ShawneeDispatch.com

Michael Bolton

Pete Roman

In the race for the 10th District seat in the Kansas Senate, the Democratic candidates see eye to eye on many subjects, but differ on the construction of coal plants and illegal immigration.

Michael Bolton of Shawnee and Pete Roman of Lenexa will face each other on the Aug. 5 ballot to move onto the general election, facing the winner of the Republican contest between Shawneeans Mary Pilcher Cook and Sue Gamble.

Roman, 54, is a principal at Capgemini America and has 25 years experience as a management/ technology consultant. He previously ran for the 10th District seat as a Democrat in 2004, and in 2003, he was a finalist for appointment to the Shawnee Mission USD 512 Board of Education's at-large position.

Bolton, 51, is a market planner for a local accessibility manufacturer of items like wheelchair lifts and stair lifts. He has lived in Shawnee since 1999 and grew up in Overland Park. He has never sought a political office before but said he hopes he offers a fresh viewpoint.

"I believe Kansans are still rooted to the ideals that government be accountable, its people self-reliant and that the pioneer spirit of enterprise still propels our citizens and economy today," he said. "If elected I will do my utmost to promote these ideals and will use them as guide posts in all my deliberations."

Roman said he was running for similar reason: to get new leadership in Topeka.

"I believe that my business experience will allow me to help identify the root problems, develop practical solutions and work to implement those solutions versus today's partisan approach," Roman said.

Roman said stable funding for education, growth in economic development and providing health care for all Kansans would be his priorities if elected.

Energy self-reliance is one of Bolton's primary objectives, and he said the state should leverage its existing energy resources through the private sector to stimulate economic activity.

"This activity will generate incremental revenues for the treasury that will enable the Legislature to resist new taxes," Bolton said.

He said the state also should enact a comprehensive energy tax credit and promote energy efficiency in existing homes, turning Kansas into a "green state."

In related energy matters, Bolton said he would have supported the coal-fired power plants in western Kansas had they agreed to use a percentage of Kansas coal.

Do you support the construction of two coal-fired power plants in western Kansas?

"Crawford and Cherokee counties in the southeast corner of our state are our coal producing counties and have some of the highest unemployment levels in the state and are losing population," Bolton said. ": I don't care if they sell the energy to another state as long as they stimulate and create jobs for Kansans somewhere in our state."

Roman said the addition of two coal plants is unnecessary.

"We need to have a comprehensive energy plan that protects the environment and benefits the economy," he said. "It is with renewable energy that we will pave the way for new jobs and jobs of the future."

Both candidates said they would support an increase in the cigarette tax if necessary, and they agreed that instead of a statewide ban on smoking in indoor, public places, local municipalities should decide the issue.

Concerning education, Roman said he wouldn't support a no-growth state budget for public schools and higher education.

"Strong schools fuel economic development; it is one of the primary reasons that Johnson County is the economic engine of the state," he said.

Bolton agreed, adding that something should be done to attract and retain quality teachers.

"I would like to establish a 'spirit of learning' account for every teacher that will award an annual voucher that can be applied to furthering their education, their child's education or to pay down their student loans," Bolton said.

Bolton said he would like to see the state take a stronger stance on illegal immigrants, who he says are trespassing and lack respect for the laws of the country. He said fines for businesses that willingly hire illegals should be strengthened.

"To gain compliance the state should be willing to run the employers employee database through the federal system alerting them to any questionable employees," Bolton said. "Business and government should work hand in hand to insure there is a labor pool to replace the immigrants they loose."

Roman, however, thinks the matter should be resolved at the national level.

"We don't have the resources to adequately address this problem at the state level," he said. "I would work with our members of Congress and Senate to address this issue at the national level."

Roman also thinks that efforts to reduce gasoline prices should be made nationally and should not fall upon state governments, though the state could take some actions.

"Kansas should continue to explore and fund initiatives to explore and utilize energy alternatives for the future, e.g. wind, solar and geothermal," he said. "I think investments in the energy policies of the past will primarily result in stranded investments in diminishing resources."

Bolton agreed, saying Kansas must increase its energy output in oil production and wind and solar energy to help offset rising gas prices.

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