The forum hosted by the Optimists and the high school debate class started with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the first speaker, Clayton Pappan, representing South Central Kansas Regional Medical Center. Pappan was promoting building a new Ark City hospital two miles north of town, to replace the current facility at First Street and Birch Avenue.

Asked about a possible increase of ambulance service cost due to extra mileage traveled to get patients to the new hospital site, Pappan said he understood from discussions with EMS personnel at the Arkansas City Fire Department that the costs would not be significantly different than they are today.

"There would be an overall reduction in mileage because of the number of trips back and forth to Wichita would be reduced," Pappan said. He said that currently EMS ambulances carry trauma patients to Wichita for treatment but the new facility and staff would be able to handle some of these cases.

All four county commission candidates who spoke at the forum said they believed economic development is the most important issue facing Cowley County. Other important issues mentioned by the candidates include keeping county roads and bridges maintained, finishing the new county jail, providing good education opportunities to encourage young people to stay in the county, improving emergency plans in case of a disaster, and conserving tax dollars.

Wilson was asked under what circumstances he would raise the mill levy. He said the county decided to raise the levy this year because of rising oil prices for the purchase of road oil and asphalt to keep up the roads. In addition, the commission wanted to "give a living wage increase to county employees" while county commissioner bypassed giving themselves raises.

Voegele said he wouldn't support increasing the mill levy unless it was necessary due to the rising cost of oil or to ensure the county continues to provide basic services.

Three of the four candidates for county commission said they were against county-wide zoning.

"I'm going to say land use (not zoning)," replied Clarkson to the zoning question. "If it comes to this, I think it should be put to a vote of the citizens."

Clarkson indicated that a new hospital for Ark City might be needed, but she didn't discuss the half-cent sales tax issue.

Wilson said he opposed county-wide zoning but favored half-mile zoning along either side of the U.S. 77 Highway corridor. "If the hospital goes out there, we need a plan so these entities don't interfere with each other."

Groom said the most important issue for youth of the county is education. "They need discipline, leadership and parents stepping up so they operate right in the classroom," he said.

The two incumbents in races for the Statehouse were not present for last night's forum. They are Rep. Kasha Kelley, R-Arkansas City, and Sen. Greta Goodwin, D-Winfield. Kelley's opponent for the House, 79th District, is Gene Burr. Goodwin's opponent for the Senate, 32nd District, is Steve Abrams.

State Rep. Mike O'Neal, of Hutchinson, substituted for Kelley facing Burr in the forum.

Burr said Kansas needs to provide a good education especially for the 18 percent of the young people who are below the poverty level because "education is the vehicle to take people out of poverty."

O'Neal said education is a fundamental responsibility of the State Legislature but "we are not doing enough to let our teachers teach." He said fulfilling federal No Child Left Behind requirements including standardized testing are taking up too much of the teachers' time.

Abrams said the most important issues facing the legislature are balancing the budget and economic development without raising taxes.

On health care, he said he is not a proponent of government-supported health care. "I'm a proponent of free market, including the opening up of policies to allow more insurance companies to do business in the state."