By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The two candidates for the 111th District in the Kansas House, which includes Hays, Victoria and Munjor, along with a few townships, both plan to “knock on more doors this weekend.”
Incumbent Republican Sue Boldra, 65, is seeking her second term to the Kansas House. Democratic challenger James Leiker, 31, is hoping to unseat Boldra in his first quest for state office. Both are Hays residents.
Boldra is a former longtime government teacher at Hays High School, a former small business owner and is now a Fort Hays State University instructor of teacher education. Leiker is president of the Hays USD 489 school board, the former educator at Sternberg Museum of Natural History and is now involved in a health and fitness business, Genesis Pure, with his wife, Taryn. Both candidates are active in their respective family farm interests.
They squared off in a debate Thursday night hosted by the Fort Hays State University Student Government Association and the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce at the FHSU University Robbins Center. Dr. Joe Romance, FHSU assistant professor of political science, moderated the debate, then opened the floor to questions from the audience of about 80 FHSU students, staff and community members.
Asked what the “most pressing issue” is in the Kansas Statehouse, Boldra answered “the rural versus urban split among legislators.” Leiker said it was “education funding.”
The pair also disagreed about the effectiveness of Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan to gradually eliminate the state income tax.
“Yes, I believe with improved small businesses and the growing economy we’ve seen, I think it will take care of itself,” Boldra said. “I think if more people have more money in their pockets they’re going to spend it here. They’re going to buy things for themselves and for other people. That’s what needs to happen. Right now, the average income across Kansas is 10.6 percent higher than it was two years ago, so our people really are doing better.”
Leiker countered.
“No one I’ve talked to (in the 111th district) has said ‘I’m thankful for my income tax cut from the state,’ ” he said.
He challenged constituents to people to “look it up. Get the nonpartisan study and numbers from Wichita State (Prof. Ed Flentje’s research) and make that decision for yourself. I stand very against it.
“Wiping out 42 percent of your budget, your income taxes, is going to take a lot of sales taxes to make up. What it does it help the people at the top first. We need to look out for everybody, not just the 1 or 2 percent at the top. We need to find out what are the consequences of these tax breaks,” Leiker said.
In her closing statement, Boldra called herself a “common person, making less than $100,000 a year.” She described Leiker as “probably the poster child of entrepreneurial excellence in Kansas. His Facebook page says he made a quarter million dollars the first year they put their business on the Internet. That’s great and I applaud him and his family. That means Brownback’s policies are probably working.”
Leiker’s closing statement came before Boldra’s.
“The people you elect to office really hold the future. Educate yourself on all the issues — get to know your candidates. A lot of times you put people in office who say they’re going to do one thing and they turn right around and do something else,” he said. “I give you my word tonight as I look you in the eye, that I will represent you. I’m not in this race for myself. I’m concerned about the future, especially for my two children. I’m running for this office because I believe it’s the right thing to do. It’s time for change.”
After the forum, Leiker wrote on his Facebook page in response to Boldra calling him “the poster child of entrepreneurial excellence in Kansas.”
“I was of the understanding that people want leaders who can manage money, spend wisely and who are successful and driven,” posted Leiker.
First District Congressional candidate Jim Sherow, D-Manhattan, the former mayor of Manhattan and a Kansas State University history professor, also participated in the second portion of the forum.
Incumbent Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, was not present. His campaign statement was read by Romance. Huelskamp was in Hays on Thursday morning with the Kansas GOP Clean Sweep bus tour which traveled on to eastern Kansas.
The election is Tuesday.