LJWorld.com / Candidates clash at covered-dish dinner

Archive for Saturday, August 19, 2000

Hunter challenges incumbent Findley on Oz theme park, state’s foster care crisis

By Erwin Seba

August 19, 2000

With most of the candidates for local and state offices in attendance at a Lawrence potluck dinner, Republican challenger Pete Hunter linked incumbent Democrat Rep. Troy Findley to the state's foster care crisis and the Oz Theme Park development.

Findley said Hunter distorted his record.

The two men are vying for the 46th District Kansas House seat.

In his brief speech at the Oread Neighborhood Assn. candidate potluck dinner Friday night, Hunter, a second-year law student at Kansas University, said Findley had not supported proposals which would place 600 "abused, malnourished and neglected children" in good homes.

And, he said, Findley supported plans to develop the Wonderful World of Oz Park in western Johnson County.

"Foster children don't need taffy stands," Hunter said. "They need families, love and support."

"I will not go for any privatization of public things and more public support for private things like amusement parks," Hunter said,

After Friday night's dinner, Findley said privatization of foster care was a Republican initiative put forward by Gov. Bill Graves' administration. Findley said he, along with Democrats in the Legislature, argued for a pilot program to try out a privatized foster care program on a small scale and wanted an oversight board.

"It failed on a party-line vote," he said.

As for Oz, Findley said he initially supported it as a means to clean up the Sunflower Army Ammunition site, but, recognizing its reliance on public funds for construction, has since supported legislative proposals that would kill the Oz plan.

"His charges are pretty misleading," Findley said.

In addition to Findley and Hunter, candidates for state senate, Douglas County Commission, district attorney and sheriff spoke at the event, which about 50 attended.