Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Candidates Meet At PHS For Debate

There was more rhetoric than debate when the four democratic candidates for the Fourth Congressional District seat gathered recently.

And, with the rhetoric, voters were given little real information to base their decision on for the May 23 Democratic Primary.

All four agreed the major issues in the case are education, Social Security, the national debt and Medicare related.

The format allowed each candidate to answer two questions within a three-minute time limit. All others were given 90 seconds to respond.

However, all four, State Sen. Mike Ross, Bruce Harris, Dwayne Graham and former State Rep. Judy Smith, all gave pretty much the same answers to the questions.

Graham, though, differed from the other three in calling for federal term limits. He said he's already signed the "pledge" not to serve more than three terms if elected, and called for the others to follow his lead.

In his opening address, Graham reminded the audience of about 100, he is a former consumer advocate with KATV Channel 7.

He said the difference in the candidates is Ross and Smith are "establishment" candidates, while Harris worked with U.S. Rep. Marion Berry.

Harris opened saying he is a fifth generation Arkansan and calling for "new leadership."

The Harris family, he said, has a history of public service and he, himself, chose the path of public service seven years ago.

Smith, who was a representative for eight years, said she wants to "take advantage of the opportunity to make good things happen for the people."

"When I see a problem," she said, "I do something about it."

Smith talked about working on the Waterloo-Bodcaw Rural Water Project, saying she was able to "get results" from her efforts.

She said South Arkansas deserves a real voice and the people have had enough of Jay Dickey and the establishment candidates.

According to Smith, South Arkansas has been neglected and treated like a stepchild long enough.

Ross, in his opening, also talked about being a fifth generation Arkansan.

Throughout his campaign, Ross has been talking about Prescott and how people take care of one another and knowing each other on a first name basis.

Ross, and his wife Holly, own Holly's Health Mart, a pharmacy in Prescott. He called it a "gathering place" for people to come and celebrate the good times and pull together during the hard times.

He said his campaign is about fighting and keeping promises he made to senior citizens to protect Social Security and Medicare and to stop telemarketers from sharing confidential information without permission.

Question one on the night asked the candidates why they think they can beat Dickey.

Graham was blunt saying Dickey is beatable.

He claimed to have 90 percent name recognition in the district, with a 75 percent approval rating from his work with 7 On Your Side.

The people, Graham said, are saying Dickey can't get the job done, while Graham said the incumbent uses "Dickeyisms," such as calling incest a "family affair."

Harris responded saying Dickey is part of the "old politics" and people are tired of it.

He said Dickey will come to Arkansas and play the part of a good old boy yet return to Washington and vote the GOP ticket 97 percent of the time.

"The people are ready for new leadership and someone to tackle his (Dickey's) record of voting against Arkansas."

Smith reminded the people she was the only one to challenge Dickey in 1998 and received 43 percent of the vote.

She said Dickey has weakened himself and is nervous.

"While I was fighting for the Waterloo-Bodcaw Water Project," she said, "he was trying to get $3 million in sand for his resort home."

Ross said only 3 percent of incumbents get beat in any election. "My background and proven experience will help me win."

Ross reminded the people he's run against tough, well-financed opponents before and won and has a proven record of winning.

"I've got a good record," he said. "I run a small business, am established, honest and effective at getting things done."

Next up was a question concerning the importance of honesty and integrity being owed to the constituency.

Harris said it's been disheartening to see what's happened since Watergate with people becoming cynical toward politics and politicians.

"This is why I wanted to run at this age," the 32-year-old said. "I'm optimistic and think I can beat the cynicism by staying involved. Young people need to stay involved. People are reasonable and respect honesty."

Smith said honesty and integrity are vitally important.

Part of the reason for voter apathy these days, she said, is because people don't believe what the officials say.

"I know what position they're coming from," she said. "People want representation with the decisions coming from the heart and soul."

Ross said we need people who are honest and have integrity in Washington.

He said his reputation for honesty and integrity has followed him in business and state senate and will be there in Washington.

Graham said apathy is a sad thing, adding it was evidenced by the small crowds showing up at the various debate sites.

Dickey, he said, is beatable because he isn't forthright with the voters and hasn't lived up to his pledge of only being in office three terms.

When asked about the priorities for the budget surplus, Smith said, "if it exists we need to set aside 62 percent for the solvency of Social Security to insure it will be there for the future."

The rest, she said, should be used for education.

Children in South Arkansas are struggling in old buildings with smaller classes needed along with today's technology. Schools, she said, need to be given the resources they need to provide an environment conducive to learning.

She added some of the surplus should be used to pay down the national debt and help out the Medicare program.

Ross was more concise saying the federal government needs to use some of the money to save Social Security, then keep its hands out of the Social Security funds.

Additionally, he said some form of Medicare eligibility needs to be created to help seniors.

The national debt, he continued, needs to be reduced as well. At this time it is $23,000 for every man, woman and child in the U.S.

"We're responsible for the debt," he said speaking of the voting public. "We elected those who created it. Now we have a surplus and owe it to our children and grandchildren to pay if off."

Graham agreed, saying the surplus should be used to save the Social Security program, help Medicare and reduce on the national debt.

He called for a reduction in the size of the federal government and have term limits on the national level.

During the night Graham repeatedly called for the other candidates to sign the pledge and promise not to seek more than three terms in office.

Those who "self limit" their terms, he said, spend $17 billion less than those who don't. The others, he continued, spend $29 billion more in pork barrel projects.

Harris echoed the need to reduce the national deficit as the nation is $5.6 trillion in the hole and getting deeper in debt at the rate of $3,000 per second.

