State Priorities, Local Needs Debated In House 84 Race

STAFF PHOTO ANDY SHUPE Candy Clark, right, Washington County justice of the peace, and Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville, participate in a debate of candidates Wednesday running for House District 84 sponsored by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce at the chamber’s office.
STAFF PHOTO ANDY SHUPE Candy Clark, right, Washington County justice of the peace, and Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville, participate in a debate of candidates Wednesday running for House District 84 sponsored by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce at the chamber’s office.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Opponents for the state House District 84 seat offered a contrast between leadership on state issues and a greater emphasis on local needs at a forum Wednesday night.

The Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce hosted a question and answer session for both candidates in the race. Incumbent Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville, would continue his support for lowering the state income tax and for the state's private option health plan if re-elected, he said. Collins, chairman of the House Revenue and Tax Committee, seeks a third term.

Democratic challenger Candy Clark said both candidates support the private option plan, which subsidizes private insurance policies for the uninsured. "I'm with you on that," she said to Collins. But there are serious needs in the county that need state attention, such as paying for a treated water supply for southern portions of the county. "There are needs in this district that must be met first," Clark said. "Then we can discuss wider state policy."

Clark is a three-term member of the Washington County Quorum Court. That has given her a thorough understanding of local needs, she said.

A standing-room only crowd of at least 65 people attended the forum.

Collins' first priority would be "reducing the punishing tax rates on productive behavior," he said, by cutting the state income tax. He promised "effective conservative leadership."

Collins had declared his intention to run for lieutenant governor but later backed out after U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin, R-Ark., entered that race. District resident Sara Thompson asked him how committed he was to this district. Collins replied he was and the issues he pursues help the people of his district, and have wider benefits to the rest of the state.

Collins is known for sponsoring legislation allowing people with concealed carry permits for handguns to carry those guns on campus. Clark says she opposes guns on university campuses.

The candidates were asked about Fayetteville's anti-discrimination ordinance, and whether it violates state constitutional guarantees protecting rights to religious freedom. The ordinance prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

The ordinance contains specific exemptions for religious objections, Clark said. Collins said the issue isn't that clear-cut. Effective enforcement of the ordinance would require knowing the motivation behind a specific action and whether it was discriminatory or not, he said. That's too open to interpretation, he said.

Clark "absolutely would not" support vouchers granting public money for private schools, she said. Money for public education should be spent on public education, she said. Collins said he would consider all options for improving education, and parents are generally the best judge of the education needs of their children.

Collins also said he would consider spending more of the existing tax money spent on schools for pre-kindergarten education but wouldn't favor a tax increase for that purpose. Clark also said she would look at shifting existing budgets first.

NW News on 09/18/2014

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