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37th District candidates discuss the issues
The November election is just 19 days away. News 5's Katie Gauthier sat down with the candidates in the District 37 legislative race.
Current State Senator Galen Hadley is vying for reelection for the 37th district. "I think people have looked at what I've done and I think they've seen a very positive thing," said Hadley. Senator Hadley took the chair four years ago and is hoping to keep the seat. His Opponent? Buffalo County Assessor Joe Woodward. "The last 18 years I've been the Buffalo County Assessor, prior to that I've been working business and industry for 15 years. The rest of my life I taught high school, UNK, and administrator at Central Community College," said Woodward. The 37th Legislature District includes the cities of Kearney, Gibbon, and Shelton. So what's the biggest issue facing the 37th District? "I think economic development. We've got to continue to grow the economy. We don't want to raise taxes and we've cut about as much as we can," said Hadley. "I think the state's budget is going to be a big issue. I know from contacting voters, the elimination of the inheritance tax is very important," Woodward said. What about income tax? "I'd like to see it eliminated for senior citizens over 65 so that they don't have to pay tax again on their social security," said Woodward. "When we look at the business climate in Nebraska, we're very favorable over a lot of areas except we have high taxes. So we've got to figure out how to bring those down and one of the ways to make up for the revenue is to grow the economy so it works hand in hand," Hadley said. What changes would the candidates like to see made? "One of the things that I'm very concerned about is the bill that was passed last year that paid prenatal care for illegal immigrants. I just don't think it's fair that people who are not citizens get medical care," said Woodward. "I think some of the hard decisions are going to deal with K through 12 education because we've got to find a funding formula that works. I think health and human services, we've got to find a way to help the people using the dollars that we have," Hadley said. Like the campaign signs dotted across Kearney, the issues are numerous, adding water and immigration to the list. "I think it will be a close race," said Woodward. "I'm working as hard as I can to be reelected and I hope the people of the 37th district see that," Hadley said. Woodward is also interested in how school aid is distributed. He wants to see the aid split up based on amount per student. Hadley adds that his biggest success was the healthy initiative at UNK, which brings medical programs out to Kearney. |
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