Salina Post

SALINA — Congressional candidates squared off in what will most likely be the only joint appearance before the November election between First District opponents.

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Incumbent Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., and Democratic challenger Jim Sherow explained their positions at a candidate forum Tuesday evening at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina.

They disagreed on nearly every issue addressed — same-sex marriage, immigration reform, the Affordable Care Act, minimum wage, and use of military force in the Middle East.

When answering a question about the Affordable Care Act, members of the audience booed Huelskamp when he discussed the amount of money taken away from Medicare. Sherow asked the crowd to refrain from making noise so Huelskamp could answer the question.

Sherow said if he were elected he would hope to be able to serve on the House Agriculture Committee, a committee that Huelskamp was removed from by the GOP house leadership following the 2012 elections.

On the issue of same-sex marriage, Sherow said he supported equal rights for all Americans, While Huelskamp said he would listen to the voters of Kansas who approved a gay marriage ban amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 2005.

The forum was sponsored by the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce and League of Women Voters.

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