be one of the city commissioners for Bowling Green. He would be the youngest and first Latino to ever hold the position. Paul Francis Wilson is Serrano’s campaign manager. Wilson is a 2019
Getting into
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WKU alumnus who has worked on over 30 campaigns. Both Wilson and Serrano have been committed to campaign in the safest way they could. “We knew that the pandemic would set a new tone for us,” Wilson said. “And so from day one, we had some commitments, and that would be we would be wearing a mask the whole time. And we would not be putting our volunteers in danger, or in a weird health circumstance that we would get tested regularly as campaign managers [and as a] candidate.” Wilson also mentioned the campaign team’s efforts to avoid door knocking as a way to campaign. “We've kind of made a soft pledge not to knock any doors too, which is a massive deal, considering that that's usually where campaigns are won.” Wilson said. “And we've only knocked a few doors, and been very very safe, so that's something to brag about.” Serrano’s team had a large focus on utilizing social media to campaign, and Serrano currently has a large social media presence as the election is getting closer.
“Knowing from day one that we were going to do digital, we decided to do it early,” Wilson said. “Get in early [on digital platforms] and start to talk to real folks with real problems, just like us on the ground. And we have the biggest social media following for any city candidate in South Central Kentucky. And we have a massive presence and we have also brought in a lot of really interesting voices on digital on Facebook Lives weekly with community leaders.” Wilson also discussed the impact that social media has had on Serrano’s campaign for city commissioner, specifically in comparison to the other candidates. “We have the most social media traction of anybody in Bowling Green city politics,” he said. “And we very likely have the most donor count and contribution count in the history of Bowling Green city races, which is a big deal.” Debra Murray can be reached at debra.murray940@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter @debramurrayy.
OPINION
A5
WKU Young Democrats We are the Western Kentucky University Young Democrats, an organization that encourages students to participate in the electoral process and facilitates meaningful political discussions with its members. We are an active group that is dedicated to advancing Democratic ideals and getting Democratic candidates elected. We believe it is time for a new president to lead the United States. We support Joe Biden for president, and here’s why. More than 220,000 Americans have died from Covid-19 under the leadership of Donald Trump. Trump has failed to listen to the advice of the experts, give uniform information to the public and provide the proper aid to the states that need it most. Former Vice President Biden plans to listen to the science and the advice of the scientists. He is going to ensure that public health information is accurate, available and up-to-date. He aims to provide states with the aid they need to combat the spread of the virus. We need a leader who will restore trust in our government at a time when we need it most. We have also seen one of the largest economic downturns in U.S. history during Trump’s presidency. Millions of people lost their jobs and are struggling to put food on the table for their families. Now is not the time to abandon these people. Now is the time to give them relief. Biden has several plans to revive the economy and get the American people back on their feet. He wants to offer aid packages to small businesses who need it, workers a liveable wage of $15 an hour and all Americans access to affordable healthcare. Biden wants to open the country’s economy up—safely. He plans to set national safety guidelines, including mask wearing and social distancing. One group of Americans that has suffered the most during Trump’s time in office is the Black community. Trump has made clear his disregard for Black lives by denouncing the Black Lives Matter movement and praising white supremacy groups. Biden, in contrast, plans to fight for racial equity. He recognizes that Black Americans disproportionately suffer from police brutality, economic hardship and untreated health issues. If elected, Biden will work to reform American policing, close the racial wealth gap by expanding access to education and make it easier for Black Americans to get access to the health care they need. His running mate, Kamala Harris, also announced their plans to get rid of the law that criminalizes marijuana federally, a law that has disproportionately affected African Americans.
