Welcome to our online chat with 3rd Congressional District candidate Patricia Lightner.

The chat took place on Wednesday, July 28, at 11 a.m. and is now closed, but you can read the full transcript on this page.

Patricia Lightner, one of the three Republicans running in Tuesday's Republican primary for the 3rd Congressional District, responded to questions this morning in a live online chat on ljworld.com, the Web site for the Lawrence Journal-World.

Moderator: Welcome to our online chat with Patricia Lightner. She had a scheduling conflict at 8:30 a.m. today and we rescheduled the chat for 11 a.m. We are now waiting for her to arrive at the News Center in Lawrence.

Moderator: Our candidate has arrived and we will get started in just a few minutes.

Charles, Lawrence: What do you think was your greatest accomplishment thus far in public life? Also, how can you serve the people of the 3rd District better than they are now being served by the incumbent, Democrat Dennis Moore?

Patricia Lightner: Hi Charles,

Thanks for the question.

I would say my greatest accomplishment in public life has been the authoring and helping get passed the Student Self-Medication Act.
This Act will allow children, 6th grade on up to carry their life saving medications with them during school and after school activities instead of being locked up in a nurse’s closet. Last year in KS, 56 children were hospitalized in intensive care because they did not get their epipen on time or their asthma medication. This was also personal to me as I have a daughter who is both anaphlactic and an asthmatic.

As to the second question, I believe my voting record more accurately relects the values of the district and I think I bring the right mix of background and experience to address the needs of this district. I believe that this district is a more mainstream conservative district than Mr. Moore has been voting in Congress.

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Great talking with you.

Sincerely, Patricia Lightner

Tom from Lawrence: While there are a lot of people that feel Republicans are led astray by the party “pandering” to moral issues and not focusing on economic issues, for myself, the moral issues are more important than the economic issues. Where do you stand on the pressing moral issues of the day?

Patricia Lightner: Hi Tom,

Thanks for the question.

I am the only Republican in this race with a voting record in the our Statehouse and on the moral issues it stands conservatively as follows:

I have voted 100% pro-life, both our daughters are adopted and this is an important issue to me as well as the adoption issue is as well. And this does include all life issues related to it.

I voted for the Marriage Amendment and would support it and vote for it in Congress.

I support the 2nd Amendment and have a number of votes in the Statehouse demonstrating that, but I have voted against conceal and carry because I believe our children are safer without this law.

I hope I am covering all the moral issues of the day. And I would like to state that despite my opponent, Kris Kobach calling me a liberal, and attempting to distort and malign my stances on issues, I have a six year voting record which clearly reflects conservative values.

Thanks, Patricia

Greg /Overland Park: Please explain your position on unborn fetus’ right-to-life, especially regarding what is called late-term abortion.

Patricia Lightner: Dear Greg,

Thanks for the question.

I am a strong supporter of unborn babies’ rights. I have sponsored and co-sponsored numerous bills in our KS Statehouse over the last six years as a State Representative relating to all pro-life issues and if elected to Congress I would continue that strong support. I abhor the partial birth abortion, and I have votes to support a ban in KS which unfortunately did not pass the Senate. I, of course support the law that President Bush signed to ban partial birth abortion.

Thank you for writing, Patricia

Aaron, Lawrence: Isn’t infidelity a greater threat to marriage, and the biggest cause of divorce, than gay marriage? Why not focus your efforts on encouraging people to be faithful instead of denying benefits to gay couples who have households and children?

Patricia Lightner: Dear Aaron,

Thanks for the question.

It is important that we protect marriage, marriage is the cornerstone or our society and culture and it is in government’s best interest to advance the interests of marriage. To give gay couples the right to have a recognized marriage would be to change the nature and meaning of the institution of marriage thereby degrading and destroying it as such.

Government cannot however make people be more faithful to one another. Great idea on the infidelity, I’m not sure what government could do to stop it.

Although my opponent Kris Kobach and his supporters have been stating that I do not support or would not vote for a Marriage Amendment, that is undeniably false and I do support a Marriage Amendment to our U.S. Constitution and would vote for it as well if elected to Congress.

Thanks for writing, Patricia Lightner

Doug Harvey, Lawrence: Do you believe in the separation of church and state and how do you feel about the manipulation of the populace by using “hot button” issues, many of them religiously oriented, and neglecting the real issues like jobs, health care, and a sane foreign policy?

Patricia Lightner: Dear Doug,

I do support the separation of church and state and you can look at my voting record in the Statehouse which demontrates that. For instance, I have voted against vouchers and would continue to do so if elected to Congress.

While the populace has somewhat focused the campaign on the certain hot button issues, it’s probably to be expected due to what is happening in our society today.

My campaign has been focused on the issues of healthcare, education and the economy because I to believe that these are the issues of most importance to the district. I am the only candidate with this experience having worked on these issues for the last 6 years in the state legislature.

Sincerely, Patricia

Mark, Lawrence: I’m wondering how your campaign would change if you win the primary and move on to face Dennis Moore. How does defeating fellow Republicans compare with taking on a targeted Democrat? Specifically, what changes?

Patricia Lightner: Hi Mark,

Thanks for the question.

It changes dramatically, because Dennis Moore is the real target here and returning a Republican district to Republican hands.

Actually, the campaign immediately becomes a lot more defined, the party would unite to all go against Dennis Moore, and the national support would all roll in. Mr Moore, is in a very vulnerable seat and his votes even the last two years clearly demonstrate that he does not represent the values and needs of this district. Mr. Moore would finally have to explain his voting record and I don’t think he would be able to. And certainly there would be more money that would come in nationally to help out, but all in all I would work just as hard as in any campaign.

Sincerely, Patricia

Moderator: That will have to be our last question. We thank Patricia Lightner for taking the time out of her busy campaign schedule to chat with our readers. And we thank our readers for their insightful questions.

Patricia Lightner: Thank you all for submitting questions and your interest in this race. If you have any further questions you can email me at patricia@lightnerforcongress.com and I hope you will visit my website to learn more about me and my stand on issues at lightnerforcongress.com. I would like to thank the Lawrence Journal World for giving me this opportunity to chat with you all. I would love to have your support and vote in the August 3 election.

Thank you for being part of this event.

Sincerely, Patricia Lightner