He said Social Security needs to be removed from the federal budget and left alone.

On ending the current oil crisis and prevention another, Ross said the reason we're in one now shows the U.S. doesn't have a proactive energy policy.

He said the nation needs to do more oil exploration as there are sources yet untapped. Ross added other sources of energy need to be looked into as well.The EPA, he said, is out of control and has gone too far. The EPA has rules on the books discouraging oil exploration.

The government, he said, needs to encourage oil exploration so the U.S. can quit being dependent on OPEC for its oil.

Graham agreed OPEC, the EPA and Congress are all out of control.

He said companies need to be allowed to drill offshore, but can't as it costs $8 million per well because of current EPA regulations.

Harris said it fascinated him the U.S. bailed some of the same countries out during the Gulf War that are now gouging America with the oil prices.

"They owe us better than to jack up the prices," he said. "If we defended them we don't need to put up with this."

He said alternative energy sources should also be explored, but urged offshore drilling to the nation wouldn't have to depend on OPEC.

Smith called what OPEC is doing a shame because America protected some of the OPEC countries during the Gulf War and they are now doing this.

"We need to stand together," she said. "President Bill Clinton needs to be doing more and be strong with OPEC to get the price reduced before August."

Graham was happy to be asked about term limits if elected.

He immediately said he favored them and promised to limit himself to three terms.

"I took the pledge, and it's become more of an issue," he said. "I want to go up there and do something."

He said those who worry about becoming career politicians are only concerned with getting elected and not getting anything done to help the nation.

Right now, he said, Congress is talking about the amount of email it's received instead of addressing the energy crisis and won't give the president power to deal with OPEC.

"They're out of touch with the people, and term limits will take this power away."

Harris voiced opposition of federal term limits, saying the nation was founded so people would have the right to vote for who they wanted in a free and honest election.

Smith also opposes term limits saying her beating a 24-year incumbent to become a state representative is the best example of citizens having the power to limit terms.

"We have term limits at the ballot box," she said. "When we vote, people have the choice to decide who their representatives will be."

Ross, who is in his final term as state senator because of term limits, agreed with Smith saying term limits are already in place at the ballot box.

"People fought and died for this freedom," he said.

According to Ross, it takes 17 years in Congress to get on a powerful committee, and with a three-term limit this wouldn't be possible and could adversely affect the state.

"With term limits," he said, "you couldn't fight for the people of the district. It would be a bad mistake for the nation."

Harris, on the topic of school safety, said safety problems is one of the reasons tests scores are down.

He said a lot of proposals have been thrown out, but they all miss the point  children are different today than when we were their age.

"They're exposed to more violence and need counselors to help them cope with society," he said. "We don't need metal detectors, guards and fences. This tells them people are afraid of them and don't trust them."

Children, he said, need guidance to help deal with the things they are exposed to.

Better parenting would help, but it's not the job of the federal government to be a parent.

Smith said it would take every person and the federal government to improve school safety.

There are children in circumstances today no one should live in, she said.

"Schools need federal money to identify troubled children," she said. "People need to lead by example and mentor children."

Ross, the son of a public educator, said the issue is an education reform policy.

He said there is a need to put respect and discipline back in the classroom and initiate zero tolerance policies for guns, drugs and disruptive behavior.

Graham suggested smaller classes with more educational supplies.

In 1995, he said, there was a debate concerning the drug Ritalin being used en masse.

Graham said this drug was abused because parents used it to settle their children down instead of disciplining them and showing them they cared.

He also suggested improving the educational ability of teachers.

When asked what the most important issues in the race are Smith said South Arkansas's need for prosperity.

Resources spent in Arkansas aren't done on an equitable basis, she said, and something needs to be done to make sure the southern part of the state gets its fair share.

Social Security, she said, needs to be solvent and education needs to be improved.

Smith took a shot at Dickey saying he's done nothing to insure schools here get the resources they're due.

She fired another salvo saying the I-69 project is nothing more than a dream at this point and the district needs someone in Washington who will make sure the money gets here.

Ross said several issues are important and began with Medicare and prescription drug benefits. He said people shouldn't have to choose between eating and their medication.

HMO reform is also needed, but Congress is afraid to fight insurance companies.

He said telemarketers don't need to be able to sell confidential information, but patient lists are being bought and sold to the highest bidder while the laws aren't keeping pace.

Graham fired a shot at Ross saying if it takes 17 years to become effective in Congress those elected would be lazy and forget the people.

He said congressmen need to go to Washington, do the work and go home.

The district, he said, is diverse and has several important issues. These include Social Security, timber, soybeans, cotton and tourism.

Harris said new leadership is vital because at this stage the American economy is growing at an unprecedented rate.

The closing question dealt with economic development and the candidates' plans.

Ross pointed out he is a founding member of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office. He said he has worked to create economic opportunities for business and jobs in Nevada County.

These efforts, he said, are starting to show progress but it's a slow process.

To help economic development, he said, infrastructure would have to be put in place, along with good schools and the availability of health care.

If elected, Ross said, he would have a full-time economic developer on staff to meet with elected officials in the district, help them apply for grants and other programs.

Graham said this is part of his platform and he would work to bring jobs to the area.

He favors increasing minimum wage.

Harris said three things are important in recruiting industry: highways, health care and education.

While with Berry, Harris hired a person to find money through grants for communities.

His plans are to give incentives to small business and make sure the self-employed have 100 percent healthcare available.

Smith's plans are to have someone work and identify individuals in the district with the talent and skill to go into business.

Her idea is to turn their skills into jobs along with getting women in business and making sure all have access to the resources they need.