Former Vice President Biden has also made his commitment to fighting for women’s rights clear, including the right to make decisions about their own bodies. Trump has fought this right his entire presidency. He defunded Planned Parenthood which offers access to affordable reproductive health care to millions of women, including pap smears, contraception and STD tests. He is also making moves to violate or reverse Roe v. Wade to prevent women from having abortions, a choice that should be left for women to make for themselves. Biden plans to both codify Roe v. Wade and return funding to Planned Parenthood. Biden is also looking ahead, committing to fighting climate change and propelling the American economy into the future. The current president has ignored warnings from climate scientists and even gotten rid of existing environmental protection policies. Biden recognizes the threat that climate change poses to American lives and to our economy. This is why he is planning on building modern infrastructure that will reduce emissions and provide jobs to those who are working in shrinking industries. The U.S. is also seeing a decline in attendance to postsecondary schools because of the extreme rise in student debt. This is shrinking the middle class and growing the wealth gap. Biden wants to solve this issue by allowing anyone to get their associate degree or trade certificate debt-free. He also wants to make all public colleges and universities tuitionfree for any family that makes less than $125,000 a year, as well as double the amount of Pell Grant money offered to low-income families. Biden also wants to make America safer by reforming gun control. His plan to decrease gun violence starts by banning the manufacture and sale of assault weapons. These are weapons of war that do not belong on American streets. Any assault weapons that already exist can either be bought back by the government or registered by a person who has undergone a background check. Background checks will be required for all firearm sales in the future, as well. This is just a glimpse we were able to give you into what Biden plans to do as president if he is elected this November with the limited space we were given. The WKU Young Democrats would encourage anyone interested in learning more to go to www.joebiden.com. However, no matter who you support, we encourage everyone to make their voice heard Nov. 3 and VOTE!
WKU College Republicans The United States of America is an exceptional country. It is an unprecedented good in a world where people's rights are in the hands of their respective arbitrary leaders. The USA has faced her fair share of problems and abominations of justice since the founding in 1776. Still, the American experiment is the greatest hope for democracy, freedom and equality worldwide. The USA faces a contentious presidential election in 2020 between two sides of the political aisle that share starkly different views on the country's future. The nominee for the Republican Party is President Donald J. Trump, and the nominee for the Democratic Party is former Vice President Joseph R. Biden. The two candidates could not be more different when it comes to their respective records. President Trump has fulfilled most of his campaign promises, a rarity in Washington, and he has brought America back. Biden offers the American people decades of inconsequential service and years of empty promises. President Trump has been the most pro-life president in modern American history. Regardless of whether or not you believe the president has personal convictions on the issue, he has enacted policies that support the rights of the unborn. The Republican Party is proud to stand on behalf of all life, which starts at conception. Religion is often the driving factor behind personal convictions against abortion, but one does not have to be religious to see the disgusting nature of the act itself. Roe v. Wade was a stain on the American judiciary, from both a moral and legal standpoint. Andrew Breitbart once said that “politics is downstream from culture.” This idea argues that what we see on our screens when we watch the news is directly related to the culture we are creating as a society. We have a culture that does not value human life as much as it should. Sadly, one of the first questions sometimes asked when a pregnancy is made known is whether or not they will “keep it.” The phrase’s connotation speaks for itself. Human life must be protected. I mentioned Roe v. Wade. The Supreme Court’s legitimacy in cases such as Roe depends almost entirely on how the states and institutions view it. For instance, if Texas passes a law that protects people
wanting to openly-carry a firearm and the Supreme Court strikes it down, then Texas has to reevaluate their position and change the law. The idea that you have to abide by the ruling only applies under mounds of precedent and the stability of the Court. The Democratic Party is flirting with the idea of packing the Supreme Court, and it is not the first time. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Democrat, vowed to expand the Court to approximately fifteen justices to outnumber those who opposed his New Deal legislation. Former Vice President Joe Biden has yet to give a concrete answer as to whether or not he would support packing the Supreme Court if the Democrats were to take the reins of a unified government. President Trump will preserve the respect and stability of the highest court in the land. Another heated debate involves the outbreak of social unrest across America. I, along with the rest of America, was horrified by the images I saw in the death of George Floyd. It was unacceptable and police need better training. However, calls to defund the police are reckless and irresponsible. The organization that drives this farce is Black Lives Matter. The rioting and looting that happened as a result of this tragic event is inexcusable. If we allow our society to crumble under the weight of societal stress, then we will have no society. Mob rule would rein supreme, and America would lose all hope of due process and the rule of law. Black Americans deserve the same opportunities promised to every other American. Economic opportunity for Black Americans is a staple of the Trump Administration. Through President Trump’s new Platinum Plan, Black Americans will be given better opportunities to succeed. I genuinely believe that America can have her best days ahead. President Trump and the Republican Party are neither one perfect. Still, the alternative is a step back into an old way of government where the people have no say, and the oligarchs actively silence them. I want a brighter future for all Americans of every race, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. I want a brighter future for myself, my friends, my family and the generations to come. So how about it, WKU students? Let’s vote to re-elect President Donald J. Trump and the rest of the Republican ticket in order to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
A voice of change for the young generation
“I’m bringing fresh new ideas not only from our generation, but many other generations that live here in Bowling Green that echo the same idea that they want to see represented in our current government.”
