Senate candidates spar at Vandalia Statehouse in final days before Nov. 2 mid-term elections

Squaring off in the room where Abraham Lincoln began his career in politics as a state representative, the two men vying for a seat in the Illinois Senate agreed that the state needs changes to make it more business-friendly.
But during a forum sponsored by the Vandalia Chamber of Commerce and WMPB-WKRV Radio last Tuesday, Kyle McCarter and Tim Dudley disagreed on other points, including what needs to be done to cure Illinois’ financial ills.
McCarter, a Lebanon Republican, is seeking election to the 51st District Senate seat to which he was appointed following the retirement of Frank Watson.
He is being challenged by Dudley, a Decatur Democrat.
McCarter said the experience he has gained in the past 18 months gives him valuable insight into the state’s problems.
Dudley, on the other hand, said he believes that because those who have been in power have been unable to fix those problems, what’s needed are new faces in Springfield.
“Imagine a state where transparency is a must,” McCarter said, “and that transparency produces accountability.”
For that to happen, he said, the state needs to undergo a forensic audit.
Dudley said, “Illinois has gotten off track the last few years. That’s why it’s going to take new faces, new leadership in Springfield.”
When the two candidates were asked for their ideas on how to address the state’s budget deficit, Dudley said, “What I’d like to see us do, we have to get on board with clean coal technology.
“We have a lot of coal reserves in Illinois. That’s what we have to focus our strengths on.”
The proposed coal project in Christian County, he said, would provide 2,500 jobs immediately, as well as a number of “permanent, good-paying jobs.”
Also, Dudley said, the state has to put more emphasis on alternative fuels created with agricultural products grown in this state.
“We have it here; we just have to focus on it, and get it done,” he said.
McCarter said a priority must be improving the business climate, with the General Assembly dealing with taxes and permit processes that have caused businesses to locate in other states.
About the budget deficit, McCarter said, “We’ve got a spending problem.
“We’ve got to make some tough decisions. That’s why I’ve called for a 10-percent across the board,” he said, adding that he wants to challenge each state department to make cuts.
And while that would mean having to do more with less with most departments, it could mean more workers in the department of corrections, which has spent $50 million in overtime pay.
Asked if they would give ongoing support to Vandalia Correctional Center, both candidates said they would.
McCarter said he successfully lobbied against Gov. Pat Quinn’s attempt to cut prison jobs when he first took office, and would continue to work for the prison.
Dudley said he believes that the work programs that formerly operated at VCC “did a lot of good, and they brought revenues into the facility, which is much-needed now.”
Dudley added that he has “gained the trust of prison workers,” saying that the employees’ union had endorsed him.
Both said they support a concealed carry law, with Dudley saying that he has “made it clear that I support it.”
But McCarter pointed out that while a member of the Macon County Board, Dudley voted against a Second Amendment resolution.
“His action speak much clearer than just words,” McCarter said, adding that Democrats have held up Second Amendment legislation in the General Assembly.
Dudley said the Macon County resolution made no mention of concealed carry, and that gun issues are to be handled at the state and federal levels, not by counties.
McCarter was asked to respond to Dudley’s campaign ads claiming that the senator has outsourced jobs to China and called China “a capitalist’s dream.”
McCarter said, “I have never outsourced jobs.” Dudley’s claims, he said, “are baseless allegations” and classified the ads as a “desperate attempt” to gain votes.
He said his business is responsible for the livelihood of 15 families, and invited people to his facility, “to see American products made by American workers.”
Dudley stood by the words in the ads, claiming they were taken directly from a story in the Belleville News-Democrat.
In response, McCarter pointed out that he bought a failing business in Missouri about 18 months ago, moving it to Illinois and making it a success.
“I know what it takes” to create jobs, he said.
As the budget deficit came up again, McCarter said that government waste is a major issue.
“In this government, we have to address the waste,” he said, “and the way you do that is through a forensic audit” that looks at government spending from top to bottom.
McCarter said such an audit could find $3 million-$6 million in savings. “If it exposes Republicans, it doesn’t matter; if it exposes Democrats, it’s all the same.”
He contends that while the audit may cost $600-$700 million, it would save $600 million in the first year and $600 million in subsequent years.
Dudley agrees that there needs to be an inspection of government operations, but the audit is not an answer.
“What we need in Springfield is full-time legislators who go down the budget line-by-line… and I’m willing to do that,” Dudley said.
He said McCarter’s proposal for 10-percent cuts across the board “does sound good,” but that means cuts in such things as educations, corrections and programs that serve the disabled.
“If I see something that’s not working, I will give it a 100-percent cut,” Dudley said.
In his closing statement, McCarter said, “Do you want someone who has created jobs, has experience at creating jobs, or do you want someone who can just talk about it.”
He also repeated his pledge to work toward government accountability and transparency.
Dudley said, “I want transparency as much as anyone else, but I don’t think you have to spend $700 million to get it.
“Legislators should be dedicating themselves to the state of Illinois,” Dudley said. “There is not going to be one day that I don’t try to help somebody.”