Moderator: Welcome to our online chat today with Jim Mullins, a Reform Party candidate who is running for the Kansas Senate, 2nd District seat.

We have several questions that were submitted ahead of time, so we’ll go ahead and get started.

Jim Mullins: Thanks Dave. Glad to be here

Travis, Lawrence: Mr. Mullins– Why are you running against a Republican in the general election? I understand that your primary candidate backed out of the race, but how does that justify challenging a sitting Republican as a third-party candidate (and possibly helping elect a Democratic senator)?

Jim Mullins: I am giving the conservatives in Douglas County an option to not vote for a liberal

Chase Cookson, Wichita: Thank you in advance for taking the time to answer my question. You have mentioned that you disagreed with Mark Buhler’s vote against a proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Why do you think that we need this type of amendment? Furthermore, do you think that regulating a person’s private choices via a constitutional amendment is dangerous, as it might be the first step on a slippery slope of the erosion of our civil liberties?

Jim Mullins: I believe in the people of Kansas. Most of the people that I have talked to wish to have the opportunity to vote on the issue. I would give them that chance.

Jonathan, Lawrence: In a Tuesday article in the Journal-World, you gave me the impression that you believe same-sex relationships are comparable to someone having sex with an animal. Is this what you honestly believe, and if so, why should Lawrence, which is traditionally moderate to liberal vote for you?

Jim Mullins: Again let the people decide what they want in this situation. I believe in letting the people decide on “Quality of Life” issues

Jim Mullins, Reform Party candidate for Kansas Senate, 2nd District, chats with voters.

Nicco, Lawrence: Why should we vote for you over Mark Buhler and Marci Francisco in the Nov. 2 election? What makes you a better representative of our district?

Jim Mullins: I will intrduce a bill in the 2005 session that will give school districts the CPI funding fr the next three years, but they wuold have to agree to take the % off dollars going to the classroom from the present 58.6% to 61.5%, the national average. This wouldd put about $120,000,000 into the classroom without raisiing taxes.

Stephen, Lawrence: Both Marci Francisco and Mark Buhler want to increase taxes to fund public schools. Are you in favor of this? Please explain. Also, what is your position on education?

Jim Mullins: I believe in the children and that they are the greatest ecomomic development tool we have. To that end we should divert some lottery revenue to schools as well challenging the districts to put more money into the classroom.

Cindy, Topeka: From an outsider’s perspective it seems as though your intentions in running for the 2nd district seat are solely to ensure Mark Buhler does not retain his position. If Buhler were to lose and Fransisco were to win, would it not seem that someone who sees things completely opposite of you has won? I guess I would like to hear your reasoning as to why you are running.

Jim Mullins: Again, I am giving conservatives in Douglas County someone to vote for.

Harry, Lawrence: Why are you the right candidate to represent a district that seems to be seeking moderate, even-keeled leadership?

2nd District Senate race offers ‘triangle’ of political diversity Election Special 2004: State Senate 2nd District Meet the Candidates: 2nd District State Senate: Mark Buhler, Marci Francisco and Jim Mullins, part 1 Meet the Candidates: 2nd District State Senate: Mark Buhler, Marci Francisco and Jim Mullins, part 2 Meet the Candidates: 2nd District State Senate: Mark Buhler, Marci Francisco and Jim Mullins, part 3 Meet the Candidates: 2nd District State Senate: Mark Buhler, Marci Francisco and Jim Mullins, part 4 Meet the Candidates: 2nd District State Senate: Mark Buhler, Marci Francisco and Jim Mullins, part 5

Jim Mullins: I think your premise is wrong. Most of the people that I have talked to agree that the school districts spend to much money on administration and overhead. I want to change the pattern, not being moderate.

Kathy, Baldwin: How do you explain leaving your party at the last minute just to oppose Buhler? It seems that primaries are in place to ensure that candidates from both major parties have a fair race in the general. Why would someone vote for you as a person trying to manipulate the democratic system that is in place?

Jim Mullins: I thought that the election process gives a person the right to change parties and run for election if they have the desire to do so

Mary, Topeka: It seems like a strange excuse that you’re running as a reform party candidate and not as a republican becuase you didn’t have time to file. Why does/did it take longer to file as a republican than as a reform party candidate? What am I missing, here?

Jim Mullins: Nothing. Answered.

Donald, Lawrence: You mentioned using gambling revenue from the lottery as a good source of funding for education. Where do you stand on casino gambling? Do you feel that Kansas needs more revenue from casinos, such as those proposed in Wyandotte County and elsewhere?

Jim Mullins: Let the people decide. This is another “Quality of Life” issue that shold be voted on by the people.

Lawrence, KS: I agree with Mr. Mullins in his opposition to ‘moderate’ Republicans like Senator Buhler, but I would like to ask why he is choosing to take the fight outside the Republican Party instead of reforming the Party itself? Doens’t Mr. Mullins think that by leaving he abandons the Republican Party to the “moderates”?

Jim Mullins: Quite the contrary. The Republican party has been taken over by conservatives in the August 2004 election. The new party leadership will be elected in Jan 2005

John, Lawrence: Given that you have run a virtually silent campaign with the exception of some targeted mailings to conservatives, it is hard to believe you are serious about winning. Aren’t you really playing the role of a political bomb thrower, hoping to take enough votes from Sen Buhler so that he will lose and conservatives will have a better chance of taking control of the Senate?

Jim Mullins: Thank you Mr Bush. I am not a bombthrower but someone who has principles and believes that conservatives in Douglas County should have someone that they agree on the issues running for the senate seat that is being held by a liberal. If I had run in the August primary and won then the liberal Republicans in this county would have voted for the Democrat.That why we have Dennis Moore and Sebelius.

Donald, Lawrence: Why did you choose to take your candidacy to the Reform Party, instead of another conservative party like the Constitution Party?

Jim Mullins: They asked me to join them, the other party did not.

Donald, Lawrence: Do you see your role in this race, and third parties on the whole, as legitimate contenders for the office, or simply an additional forum for those disenchanted by the two major parties, with no real chance of election?

Jim Mullins: I remember several years ago the Minnesota [voters] elected Jesse Ventura Governor. Anything is possible.

Moderator: Mr. Mullins, I have a question for you– what’s your position on the South Lawrence Trafficway? Should it be finished?

Jim Mullins: Amen. And just where the Dept of Transportation has it aligned.

Moderator: We have a lot of students living in Lawrence who will be affected by tuition increases and by any increases that the state puts into higher education. What do you think about increasing funding for higher ed?

Jim Mullins: The University system should have more leeway to look at alternate revenues streams by letting the state give more block grant money and more automony to control their own destiny.

Moderator: If you are elected on Nov. 2, what’s the first piece of legislation you would introduce?

Jim Mullins: The bill to make school districts and school boards responsible for putting more money into the classroom. The people of Kansas want their money spent better than it has been for the last 10 years. They have allocated over 1.2 billion dollars more but less and less money is getting to the classroom.

Moderator: We’d like to thank Jim Mullins for taking the time to come down today to our office to chat with our readers. And I’d like to thank those who submitted questions today.

Jim Mullins: Thank you for your questions and concerns. If you have additional questions or want more information please go to my website mullinsforsenate.org or email me at info@mullinsforsenate.org or call 785-842-3269. Also, I would appreciate your vote on Nov 2nd