Francisco Serrano
Bowling Green City Comissioner Candidate Francisco Serrano, a candidate for Bowling Green City Commissioner, speaks to the crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters in Circus Square Park on Sept. 26, 2020. Serrano included a personal connection in his speech by sharing that his little cousin was hit by a car and killed on March 30, 2016. She was struck in the same spot that a 5-year-old Black child was hit and killed in the 80s. His mother fought tirelessly to have a stoplight placed in that location but to no avail. “Change did not happen for their family and for this community,” Serrano said. “At the end of the day these are our lives we are fighting for.
T
he Salvadorian-American Bowling Green native Francisco Serrano is running for one of the four spots of the Bowling Green City Commission against other nine candidates. If Serrano is elected, he will be the first Hispanic City Commissioner in Bowling Green history. At the age of 25, Serrano is also the youngest candidate in the election and to have ever run for a commission seat in Bowling Green. Serrano’s inspiration to run came from seeing the need for representation as a young minority and would like to “uplift those voices and give them a seat at the table.”
“I’m bringing fresh new ideas not only from our generation, but many other generations that live here in Bowling Green that echo the same idea that they want to see represented in our current government,” Serrano said. Along with bringing diversity to the Bowling Green local government, Serrano stands for police reform. “I personally have applied for the police department, and I’ve seen a lot of different places where we can improve on,” Serrano said to WBKO. “I’ve also been racially profiled in the past by police. And I believe there needs to be a
call for a town hall on race and city police.” Serrano attended and spoke at multiple Black Lives Matters protests in support as an ally to the Black community. “I may not be Black, but my heart breaks for the Black community,” Serrano said while at Circus Square Park during the Justice for Breonna Taylor protest held by the BG Freedom Walkers. Part of the reason Serrano is running for City Commissioner is because he hasn’t seen the “allyship” he wants from city officials. He stands with the BG Freedom Walkers and their demands including eliminating no knock warrants
PHOTOS BY KEILEN FRAZIER, ANNA LEACHMAN, VERONICA TEETER STORY BY KEILEN FRAZIER
along with getting rid of bad policing. Serrano became political on March 30, 2016. His cousin, Giselie Arias, was hit and killed on the corner of Gordan Avenue and Scott Way, the same location Burt Brumett was killed in the 1980s. Although Brumett’s mom fought hard for a stop sign to be placed there, Arias met the same fate. “She died in a school area that should’ve been safe,” said Serrano. That incident taught Serrano the power of unity when the entire neighborhood came out and blocked off the road in support for protecting the future lives of children.
“At the end of the day these are our lives that we’re fighting for,” said Serrano. After blocking off the road and months of protesting, the neighborhood were able to get a stop light placed at the intersection. Serrano’s goal is to help populations in need of assistance as he is still studying to be an attorney specializing in immigration here at WKU.
