Baldwin ? In a political forum that touched on welfare reform, the death penalty and voter apathy, it was a discussion of illegal immigrants that revealed differences among candidates.

The forum, which started at 7 p.m. Monday and drew about 100 people to the American Legion Hall in Baldwin, gave candidates for state and national offices an opportunity to discuss issues and answer questions.

Although many of the questions focused on the state’s tight budget and educational goals, a passionate discussion ensued when gubernatorial candidate Ted Pettibone was asked about his views on illegal immigrants.

“Illegal is illegal, and let’s get them out of our country,” the Reform Party candidate said, adding that “any company that hires these people is unpatriotic.”

Having lived in California, Pettibone said he knew what it was like to live with illegal immigrants and said allowing them into the country degraded the value of U.S. citizenship.

“And I am not going to be a part of it,” he said.

Skimming over a question about education to respond to Pettibone, U.S. House of Representatives candidate Dan Lykins invoked the inscription on the Statue of Liberty and reminded those at the forum many of whom were over 50 and most all of whom were white that many of their forefathers came to the United States as illegal immigrants.

“I think when we start saying that only true Americans can stay here, we’re in trouble,” said the Democrat running for Kansas’ 2nd District.

Other issues discussed at the forum:

Tom Holland, a Democrat running for state representative in the 10th District, advocated a “top-down review” of all educational agencies and programs to ensure quality despite budget cuts.
Phill Kline, Republican candidate for attorney general, said Kansas a state that has climbed in violent-crime rankings during the past five years needed harsher penalties for its criminals. “We need to make justice a priority again,” he said.

Sandy Praeger, Republican candidate for insurance commissioner, said she would work to bring more insurance companies into Kansas in the hopes of increasing competition and lowering costs.

Other candidates at the forum were George Cook, Reform Party candidate for U.S. Senate; Douglas Martin, Libertarian candidate for U.S. House of Representatives 3rd District; Dawn Bly, Reform Party candidate for U.S. House of Representatives 3rd District; Ralph Tanner, Republican candidate for 10th District state representative; David Haley, Democratic candidate for secretary of state; and Lynn Jenkins, Republican candidate for state treasurer.

The event was sponsored by Town and Country Republican Women of Douglas County, American Association of University Women and Baldwin City Business and Professional Women.