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Published May 09, 2008 04:12 pm - Democratic candidates for Kentucky’s 9th District Senate seat voiced their opinions on a variety of issues Thursday night during a debate at the Plaza Theatre in Glasgow. Democrats debate Economy, education biggest issues for candidates By GINA KINSLOW Glasgow Daily Times GLASGOW — Democratic candidates for Kentucky’s 9th District Senate seat voiced their opinions on a variety of issues Thursday night during a debate at the Plaza Theatre in Glasgow.
Candidates were asked six questions and given three minutes to respond, with additional time for rebuttal. They were asked what issues they believed to be of most importance to district residents. Horace Johnson of Allen County, Steve Newberry of Barren County and John Rogers of Barren County all agreed the biggest issues are economic development and education. The state’s 9th Senate District includes Simpson County, Allen County, Barren County, Metcalfe County, Edmonson County and Green County. Johnson said he has found while campaigning that the biggest educational concerns are increases in college tuition and the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System. He pointed out that Western Kentucky University has increased its tuition by 14.1 percent since 2002. “When we have young people who are trying to get an education, better themselves, whether it be in the workplace or in the school systems, or wherever they may go, we are encouraging them to get an education, but yet we are pricing them right out of that,” he said. He said teachers to whom he’s spoken are concerned about the testing system and the time spent in the classroom each year preparing for CATS testing. Newberry, CEO of Commonwealth Broadcasting, said he’s heard more lately about economic issues than education. “At the beginning of this campaign, education was really the dominant topic that I heard a lot of people talk about,” he said, “but over the course of the last three months there has been a dramatic shift in terms of what I’m hearing and that has been the economic concern – the escalating gas prices and the lack of confidence in the future employment standards. Those are the things that are really causing the most anxiety in the district.” Newberry described what he said needs to be done in order to alleviate some of the anxiety. First, it must be easier for businesses to locate to where they want in Kentucky. “Right now our economic development plans are not available equally in every county in the state. Some counties get preferential treatment. We need to put our best foot forward, and every single county in the state needs to be treated equally and fairly,” he said. The state needs to take care of its existing industries by making it easier for them to do business in Kentucky so they won’t be motivated to look elsewhere. He also believes businesses should turn over any buildings they occupied to the state if they decide to locate elsewhere. 
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