Photographer Keilen Frazier can be reached at keilen.frazier924@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Instagram @is_greater.
CAPTIONS
Top right: Francisco Serrano talks to the attending City Commissioner candidates after speaking during the Justice for Breonna Taylor protest held by the Bowling Green Freedom Walkers on Sept. 26, 2020. Top left: Serrano poses by the memorial for his cousin Giselle at the Gordon Avenue and Scott Street intersection on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2020. Bottom right: Francisco Serrano speaks to Latinx residents of Bowling Green that during a forum behind La Perlita on Sept. 26, 2020. While at the forum every speaker needed a translator excluding Serrano, he was the only city commissioner candidate that was a native Spanish speaker. Bottom left: Francisco Serrano eats lunch from La Peralta after finishing a forum for Latino voters on Sept. 26, 2020.
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WINNER 2020 INNOVATION PACEMAKER (FIRST YEAR)
WINNER 2020 MAGAZINE PACEMAKER
WINNER 2020 ONLINE PACEMAKER
The Pacemaker Award from Associated Collegiate Press is the nation’s top honor for student-run media. We just brought home three — plus two more finalists.
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Pacemakers: We’re now home to 21 for Talisman, 18 for the College Heights Herald and, now, 1 for Cherry Creative. COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD FINALIST 2020 NEWSPAPER PACEMAKER
This is the second time in four years our students’ work has earned three Pacemaker awards in a single year.
A job well done, year after year.
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GROWING EXCELLENCE
A9
Representatives on college-relevant issues By Maggie Thornton margaret.thornton882@topper.wku.edu
By Kelley Holland kelley.holland872@topper.wku.edu
Kentucky's 1st Congressional District
Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District
Rep. James Comer is running for re-election as U.S. Representative for Kentucky’s First Congressional District against Democratic candidate James Rhodes. The First Congressional District covers the western Kentucky cities Henderson, Hopkinsville, Madisonville, Paducah and Murray.
Rep. Brett Guthrie is running for reelection as the U.S. representative for Kentucky’s Second Congressional District against Democratic candidate Hank Linderman. The district covers the west central Kentucky cities Bowling Green, Owensboro and Elizabethtown.
Education
“We must ensure that we prioritize educating and training students for jobs in all professions and providing incentives for students to enter professions in need of qualified workers,” Comer said about the future of education in Kentucky. Rhodes said his vision for education in Kentucky focuses on providing more incentives for teachers to ensure students have access to qualified individuals in the classroom. Rhodes said he thinks securing the future of the field for teachers is critical. “Teachers are heroes for our children,” Rhodes said. “They have proven this in the past, certainly in the present, and the future of education is depending on them. They have to know that not only each state, but the government as a whole supports them and is willing to help. “Our teachers have sacrificed for our children and grandchildren. It’s time we made the sacrifice for them.”
Healthcare
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Comer does not support the Affordable Care Act. “Our health care policy should focus on expanding diverse types of insurance plans, including allowing employees to pool
resources toward association plans to achieve greater savings,” Comer said. “It is also important that we reduce prescription drug costs, which must be balanced with the ability for drug makers to continue innovating and developing life-saving treatments and therapeutics.” Rhodes said he supports the Affordable Care Act. “As with anything, I believe there is always room for things to improve, but the program in general and the idea as a whole, I believe, was a step in the right direction,” Rhodes said. “Healthcare is very important to me. I believe that all Kentuckians need access to quality healthcare. No family should have to choose between feeding their family or paying for healthcare.”
Marijuana Legalization
Comer said he is open to legalizing medical marijuana, but he thinks it is critical to continue “to gather sound research demonstrating its true medical benefits.” Rhodes supports legalizing marijuana, which he thinks starts with first legalizing medical marijuana. “If we legalize medical marijuana, we are looking at not only an increase in jobs, but also an increase in tax revenue,” Rhodes said. “It’s time we stop letting big pharmaceutical companies make all the profits with the risk of side effects and give society the chance at a natural, effective alternative, and states can actually profit.”
