Editor, Commonwealth:
While I appreciate my friend Rep. Bobby Howell's stated reluctance to weigh in on the District 46 race, he has chosen to do so (“Democrats are slandering Karl Oliver, Oct. 28). Consequently, I am compelled to respond to his address to the voters.
After taking time to digest the defense levied on behalf of candidate Karl Oliver's “on the record” positions memorialized in social media postings, questionnaire responses from special-interest groups, stump speeches and quotes in local papers, I am at a loss as to how I could characterize the mail literature as untrue or dishonest. Hard-hitting? Yes. Scandalous? No.
In a non-campaign-related comment, Representative Howell declared, “The Republican-led House … started (emphasis added) the effort to increase teacher pay, and we did.” However, this statement simply isn’t factual. During the first three years of my service in the House, numerous floor amendments to increase teacher pay were introduced but were silenced by the majority party, of which Representative Howell is a member. Then, with an election on the horizon, leadership in Jackson predictably marched out a pay-raise bill, which was substantially less than those proposed the preceding three sessions.
While our local roads and bridges are currently underfunded by $20 million, Representative Howell and Candidate Oliver apparently are satisfied that we have no infrastructure issue in District 46, despite the fact that bridges are collapsing in Carroll County before our very eyes. Two sessions ago, I joined bipartisan efforts in the House, of which Representative Howell did not participate, that held up transportation appropriations until additional funding was allocated to rural counties and the northeast region of the state. However, Mr. Oliver obviously does not seem to believe this is a priority. It was reported in this very newspaper that Mr. Oliver said, “I don't see a safety issue. I don't see the sky falling.”
I leave it to the individual voters of District 46 to investigate the credentials of each candidate, if they so choose. However, it should be remembered that representation at the Capitol includes more than making policy. It also includes being accountable and accessible to the constituency. Citizens must have the confidence that they can contact their representatives with questions and concerns and will receive credible answers in return.
Finally, the interests of rural counties on many fronts compete against those of urban and more densely populated counties. Unfortunately, we have far too many representatives elected from rural counties willing to put, at any cost, their political party ahead of their constituents. Ken Strachan seems to be willing to buck this trend while Karl Oliver does not.
Rep. M. Kevin Horan
State Representative
District 24
Grenada
