The Topeka Capital-Journal Sunday, July 15, 2018 C5
2018 PRIMARY VOTERS GUIDE REPUBLICAN
U.S. HOUSE — 2ND DISTRICT: CARYN TYSON Why are you running for a seat in the U.S. House? As a small business owner, rancher, and a software engineer, I will be a strong voice for fiscal responsibility and economic growth. I will work to curb government waste and keep taxes low. My diverse business background and experience as a citizen legislator, not a career politician, will be an asset in Washington. I support President Trump’s efforts to “drain the swamp” and get government spending under control.
Has NAFTA done more to help or hurt the U.S. economy? How would you frame such trade agreements to better serve the Kansas economy? NAFTA has not been a fair agreement. If our farmers and ranchers were competing on a fair and level playing field, our exports would increase, benefiting our Kansas economy. People talk of free trade but the world has been feeding off of American generosity for years and we cannot continue to subsidize our competition.
Do you believe the 2nd Amendment should be modified? If so, how? If not, should there be new gun restrictions to deal with what appears to be an epidemic of mass shootings? The 2nd Amendment should not be modified. Put a gun on an undisturbed table for years and it will not shoot anyone. The gun is not the problem, the person misusing it is the problem. We must improve our ability to help mentally disturbed individuals who are susceptible to violence, and we must secure our schools.
Can you outline how Congress should reform the Affordable Care Act? Repealing the individual mandate was a step in the right direction. Costs are still out of control and we need to repeal Obamacare while keeping some of the benefits such as coverage of pre-existing conditions and dependent care to 26 years of age. We need to get government out of the relationship between you and your doctor.
How would you respond if President Trump fired special counsel Robert Mueller? Generally, what do you think of the Russia-election inquiry? The President will probably not fire Mueller. We do need to make sure our elections are secure and increase cyber security in the United States.
What is your view of the federal tax reform legislation signed in late 2017 by President Trump? Just look at the results of the federal tax reform legislation; more jobs, less unemployment, better wages, and a booming economy. The tax cuts need to be made permanent.
How should transgender troops be integrated into the military? Or, should they be blocked from serving? Military leadership is already evaluating transgender troops and we should give them the time to explore this issue and provide recommendations. What do you think about including a citizenship question on the U.S. Census? Yes, citizenship should be asked on the U.S. Census because the count is used to determine representation in government. For example, Kansas has four U.S. House seats. If citizens are not distinguished, Kansas could decrease to three or less U.S. House seats, losing representation while other states, such as California gain seats. Should Congress move to end all federal funding to Planned Parenthood? Yes, Congress should end all federal funding of Planned Parenthood. How would you reform federal drug policy — from legalization of marijuana to the access to addictive pharmaceutical medicines? The opioid addiction and local production of methamphetamine has reached crises proportion and fentanyl, a cause of many of the opioid deaths, is being trafficked across our southern
CARYN TYSON
Town of residence: Parker Party affiliation: Republican Age: 55 Job: information technology Prior elected offices: Kansas Senate; Kansas House
borders. This must be addressed. On the positive side, the recently enacted legislation that allows experimental drugs to be used for the terminally ill is a good thing. These dying people were searching the world over for help and now have hope here at home.
