Culture war issues distinguish two
By JOE LAMBE The Kansas City Star
Culture war issues and how much experience is worth play roles in the Kansas Republican primary for the 11th Senate District.

Ten-year incumbent Sen. JohnVratil of Leawood is a political moderate who supports abortion rights and serves as the Senate vice president.

Vratil, 62, also chairs the judiciary committee and is vice chair of the education committee. He notes that this gives him experience and power his opponent would not have.

Overland Park challenger Jerry Clinton is a social conservative and abortion opponent.

Clinton, 57, said he got in the race because of his support for proposed coal-fired power plants, immigration and his opposition to abortion.

Clinton is a piping designer for a firm that designs power plants. He believes Vratil, who also supports the plants, has not done so strongly enough.

The two men also differ strongly on abortion. If the U.S. Supreme Court should overturn Roe vs. Wade, for instance, Vratil would oppose a bill forbidding abortion in Kansas. Clinton would support such a bill.

Clinton also calls for tougher state laws against illegal immigrants. For instance, he supports repealing a law that allows children of undocumented immigrants to attend Kansas colleges for in-state tuition.

Vratil supports that law and says immigration is best addressed by federal law to avoid having conflicting laws in all the states.

The two disagree over whether a voter ID law is needed. Clinton said voters should have to provide a driver’s license or some type of identification.

Vratil says there is no evidence of voter fraud and no such law is needed.

Vratil opposes a bill that would forbid local governments like Lawrence from giving some level of legal recognition to unmarried straight and gay couples.

Clinton said marriage is between a man and woman and he supports the bill.

Vratil, a lawyer, supports the judicial selection system in which candidates are nominated by a committee and the governor makes the final choice. Clinton said judges should be elected.



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John Vratil

Party: Republican

Age: 62

Education: Bachelor of science degree in education from University of Kansas, law degree from University of Kansas School of Law

Occupation: Kansas senator and lawyer with Lathrop & Gage

Endorsements: The Association of Kansas School Boards political action committee and the Kansas National Education Association.

Jerry Clinton

Party: Republican

Age:27

Occupation: Piping designer for an engineering firm

Military service and college: Navy from 1969 to 1973. Two years at Pittsburg State College

Endorsements: Kansans for Life, The Olathe Republicans, and Proud Catholics Voters Association of Kansas.




| To reach Joe Lambe call 816-234-7714 or e-mail to jlambe@kcstar.com


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