Maggie Thornton can be reached at margaret.thorn-
Education
“Higher education, from trade schools to universities, must be made available to any qualifying student for free or for very low cost,” Linderman stated on his website. Linderman believes the financing of education “must be cleared of predatory lenders.” The website also states Linderman wants to expand public schools to provide childcare and preschool to all children regardless of income. Guthrie reintroduced a bipartisan bill known as the Empowering Students through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act. The bill “would help student borrowers better understand their financial obligations,” according to Guthrie’s website.
Healthcare
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Linderman’s website says his goals for America’s healthcare system are to significantly reduce costs and provide coverage for all Americans. Linderman is a proponent for single-payer “Medicare For All.” Guthrie has led hearings on the resurgence of measles in the U.S. and the increase of insulin prices. “I am hopeful that by looking
at insulin as a case study, we can work with President Trump and tackle the overall rising drug prices in our country that are crippling patients at the pharmacy counter,” Guthrie stated on his website. Guthrie also voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act in 2012.
Marijuana Legalization
Linderman is in favor of the legalization of marijuana. His website states legal cannabis and hemp would mean“new cash crop for farmers, new business opportunities for investors and business owners, and the possibility of new ways of treating pain without addiction.” The website also states people of color are disproportionately punished for cannabis possession and legalization will “eliminate a significant piece of systemic racism.” Guthrie has voted against several bills regarding legalizing cannabis, including the SAFE Banking Act of 2019, which allows banks to work with cannabis businesses that are legal at the state level. He also voted against preventing the Department of Justice from prosecuting cannabis users and businesses in states where recreational cannabis is legal.
Kelley Holland can be reached at kelley.holland872@topper.wku. edu. Follow her on Twitter @kelleyaholland.
A10
Senate candidates on college-relevant issues By Jacob Latimer jacob.latimer745@topper.wku.edu Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, was first elected to the Senate in 1984, and candidate Amy McGrath, a Democrat, is running against him. Here’s where McConnell and McGrath stand on some of the biggest issues in this election cycle.
costs have increased eight times faster than wages, making it impossible for many young Americans to get the education they need without taking on massive high-interest loans,” McGrath stated on her website.
Gun control
Black Lives Matter McConnell has stayed relatively quiet on the Black Lives Matter movement. McConnell was asked to comment on the “unrest of the Black Lives Matter movement” at a 2016 luncheon. “I know these kinds of things happen — I’m not suggesting they don’t,” McConnell said in 2016. “But a blanket condemnation of people in blue is not appropriate either. So we need to respect all lives regardless.” McGrath has voiced support for the demonstrations and the movement as a whole. According to Mark Nickolas, McGrath’s campaign manager, McGrath “talked with African American mothers about the pain and fear they feel after the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and David McAtee.” McGrath has also voiced support for the protests that have occurred after the deaths of Floyd and Taylor and has reportedly attended protests in Kentucky. “I have been demonstrating,” McGrath said in an interview. “I have been out there, all around Kentucky, talking and listening to folks who are standing up for Black Lives Matter.”
Marijuana legalization While McConnell signed a bill in 2018 that legalized industrial hemp, he holds an anti-legalization stance for medical and recreational marijuana. “I do not have any plans to endorse the legalization of marijuana,” McConnell said to a group of reporters
ILLUSTRATION BY ALEX COX
in 2018. “It is a different plant. It has an illicit cousin which I choose not to embrace.” McGrath has shown her support for the legalization of medical marijuana and has voiced support specifically for veterans who suffer from chronic pain and post-tramatic stress disorder and use marijuana as a form of treatment. “I hope the state — and the federal government — begin to relax its unnecessarily rigid position on medical cannabis,” McGrath stated on her website. McGrath also stated that she believes legalizing medical marijuana may help alleviate the opioid crisis in the U.S. “On the issue of full legalization, I’d like to see our government per-mit full research on the subject,” McGrath said in a Facebook post.
