42nd District State Representative Candidate Ted Ingerson
July 23, 2008
Ted Ingerson is running in the Aug. 5 Republican primary election for 42nd District State Representative, facing Connie O'Brien.
This chat has already taken place. Read the transcript below.
Moderator
Good evening. This is Joel Walsh, Leavenwoth County government reporter at The Tonganoxie Mirror, Basehor Sentinel, Lansing Current and Bonner Springs Chieftain. I'll be your moderator for this online chat with Ted Ingerson. We have several questions for today's chat, but we're still taking more.
Moderator
Ted thanks for joining us today.
Ted Ingerson
It's a pleasure to be here.
Moderator
Before our first question Mr. Ingerson, could you take a little time to introduce yourself and explain why you decided to run for state representative?
Ted Ingerson
It's hard to put into words why I'm doing it. I've wanted to for a long time. I've followed it a lot. I pay attention. I just want to be the one to represent this district, and I know I could do a good job.
Moderator
Thank you. Here's our first question.
Tyson
Why do you feel you would make a better representative from our district then Connie O'Brien?
Ted Ingerson
I can't really answer that, because I don't know Connie. I don't know anything about her, but I am from here, and I think I share the same principles and values as everyone else. And I care about what happens to the people in this district.
Moderator
Ted, if elected, you would be replacing longtime state representative Kenny Wilk. Are there specific issues that you agree/disagree with Wilk on or are there changes you would make to how he represented the district for the past 16 years?
Ted Ingerson
There aren't any specific issues that I disagree with. I think he's done just fine. I don't know that I would make any changes over how he's done. But I'm not him, I'm me. I would do things how I would want them done. I don't know what differences there would be, but I would hope to continue the integrity he brought to the office.
Moderator
As we wait for more reader-submitted questions, I might note that energy policy has been a controversial issue on the state level recently. Would you support the location of additional coal-fired power plants in Kansas? How do you feel about utilizing other renewable energy sources such as wind or solar power?
Ted Ingerson
I'm definitely in support of the power plants. I know people are worried about the emissions, but at this particular plant they'd be some of the lowest in the nation. We really could use the jobs, especially in that part of the state. But this must be done in conjunction with wind and solar power. We can't rely on just one. They have to be done together. There's an estimated $6 billion in revenue for the state for the whole project, and facing budget shortfalls, that would go a long way to help. And in the project, this will cost the state zero dollars. There's no funding by the state. It's all done by Sunflower.
Moderator
Alright. Here's another submitted question.
Tyson
How do you see the district since it is split between the people around Tonganoxie and the Lansing / Leavenworth Area? Do you think it will be hard to balance the two centers? What about those of us that live in between the two towns? Our needs maybe different. I want roads and police officers, others may want low taxes or new schools?
Ted Ingerson
Most of what you're talking about is mostly funded locally with the exception of taxes, and the state funds schools, but only to a certain point. The school districts have their own mill levy, so they can build different schools or whatever they want through that mill levy. The taxes are something I'd like to decrease but with budget shortfalls I don't see that happening, unless the economy changes for the better. In that case I'd love to reduce taxes.
Moderator
You mentioned a budget shortfall on the state level. What would you do, as a state representative, to cut spending while still maintaining services that Kansas citizens have come to expect?
Ted Ingerson
You have to go through each department, and each one is going to have fat in it so to speak. And you have to trim that fat out from each department. Each department's going to have to cut back and they're going to have to wait another year to buy an office chair. You can also cut by attrition. If someone retires or they leave for whatever reason, they just don't get replaced unless its an absolute essential position, and any non-essential funding would get cut. But the last thing that would ever get cut is school funding, in my opinion.
Moderator
Thank you Ted. We have time for one last question.
Moderator
Communities across the state have enacted various smoking bans and increased taxes on cigarettes. Would you support a statewide smoking ban in indoor places or increasing the cigarette tax?
Ted Ingerson
I would support one in indoor places except in bars, because that kind of goes hand in hand with the majority of people that go to those places. I know there are people that want to go to a place like that that is non-smoking. Maybe they can contact an owner of an establishment and make it non-smoking, and then everyone has a place to go. But I would not support a cigarette tax. I think that's an unfair tax.
Moderator
And that is the final question for today's chat, but, Ted, if there is anything else you would like to say about yourself or your candidacy for Leavenworth County Attorney, please do so. I'd like to thank you on behalf of our readers for joining us today and everyone that our next chat will be held Thursday, July 31 at 1 p.m. when we welcome Republican John Flower, who is running for Leavenworth County Commissioner, District 3.
Moderator
I'm sorry. To clarify, if there's anything you'd like to add about yourself or your candidacy for 42nd District State Representative, please do. And thanks again.
Ted Ingerson
I just think it would be an honor and a privilege to be the representative for this district, and one that I would not take lightly.
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