By JAMES JORDAN
Traveler Editor
news@arkcity.net

Greta Goodwin (D-Winfield) was the only candidate for state office who believes the state may be in good financial shape this year at the candidate forum Tuesday night at Cowley College.

The forum, held by KSOK and Newscow, gave all local candidates a chance to air their views and try to win voters with the election just a week away.

Most candidates predicted hard times, belt tightening by government agencies, and said they would do what they needed to do to avoid raising taxes.

State predictions of revenues off taxes are due to come out next week, so there is a lot of speculation.

“I believe it is premature to talk about raising taxes,” Goodwin said.

She said the legislature has given businesses many tax breaks, and made the state more business-friendly.

“We are now one of the top-10 states as far as being business-friendly,” she said. “We have worked hard to bring revenue in,” she said.

She noted that projections are not in yet, but she said from what she has heard, the state is in better shape.

“I feel like revenues will be OK this year because of the tax incentives. The Dept. of Commerce people are telling me we will have a good year,” she said.

Other candidates painted a much different picture.

Her opponent, Steve Abrams, R-Arkansas City, said he has heard there may be a $200 million - $300 million deficit.

“The projections are not in yet so we don’t know,” he said. “Debt is growing faster than income.”

He said he has heard people say they are being taxed to death, and that people are moving to Oklahoma to avoid high taxes in Kansas.

He would like to lower taxes and believes spending has gotten out of control at the state capitol.

Still, he wants to fund education.

“Education must be funded. It is all about jobs. We must do what is needed to bring in jobs and to train people for them,” he said.

The candidates for state representative were all more negative about the financial condition of the state.

Both Kasha Kelley (R-Arkansas City,” and Gene Burr (D-Arkansas City) were predicting tougher times in the state, though they do have different ideas about what it means and how to handle the situation.

“Four years ago I went on a mini-tirade about spending. Some are projecting a $228 million deficit by 2010,” Kelley said.

Later Kelley said she was a little surprised at Goodwin’s comments about the state not having a large deficit.

“Usually they predict a four-percent increase every year as a conservative estimate. They are not even looking at that this year,” Kelley said.

She said more job creation is an answer, and the state has made progress in becoming more business friendly.

“We are making progress but we are not there yet,” she said.

She said the state spent less last year,but she said there is not enough of a willingness to say “no” to those asking for money.

She does not want to raise taxes. She said she would rather work on spending and accountability.

She said she sometimes gets an anti-education label because she wants accountability, “but we do need to be able to see where the money goes.”
Burr said he wants to fund education and to try to do more about health care.

He said people should not have to choose between health care and food.
Burr said he wants to look at the tax structure and perhaps make some adjustments.

“We need to take a look at the tax breaks. The tax breaks have not been used wisely. We need to look at all programs and see where we can save money,” Burr said.

He also said he believes the state may be in for hard times economically as it reflects the national picture.

Candidates for State Rep District 78 also said they believe the economy may get worse before it gets better.

Ed Trimmer (D-Winfield), said a lot of that tax breaks went to big businesses. HE would like to see it go to smaller businesses to help more people.

“We need to not just give away revenue. Businesses need to also be good citizens,” he said.

His opponent, John Whittington (R-Winfield) said he believes there needs to be more balance in the budget.