Candidates running for local and state offices came to talk on Oct. 26 in the Overman Student Center about their beliefs and policies that they’d like to enact if they were to win the upcoming election.
The forum included Isaiah Harris, running as a democrat for the Kansas house district 3, Nichole Hamlin, a democrat running for Crawford County commissioner, Anthony Pichler, running for Crawford County commissioner as well as a write in, and David Graham, a libertarian running for Kansas senate.
The forum gave each candidate a chance to speak about who they are and the problems they plan to address, starting with Harris.
“I was born and raised by a single Mom here in Pittsburg, so I experienced a lot of the difficulties and struggles that people in our community are still facing today,” Harris says. “I was raised through poverty, bouncing from slumlord house to house.”
Harris went on to share what he thinks are some pressing issues in Pittsburg.
“The job market is tough, the cost of living is enormous, and childcare remains a struggle.”
Hamlin chimed in next, explaining that she isn’t a politician, but feels that she can still help within the community.
“I am a real estate broker, not a politician, and I thought the biggest way that I can now give back to my community is through my real estate knowledge of taxes. By being able to, as county commissioner, bring up jobs and elevate the county as a whole.”
Next to speak is Pickler, who has worked for Crawford County Sheriff’s office for 29 years.
“I’ve been a resident in Crawford County for 31 years, and I’ve got four children, seven grandchildren that I would love to see stay around here,” Pickler says. “I would like to bring my experience to the county in a different role, to try and better our county by fixing roads.”
Finally, Graham, who is running for senate, speaks about how he wants to help save the U.S.
“I live in Overland Park, and as an attorney who practices in Kansas, I have been to Crawford County many times,” Graham says. “Our country is $40 billion in debt, and that is simply unsustainable.”
Graham also addresses that neither the democratic nor republican nominee for senate was there to speak.
“I also want to say that I think it’s disappointing that neither of my opponents are here tonight,” Graham says. “Why aren’t they here? Well, I’ll tell you why; they’re too busy making another negative ad to tell you why not to vote for their majority party opponent.”
The conclusion of the forum gave candidates a chance to speak with people, while also speaking a bit more about what platform they’re running on.
Harris touches on his values, and how he plans to instill them.
“I want to make the government more responsive to the people that live in our communities, and not the big money in our politics like the billionaires, super PAC organizations, and private healthcare companies that are controlling our system.”
He also speaks on the importance of student awareness when it comes to politics.
“I think that students should get involved,” Harris says. “There are some real candidates running this election cycle that are talking about change, and many people don’t care about politics.”
Graham speaks on the specific changes he wishes to see from the government.
“I want criminal justice reform, and transparency from the government,” Graham says. “The Democratic and Republican parties have a chokehold on this country, and they have put us in a lot of debt, so we need to elect people that are not them.”
Graham emphasizes the importance of starting the change with local politicians.
“We are not going to change Washington until we change the people that we send there.”