Education funding In McConnell’s political career he has voted on a number of education bills, and while some of his votes have gone towards funding schools,
including school vouchers in Washington, D.C., he has voted “no” on multiple bills to allocate funds towards schools and education. Recently, McConnell announced that Kentucky schools will receive two million face masks from the Trump administration. “Wearing a mask is one of the most important ways each of us can protect ourselves and our loved ones from the coronavirus,” McConnell said earlier this month. “I’m grateful to President Trump and his team for directing over two million masks to Kentucky to help our young people learn safely.” McGrath’s platform is putting a focus on making college more affordable. McGrath is looking to expand student loan forgiveness programs, fund public universities at the federal level and create a voluntary, paid national service program that allows students to earn a debt-free higher education. “While college degrees have become increasingly necessary to succeed in the job market, higher education
McConnell has historically been a gun rights advocate. The senator has voted “yes” on multiple bills to loosen or remove background checks and restrictions on guns and received an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association, indicating a pro-gun rights record. "I’ve been one of the biggest champions of protecting our constitutional right to bear arms,” McConnell said after winning the NRA’s “Defender of Freedom” award. “So as long as Washington attacks our heritage, I’ll fight back." McGrath has voiced her support for the Second Amendment and is a gun owner. However, she says she supports “common sense” gun laws and believes the gun lobby has caused problems in passing gun control legislation. “The gun lobby’s mere ability to stifle any reasonable efforts toward tackling the epidemic of gun violence is the greatest obstacle we face in dealing with gun safety and strong policing of existing laws,” McGrath wrote on her website. The measures that McGrath supports include background checks at gun shows, which McConnell has voted against in the past, restricting purchases for anyone on watch lists and keeping guns from felons, domestic abusers and people with mental illnesses.
Jacob Latimer can be reached at jacob.latimer745@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter @jacoblatimer_.
A11
District 20 candidates on the issues
By Michael J Collins
michael.collins527@topper.wku.edu The Kentucky District 20 representative election brings state-level issues into focus amid a divisive presidential election. In 2018, Democratic candidate Patti Minter became the first female representative to be elected in District 20 and the first woman to serve in the Kentucky General Assembly from Warren County. This year, independent candidate Leanette Lopez seeks to challenge Minter and become the second. Minter has campaigned on issues surrounding protections for members of the LGBTQ community, affordable housing and healthcare, legalization of medical cannabis and better funding for public education. Lopez has focused on providing funding for Medicaid, lessening civil liabilities for small businesses and supporting Kentuckians harmed by COVID-19.
Fairness Ordinance
Minter first began to advocate for the passage of a Fairness Ordinance in 1999 following passage of similar legislation in Lexington and Louisville. Despite initial rejection by the Bowling Green City Commission, Minter again ramped up efforts for such legislature in Bowling Green in 2013. Minter still advocates for the ordinance, which has not been adopted, but says her efforts have taught her directly how to work within government. “I spent lots of time at City Commission meetings,” Minter said. “I also went to the General Assembly, lobbied [then representative Jody Richards] on behalf of the Fairness Movement, went to rallies and got a better sense of how the General Assembly and the lawmaking process work.” Minter is a primary co-sponsor for House Bill 225 which seeks to implement a statewide fairness mandate. Lopez said no person should be discriminated against for their sexuality or identity but feels that a Fairness Ordinance is not the most effective
way to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination. Lopez said an ordinance would primarily upset businesses and property owners who may be under threat of a lawsuit. “In their mind, they're thinking liability, they're thinking they're going to get sued right away, they feel threatened,” Lopez said.
