Baker University students are taking notice of campaign issues and important political races as they get ready to head to the polls for Tuesday’s midterm Election Day.
Elections in the state of Kansas bring the prospect for change within the House of Representatives and other statewide official positions such as that of Kansas Attorney General.
Sophomore Jason Mock, a Kansas resident, said he is focusing more on the races during this midterm election rather than directing his attention on national issues.
“I’m not so much looking at the issues as I am the races,” Mock said. “The big things in Kansas are the race for the attorney general and the house race for the second district.”
Johnson County District Attorney Paul Morrison faces incumbent Attorney General Phil Kline and both offer very different perspectives on how they will approach the position if elected.
Mock said the race for attorney general and the race for the second district of the House of Representatives are very important for the progression of the state of Kansas.
“The race for attorney general is a pretty big deal because our current attorney general is scary,” Mock said. “With regard to the second district race, (Rep. Jim) Ryun has been in office for years and hasn’t done a thing. (Candidate Nancy) Boyda is a people person who is looking to move back more toward grassroots politics and the direction (the state) has been going.”
Junior Jason Krebs, a Kansas resident, said the race between Kline and Morrison has grabbed his attention because of his interest in law.
“I’m mainly looking at the race for attorney general because of my personal interest in the law,” Krebs said. “It’s something I would consider doing in the future.”
Krebs said the candidates in the race for attorney general differ greatly.
“The two candidates are essentially polar opposites,” Krebs said. “One is a complete conservative and the other is fairly liberal for the state of Kansas.”
Mock said he looks to cast a vote for change in Tuesday’s elections.
“It’s mainly about a move away from where we are,” Mock said.
He said he was looking for one thing when choosing a candidate.
“That they aren’t the incumbent,” Mock said.
Krebs said he believes most people are looking for change within the state.
“With the attorney general, I think at this point it’s mainly anti-Kline,” Krebs said. “But that’s not to take anything away from Morrison.”
Krebs said has paid attention to how Morrison has developed throughout his career.
“I grew up in Johnson County and have watched (Morrison),” Krebs said. “On the other hand I’ve watched Kline’s crackdown on privacy and abortion. Now it’s about more of an opposition to what (Kline) has done.”
Mock said college students are not unaffected by what happens in Tuesday’s elections.
“With regard to the second House district, one thing Boyda wants to do is restore federal student had that has been canceled over the last years under the Bush administration.”
Other students said they are focusing on national issues before heading to the polls Tuesday.
Junior Scott Rogers said he’s been tracking everything from the War in Iraq to general reforms.
“I would say (the most important issues are) the War in Iraq, terrorism, stem-cell research and house reforms – of course referring to the (former Representative) Mark Foley scandal,” Rogers said.
Rogers said he feels there is a divide on the issues.
“(The Iraq War and terrorism) deal with national security, whereas the others (issues) deal with ethics and moral beliefs,” Rogers said.
Rogers said he feels students have legitimate reason to be concerned with the war and terrorism.
“I think the war and terrorism are important because if we continue down the path that we are going, there aren’t enough troops and they are going to have to institute something like a draft,” Rogers said.
Rogers said while issues such as stem-cell research don’t appear as an immediate concern for college-age voters, he understands the possible importance in the future.
“As far as stem-cell research goes, it’s about the future of our medical advancements – advancements that could help me or a family member,” Rogers said.