Kentucky State House of Representatives Candidate Survey
Please Note: Responses are limited to 200 words per question. Some responses may be cut off mid-sentence. Select the candidate name below to see their responses.

1. Do you support construction and funding of the state’s mega-transportation projects, such as the Louisville Bridges, the I-69 Bridge near Henderson, and the Brent Spence Corridor Project in Northern Kentucky ? How do you propose that Kentucky fund these three projects that may collectively cost more than $10 billion? Do you have a plan to secure the needed 20% state/local match?

2. In recent years, Northern Kentuckians developed a new strategic plan, Vision 2015. A major element of Vision 2015 is to create 50,000 new, high-paying jobs by the year 2015. As a State Representative, what role do you see your office and the state government playing in this regional strategic plan?

3.The rising cost of health care is not only a major concern for business, but for local and state governments, colleges and universities, and even non-profit organizations. How would you recommend that the state government address the rising cost of health care, while providing increased accessibility as well?

4. Currently, 43 states allow public universities to issue their own revenue bonds to finance revenue-producing projects (e.g. residence halls, cafeterias and parking garages) that generate sufficient income to cover their debt service and retire the bonds. Would you support such legislation for our public universities in Kentucky ?

5.The current SEEK formula, which distributes per pupil educational funding, penalizes high-growth, dynamic urban regions like Northern Kentucky, while rewarding areas of the state where school populations are shrinking and school buildings are being consolidated.  If elected, what could you do to improve this situation?

6. Workers’ compensation laws are designed to provide necessary financial support to employees who are injured while at work. Kentucky ’s workers’ compensation law has an unusually generous benefit, lifetime medical benefits, which tend to make Kentucky uncompetitive with our surrounding states, as they limit medical benefits to a specific period of time, such as 2 years in Indiana and 6 years in Ohio . Kentucky employers are required to put large amounts of capital into reserve accounts to pay those future benefits. How would you approach this problem if elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives?

7. How would you describe your motivation for running for the Kentucky State House of Representatives?  What particular skill or strength do you have that will benefit Northern Kentucky in the Kentucky General Assembly?  Do you have specific business experience?

8. Kentucky ’s 1891 Constitution prohibits expanded gaming at free-standing casinos or racetracks. Do you support or oppose allowing Kentuckians to vote on expanded gaming?

9. In 2006, the Kentucky General Assembly voted to increase Kentucky ’s per pack cigarette tax from .03 to .30 per pack, since that time many states have increased their cigarette tax. In fact, the average of our surrounding states is above .70 per pack and the national average is $1.07 per pack. Would you support an increase in the cigarette tax, and if so, to what level? Do you support dedicating the new revenues to a specific source? If so, what programs should be funded with this new revenue? 

10. Please describe your personal involvement with your own local Chamber of Commerce. Have you served on any Chamber Committees?  If so, describe your activity.

11. What is the website address that interested voters may log on to in order to learn more about other positions you have taken in the campaign?