Tosh, Baker See District 52 Seat As Critical To House Control

Editor’s note: This feature is part of a series examining competitive House District races in Northeast Arkansas.

The race two years ago in House District 52 was a battle to the finish, with just a handful of votes deciding the winner.

Both parties are also expecting a battle for the seat this year.

Democrat Radius Baker and Republican Dwight Tosh, both of Jonesboro, are seeking the State House District 52 seat. The district, which stretches from the Cord Charlotte area of Independence County to Tyronza in Poinsett County, includes parts of Craighead, Independence, Jackson and Poinsett counties.

It was one of the closest political races in the state in 2012, with Rep. John Hutchison, R-Harrisburg, defeating Democrat L.J. Bryant by 45 votes.

Tosh defeated Hutchison in the May Republican primary, setting up the race against Baker.

Both candidates also have name recognition.

Tosh worked with the Arkansas State Police as a troop commander in Jackson County for many years, while Baker serves as interim superintendent at Hoxie after recently retiring as superintendent for the Valley View School District.

PRIVATE OPTION
Tosh said he is opposed to the lower-income health insurance plan that was approved by legislators during the 2013 session as an alternative to straight Medicaid expansion.

“I have been opposed to Obamacare from Day One. I would have voted against it,” Tosh said of the 2013 vote. “I am opposed to making government responsible for people’s healthcare especially when there is no long-term plan to pay for it.”

Baker said he is 100% behind the law as well as a plan to reauthorize funding for the law, which legislators will likely vote on next year.

“It has helped 197,000 people in Arkansas, including 8,000 in Craighead, 2,000 in Poinsett, 2,000 in Jackson and 1,000 in Independence,” Baker said. “It will help people get insurance who otherwise cannot afford it. It will have a positive effect on our hospitals and it is very much needed.”

Tosh countered that the cost of the program, both now and into the future, is a heavy burden for taxpayers.

“My position has always been the same. I want people to have insurance, but as a legislative body, you have to figure out a way to pay for it,” Tosh said, noting he would not raise taxes to pay for it.

WORKFORCE TRAINING
Tosh said he supports plans to expand workforce training and technical education programs. The district is home to ASU-Newport and its campuses in Jonesboro and Marked Tree.

“When kids graduate high school, sometimes it’s college or other. There is a lot of peer pressure in going to college,” Tosh said.

He also believes there should be support for the so-called special skills, like plumbing or diesel mechanic, at the high school level.

“We are missing a great opportunity. I think we have to encourage it in our local schools. It is a resource to provide a good living. Take a diesel mechanic, you can make a good living,” Tosh said. “We have some great facilities in our state. We just have to make sure they are properly funded.”

Tosh said he would also like to see the state’s lottery work to make sure scholarships are available to students seeking technical training.

Baker said he also supports expanding workforce training as well.

“There is a viable need in Arkansas. We should look for ways to expand it. If there is an increased need, there is increased funding,” Baker said.

Baker said he believes the technical colleges should work to provide names of qualified students to potential employers who may have a need.

“They are key for economic development in Arkansas. It does not matter if they are building brakes for Toyota or whatever,” Baker said, noting there have been shortages in professions ranging from welders and mechanics to heating and air conditioning workers and even morticians.

“These are several areas where students can be notified by the school,” he said.

COMMON CORE
Baker said he supports Common Core, saying it is a good concept that measures achievement but also needs work.

“Some view it as curriculum. But it is not curriculum. Some view it as coming from the federal government. But it originated from the No Child Left Behind law,” Baker said, noting No Child Left Behind called for 100% proficiency in different courses. “But they found that 100 percent cannot be proficient. It was formed by governors. But some governors backed out while some stayed because they thought it was viable. It allows students to move from one school to the next, where they could transfer and not lose credit. They could have math in Arkansas and move to Michigan, but have the same math.”

Tosh said he is opposed to Common Core.

“I think education in the state of Arkansas should be constitutionally administered by the state and not the federal government,” Tosh said.

He has heard from parents and educators alike on the issue.

“Teachers need to be teachers and not facilitators,” Tosh said. “Common Core has restricted the ability to teach on a one-on-one level. There is no place in our education system when the federal government gets involved.”

IMPORTANCE OF RACE
Some political experts have said that the district could decide which party controls the state House in January.

Tosh said he agreed that the seat was important for both parties.

“It is so important because it may tip the scales one way or the other,” Tosh said. “It is a matter of conservative versus liberal. I support conservative beliefs while my opponent, he supports the Democratic platform.”

Baker countered that he is pro-life and against gay marriage, but agreed with Tosh on the importance of the race.

“(With the 45-vote margin last time), I think people want someone with the same beliefs. There are a lot of neat things going on that people understand,” Baker said.