Trakas criticizes tardy Kucinich on economic policy
By Kevin Kelley
Westshore
Published Oct. 29, 2008

Besides the fact that incumbent Dennis Kucinich showed up 25 minutes late, no major news came out of a League of Women Voters forum for candidates for the 10th Congressional District held Thursday at Westlake Porter Public Library.

Kucinich, 62, once he arrived, urged a multilateral approach to foreign affairs and more efforts to safeguard the environment. Republican Jim Trakas, 43, promised to focus on the region’s economic woes. Libertarian Party candidate Paul Conroy, 41, advocated limited government.

Conroy, a resident of Lakewood, said that the Libertarian Party offers the best of both worlds. He said he is fiscally conservative but more liberal on social issues. “I believe what you do in the privacy of your own homes is your business,” he said.

Conroy said both the Democrats and Republicans have failed to keep their promises. He promised that if elected, he would uphold the Constitution.

“I’m the candidate who wants to get out of your wallet, out of your bedroom and off your property,” Conroy said in his opening statement.

Trakas, who served in the Ohio House and on Independence City Council, said the 10th District needs a congressman who is serious and demands more from Washington.

“When it comes to economic affairs, I will be singularly focused on working to improve the economy of Northeast Ohio,” Trakas said.

He said he would work with local officials to implement common sense solutions to the region’s economic problems.

“First of all, bring back ‘Made in the USA,’” Trakas said, adding that he wants to create job zones to provide employment to area workers.

Trakas advocates drilling for oil and natural gas in America and eventual conversion to fuel cell technology.

Jim Trakas, Paul Conroy and Dennis Kucinich debate the issues at Thursday’s League of Women Voters forum in Westlake. (West Life photo by Kevin Kelley)

When asked if they supported federal funding for the proposed Westshore commuter rail project, Conroy said he did not because it is a local issue. Trakas said he would work with area mayors to find out their views on it. However, he did not close the door on it, saying now is the time for more public transportation.

Trakas said he’d like to get federal money to fund RTA.

“They’re raising their rates because we’ve got a congressman who hasn’t done his job and got money for the transit authority,” Trakas said.

In response to a question, Conroy said that Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, was a bad decision.

“I believe that there is no provision in the Constitution that anybody has the right to kill anybody else just because they may be inconvenienced,” Conroy said. “It comes down to responsibility.”

Trakas said he was pro-life with the exceptions of rape, incest and the life of the mother. Trakas noted that when Kucinich was first elected to Congress, he was pro-life but now is pro-choice.

Trakas said he supports a federal defense of marriage act and supported the state  defense of marriage act. Conroy said the federal government has no rights licensing marriage and that it is a states’ rights issue.

When asked which tax he wanted to eliminate first, Conroy replied, “There are so many taxes, so little time.” But he said the worst of all taxes is the income tax because one has to work to live. He also said he would like to end corporate and capital gains taxes but favors sales taxes. Trakas said tax rates should be kept the same and not raised. He also said he wants to eliminate capital gains and inheritance taxes.

When asked about health care policy, Conroy said government makes things worse when it gets involved. Each person should be responsible for getting his own health coverage but it should be portable, Conroy added. Trakas said Kucinich’s plan to expand Medicare to every American would destroy Northeast Ohio’s economy. He advocated insurance portability and reforms to require coverage for pre-existing conditions.

On education policy, Conroy said throwing more money at education does not work. “What we need to do is get parents involved in the schools at their local level,” Conroy said. Trakas said flexibility should be allowed at the state and local levels. He said he supported more efforts in science, technology and math education. Kucinich said too much emphasis has been placed on testing. He advocates universal pre-kindergarten programs and more funding of education.

Conroy said he believes the U.S. should get out of the U.N., a view that received a considerable measure of applause from the audience. The U.N. is largely opposed to individual rights, he said. Trakas said the U.S. should pay its U.N. dues but work to reform the U.N., which he described as a corrupt organization. Kucinich noted that the U.N. was created to try toend the scourge of war after World War II. “Underlying all of this is a belief in human unity,” the former Cleveland mayor said. “The world is in fact interconnected and interdependent.” Although the U.N. has been ineffective in some cases, a stronger world organization would mean the U.S. would not have to act as a global policeman. “We need to have the burdens of security shared by the world,” Kucinich said.

In his closing statement, Conroy said that if elected his main goal would be to reign in government spending. “I would like to turn this 10th District into a federal income tax-free zone,” he said. “I’d like this place to flourish.”

Kucinich said he has served the district with honor and integrity. He said that he stood up and spoke out against both the Iraq War and the recent Wall Street bailout, which he said rewarded the speculators. American needs to end its free trade agreements and establish universal health care, he said. “I want to see America come back, and I’m ready to be there and lead the way,” Kucinich said.

Trakas said the district deserves action instead of talk. America is headed for a long, difficult period, and the district needs a congressman who is focused on the region’s economy, he said. Trakas said he has a record of pursuing innovative solutions. “I will not overpromise and underdeliver,” Trakas said. “I’m here for you.”

On the Web:

• League of Women Voters Cuyahoga Area