Incumbents in District 32, 35 could face tough competition
They talk all the time. They have a commitment of civility and a promise of no personal attacks. But friendship can only go so far and with these two candidates, the differences are significant.
In the race for Indiana Senate District 32 incumbent Patricia Miller, a Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Ken Kern. While they said the major issues that face Hoosiers are the same – taxes, education health care and the economy – their solutions differ.
Miller supports the property tax “circuit-breaker” caps put in place last year and said she hopes to see those caps – 1 percent of assessed value for homes; 2 percent for renters and 3 percent for businesses – amended into Indiana’s constitution. She said a proper tax code is vital to Hoosiers.
“The whole tax structure is important to the health of state,” she said.
She said she hopes the caps will help strengthen the poor economic structure that is affecting the people.
Investing in the economy is the biggest concern for Kern. He said thinks the best way to strengthen it is to spend within the state.
“I’d like to see the state of Indiana do business with Indiana business,” he said.
This way, he said, the money is kept in Indiana instead of being taken overseas or to another state that will benefit from it. He said he would also like to see colleges and universities follow the same lead by only doing business with Indiana companies.
Health care is the biggest between these two candidates’ philosophies. Miller, a registered nurse, takes the traditional view of health care, whereas Kern would like to see more non-traditional routes used.
“Nowadays, it’s more like ‘disease-management’ than what health care really means, ‘absence of disease,’” Kern said.
He said he would like to see more non-invasive and less drug-dependent treatments suggested by health care professionals instead of the pharmaceutical companies benefiting from traditional prescriptions automatically given to a patient.
Miller said she believes her experience is what will influence the voters to cast their ballot for her.
“I have the experience in the General Assembly. I listen to the voters. I listen to the people I represent,” said Miller.
She hopes her leadership, knowledge, and experience will grant her another four years in the Senate.
Kern said he believes his experience in leadership roles, especially as an attorney, qualifies him for a seat in the Indiana Statehouse.
“Being an attorney for 45 years, I’ve had to deal with the health care system,” said Kern.
District 35
The race for the State Senate District 35 places Democrat Michael Cesnik against incumbent R. Michael Young.
Young has high aspirations for his campaign and how the senate can affect the state through taxes, the budget and the exposure of sexual predators.
Young proposes in a bill he is helping craft now that Indiana needs to eliminate homestead taxes. Instead, he would tax services, such as getting a haircut, to make up for the money lost.
Cesnik said he is most worried about education, but he also considers fair labor practices and the environment the most important issues in his campaign.
“The ‘No Child Left Behind Act’ is not adequate because it lacks federal funding…[it] needs to focus more on helping teachers, with things such as salary, not on building big buildings,” said Cesnik.
The one thing these two candidates have in common is the reason they say they’re running: To help the people of Indiana.
“I entered psychotherapy with the idea of making a difference and helping people, I think it’s similar,” said Cesnik.
His psychotherapy education will also help him when it comes to being a leader, he said. “As a psychotherapist, you need excellent listening skills, and they’ll help me represent my constituents,” said Cesnik.
Young points back to his record as a senator. He said he’s had the fortitude and determination to not go along with the popular bills. He said he wants to make sure the public’s money is spent for the right reason.
“It’s the people’s money to start with,” Young said. He simply wants to use it to benefit them.
