House 52 Candidates Tosh, Baker Debate Before Kiwanians

The two candidates in a pivotal state house race debated Wednesday in the first of several debates hosted by a local civic club.

Republican Dwight Tosh and Democrat Radius Baker, who are both seeking the state House District 52 seat, spent 45 minutes answering questions from members of the Jonesboro Kiwanis Club and club president Roy Ockert.

The district includes all or parts of Craighead, Independence, Jackson and Poinsett counties. It stretches from Tyronza in Poinsett County in the southeast to Pleasant Plains in Independence County in the northwest.

After opening statements, the questions from the audience involved only two topics – the private option and a ballot proposal to raise the state’s minimum wage to $8.50 an hour over the next three years.

Both Tosh and Baker answered the questions and provided some details on their policy differences.

Baker, a former superintendent at Valley View, said he supported the private option.

“Both Republicans and Democrats in the state House and state Senate looked at the issue and came up with a plan,” Baker said, noting 200,000 people in Arkansas including nearly 11,000 in the district were receiving help from the plan. “It would be a travesty to knock them off (the plan).”

Tosh said if he had been in the legislature at the time the issue was debated in 2013, he would have voted against it.

Tosh also questioned the financial burden the program may cause Arkansas residents in the future.

“With Medicare expansion, it is $324 per month (per resident). There was a cap at $477 a month. To have a long-term plan without any plan for long-term funding, it is a bad idea,” Tosh said. “Also, the GAO (Government Accountability Office) says it is not revenue neutral and will cost $787 million more.”

Ockert asked both candidates a hypothetical question about what would happen to the 200,000 people if the legislature voted no on a reauthorization bill next year and should a $100 million tax cut being discussed be used to help pay for it.

“As my mother would say, you cannot throw the baby out with the bath water,” Tosh said. “We would find a way to pay for it.”

“I hope it passes… If it does not pass, there will be a tax increase because we have to pay for it,” Baker said in reference to tax cuts that were tied to private option funding.

The two candidates also discussed the minimum wage issue.

Both agreed that it should be raised.

Baker said he believes the increase will help those who need help, while Tosh said he would like to protect small businesses from having to face increased costs with complying with the law.

“I support it,” Baker said. “It is good for the economy and will bring back the economy.”

“I would support it. But I would like to keep a close eye on it through small business,” Tosh said.

EXPERIENCE
Both candidates also talked about their professional experience and leadership during the debate.

Baker said his years as a superintendent taught him to work with others to reach a key goal.

“I will work with the schools, judges, mayors and county sheriffs. I will also work with the other schools in our district,” Baker said.

Tosh said his experience with the Arkansas State Police will serve him well in the legislature.

“I can tell you one thing – I will serve with the same honor and integrity I did when I worked with the state police,” Tosh said.

The civic club will host another debate Oct. 15 at noon when Republican Dan Sullivan and Democratic State Rep. Homer Lenderman – candidates for the state House District 53 seat – will appear before the club.