REPUBLICAN
U.S. HOUSE — 2ND DISTRICT: STEVE WATKINS Why are you running for a seat in the U.S. House? I am running to bring military leadership and Kansas values to Washington, all in an effort to combat the gridlock and hyper-partisanship that has plagued progress for decades. Throughout my military service I learned how to lead individuals from a myriad of backgrounds and execute plans under pressure in rigorous environments. I look forward to the opportunity to bring that experience, as well as my real-world expertise that I have gained as a engineer and small businessman, to Congress if given the chance by the people of the Second District of Kansas. Do you believe the 2nd Amendment should be modified? If so, how? If not, should there be new gun restrictions to deal with what appears to be an epidemic of mass shootings? The 2nd amendment should not be modified. There is no constitutional freedoms without the 2nd amendment, it is the fail safe of our republic and without it there are no other freedoms. The 2nd amendment exists to protect us. Taking away guns from law-abiding citizens does not protect them, it only puts guns in the hands of criminals who do not mind breaking the law. We should debate the issue of mass shootings. A cornerstone of those debates must be mental health — that’s the crux of this issue and needs to be addressed across the board. How would you respond if President Trump fired special counsel Robert Mueller? Generally, what do you think of the Russia-election inquiry? I support the need for transparency throughout government, especially when it comes to securing our elections. However, I am not going to comment on hypotheticals. It’s painfully obvious that special counsel Mueller had failed to come up with evidence that proves there was collusion, but I would encourage the President to see the investigation through till the end. It is unfortunate that Attorney General Jeff Sessions chose to recuse himself, this investigation could have been done without his recusal and much
swifter instead of simply distracting republicans from implementing the President’s agenda. Has NAFTA done more to help or hurt the U.S. economy? How would you frame such trade agreements to better serve the Kansas economy? I believe in free trade. I think it’s the role of our government to get out of the way and facilitate markets, not inhibit growers. Now, this matters in particular to our farmers. It’s the role of government to facilitate that, not impede it. I believe the U.S. could benefit from renegotiating NAFTA, if done for economic gain, not partisan politics. A complete and hasteful withdrawal would disrupt supply chains that benefit the American worker. The economies of the U.S., Canada and Mexico are interdependent, which helps make, for example, the U.S. auto industry competitive globally. Can you outline how Congress should reform the Affordable Care Act? The Affordable Care Act should be repealed completely. Repeal is what Republicans promised for the last eight years and I am incredibly disappointed that they failed to deliver on their promise despite controlling the federal government since the 2016 election. I’ve been a member of the greater Stormont Vail medical community since I was 6 years old. My father and wife are doctors, so Healthcare is a very important topic for me. Solutions to our problems should be found in establishing in capitalism, transparency, and competition. That drives down costs, increases innovation, and quality. In Washington, I will fight for a patientcentered healthcare system. (99/100) What is your view of the federal tax reform legislation signed in late 2017 by President Trump? The tax reform package passed by Congress and signed into law by the President is one of the biggest wins of his presidency thus far. The lowering of the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% is one of the premier pro-growth policies
passed by the GOP led Congress and authorized by the President, a real testament to what the Conservative vision of low taxes can really look like if given a chance to be brought to reality. A typical family of four in the second district is seeing a federal income tax cut of just over $2,200. (104/100). How should transgender troops be integrated into the military? Or, should they be blocked from serving? I respect commanders throughout the military and will always take their opinions under consideration — even knowing that their opinions, the military, and American cultures evolve. That said, anyone who wants to serve shouldn’t be blocked from serving, assuming they can pass the current physical and mental health requirements outlined by the DOD or their Branch of the Military. Neither the military, nor the taxpayers, should be required to fund voluntary medical procedures desired by individuals. What do you think about including a citizenship question on the U.S. Census? I fully support a citizenship question on the U.S. Census. The government must do everything it can to ensure the data collected in the census are accurate. Working families in Kansas should not miss out on critical resources because undocumented immigrants skew data which, in 2020, will cost the government over $15 billion to collect. These data are important because they help to determine how the federal government allocates resources and we elect servant leaders. If numbers are inaccurate or inflated the weight of an citizen's vote will be inaccurate too, which violates our values as Americans. Should Congress move to end all federal funding to Planned Parenthood? Yes. Planned Parenthood is in the business of murdering our most defenseless: the unborn. Currently, the only protection afforded to those in the womb is the Hyde Amendment. This does not go far enough. Under the current
VO T I N G G U I D E L I N E S
Follow these steps to ensure your vote counts The Capital-Journal
Kansans will cast their votes in the primary election on Aug. 7 to determine the Democrats and Republicans who will advance to the general election in November. Here is some information from the Kansas Secretary of State’s website that might be helpful during this election cycle. When are the polls open for the Aug. 7 primary election? The polls for the primary election will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. How do I find out where I vote? Contact your county election officer. A list of county election officers and contact information is available at bit.ly/2uiLOan. How do I register to vote? There are three steps. 1. Obtain the voter registration application. You may use the Kansas form or the federal form. (a) The Kansas Voter Registration Application form is available for printing on the Secretary of State’s website, bit.ly/CJvoterform, and on the various county websites. It is also available at many locations established by the county election officer. Banks, libraries, schools and government offices usually have the form. Also, everyone has an opportunity to register when applying for or renewing a driver’s license or applying for public assistance. (b) The federal Voter Registration Application is accepted in Kansas. The federal form is found at bit.ly/CJfederal.