Medicinal Cannabis & Healthcare
Minter has supported House Bill 136,which seeks to legalize medicinal cannabis use in the state, for the past two legislative sessions. “It's disappointing that the Kentucky Senate has failed to act on medical marijuana, which has a broad base of bipartisan support and medical evidence supporting it,” Minter said. Lopez also expressed support for medicinal legalization, hoping it would prove a cheaper means of pain relief for patients in need. “Let's say for instance veterans that have chronic pain, a lot of their insurance doesn't cover a lot of things,” Lopez said. “And if medicinal cannabis were to help them at a lower cost and it's the only thing that they have access to, I'm not going to be an animal and let them go through that pain.” Minter sponsors Bill Request 57, which seeks to implement protections for healthcare recipients with preexisting conditions, and House Bill 12, which seeks to cap insulin costs at $100 for a 30-day supply. “My son has Type 1 diabetes, so it's personal to me,” Minter said. “I know firsthand how the cost of his insulin has gone up over the years.”
Education & Public Funding
Minter said that the state needs to improve funding not only for K-12 schools but preschools and higher education. “I always like to say that a budget is a statement of our values,” Minter said. “And if we say we value public
education and now we need to keep people safe during COVID-19, that has been an added expense as well.” Lopez said that while she supports individuals choosing where they go to school, her focus would be to improve public education so fewer families are tempted to switch to private education. “Let’s focus on bettering that public school, bringing those resources that need to be brought, taking care of those pensions we promised,” Lopez said.
Minimum Wage
Minter co-sponsors House Bill 39 which seeks to gradually increase Kentucky’s minimum wage from the current $7.25 per hour to $15 by 2027. “When people make a living wage, they have more money to spend,”
Minter said. “Again, you can't have a healthy economy if people aren't spending money in that economy.” Lopez said raising minimum wage would mostly damage small business owners, but she would support larger corporations raising wages. “There are a lot of people that are totally against raising minimum wage simply because they’re business owners and that’s the greatest overhead monetarily that they’re gonna have,” Lopez said. “However, if bigger corporations can afford to raise minimum wage, I’m not against that.”
Michael J. Collins can be reached at michael.collins527@topper.wku. edu. Follow him on Twitter @mjcollinsnews.
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Who's running for City Commission? On Nov. 3, 10 city commissioners will be on the ballot. Four of them will be elected into office. We asked them about their stances on the Fairness Ordinance, Black Lives Matter and affordable housing.
Francisco Serrano
Carlos Bailey
Dana Beasley-Brown
Paul Carter
Brian "Slim" Nash
Serrano is the youngest candidate at the age of 25 and a recent graduate of WKU.
Bailey is a local attorney on the ballot this election. Bailey said he wants to represent the underrepresented in Bowling Green.
Beasley-Brown is running for re-election for the second time. She works at Bowling Green Junior High in the Youth Services Center where she is daily supporting kids.
Carter, a cashier from Scottsville, is running for City Commission this upcoming election. This is Carter’s second time running for this public office.
Nash has been on the Bowling Green City Commission for 12 non-consecutive years and this year is seeking reelection for a fourth term.
David Witty Photo submitted by Rick Williams in 2018.
Rick Williams Williams is seeking re-election for his fifth term. Williams is a salesperson for Jim-Johnson Nissan, and he attended Bowling Green public schools and WKU.
Photo from Official Municipal Website of Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Photo of Denning from 2011.
Unavailable for photo.
Photo of Hill from 2019.
Sue Parrigin
Joe Denning
David Witty
Melinda Hill
Parrigin is running for reelection this year. She has served on the commission since 2015.
Denning is a current city commissioner running for re-election. He has been a city commissioner for 25 years while serving as mayor from February to November 2011.
Witty, a local construction business owner and realtor, is running for Bowling Green city commissioner.
Hill is running for city commission. Her motivation for reelection this year is her love for serving the people.
To read more about the candidates stances, scan this QR code.