Voters will take to the polls on Aug. 7 to pick the Democrats and Republicans they want to advance to the general election in November. Polls during the primary election will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. [2016 FILE PHOTO/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL] 2. Fill out the application legibly and completely, then sign it. 3. Deliver the completed application in person or by mail, fax or email to the county election officer in the county where you live. It must be returned no later than the 21st day before any election. Where can I get election results? For local election results, contact your county election officer. For state and national results, contact the Secretary of State’s office at (785) 296-4561. The Secretary of State’s office and some local county election offices may post the results online as they come in on election night.
What do I need to know about advance voting? With advance voting, any registered voter can vote by mail or in person before Election Day. An advance voting application can be found at bit.ly/CJadvance, or you can contact your county election officer to request an application for an advance voting ballot. Complete the application and return it to your county election officer. You can have your ballot mailed to you starting 20 days before the election. You may vote in person in the county election office starting the Tuesday before Election Day, or up to 20 days before the election, depending on the county.
STEVE WATKINS
Town of residence: Topeka Party affiliation: Republican Age: 41 Job: Engineer Prior elected offices: None
provisions set aside in the Hyde Amendment, no US Taxpayer money can go towards funding abortion. However, it does not prevent money from reaching Planned Parenthood, at which point we can’t see where the money is used. I would like to see that changed and look forward to being a part of that effort. How would you reform federal drug policy — from legalization of marijuana to the access to addictive pharmaceutical medicines? A strong strategy must be implemented to tackle the Opioid epidemic that plagues much of America, and even affects communities in Southeast Kansas. We must do all we can to empower the men and women of Law Enforcement to stop the trafficking of narcotics on the streets of our local communities. It is imperative to educate our children on the dangers of using illegal narcotics. I am also open to reviewing the findings of studies conducted into the effectiveness of medicinal marijuana as a treatment for certain conditions.
All ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received no later than three days after the election. Any mailed advance ballot may be hand-delivered to the county election office or any polling place within the county by close of polls on Election Day. Sick, disabled or non-English proficient voters may receive assistance in applying for and casting advance voting ballots. Here are some important advance voting dates for the 2018 election cycle: July 17: Last day to register to vote before the primary election. July 18: First day advance ballots are mailed. In person advance voting may begin. Contact your county election officer to find out when and where. July 31: Deadline for voters to apply for advance voting ballots to be mailed for primary election. Aug. 6: Noon deadline to cast advance voting ballots in person at your county election office. Aug. 7 (primary Election Day): Mailed advance voting ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received in the county election office no later than the third day following the election. Advance ballots may be hand-delivered to the county election office or to any polling place within the county by close of polls. Oct. 16: Last day to register to vote before the general election. Oct. 17: First day advance ballots are mailed. In person advance voting may begin. Contact your county election office to find out when and where. Oct. 30: Deadline for voters to apply for advance voting ballots to be mailed for general election. Nov. 5: Noon deadline to cast advance voting ballots in person at county election office. Nov. 6 (general Election Day): Mailed advance voting ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received in the county election office no later than the third day following the election. Advance ballots may be hand-delivered to the county election office or to any polling place within the county by close of polls. For more information, call (800) 262-8683.