Democrat Congressional Candidates Gather in Effingham

The candidates for the Democrat nomination for Congress in the 15th District gathered in Effingham for a forum Thursday night.

(DEMOCRAT CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES LEFT TO RIGHT: CRAIG MORTON, KEVIN GAITHER, JOHN HURSEY AND ERIKA WEAVER THURSDAY IN EFFINGHAM)

The hopefuls are Craig Morton of Salem, Kevin Gaither of Charleston, John Hursey of Edwardsville and Erika Weaver of Mattoon. Morton owns a pharmacy and is a member of the Salem City Council, Gaither is a self-employed tutor, Hursey teaches in the East St. Louis School District, and Weaver is a public defender in Coles County and a member of the Mattoon school board. Gaither won the Democrat congressional primary in 2018.

Moderator Dave Seiler asked a series of questions on Medicare, Social Security, addressing a tendency by some to equate Democrat with Socialist, higher education and student loans, the Trump tax changes, climate change, and unions.

Here's a candidate-by-candidate synopsis of responses:

MORTON--on the Socialist label, he said government is socialistic, the question is "how socialistic do you want it to get?"; on education, he called for greater support for community colleges and basing student loans on the estimated income expected for the career to be pursued; on the tax cuts, he encouraged the cuts be revoked, saying they are "the dumbest piece of legislation I've ever seen", and encouraged efforts to get more money to Main Street America; on climate change, he said it's a national security issue and the #1 crisis, but offered no specifics; on organized labor, he said they've been "beaten down" but "they got us where we are today"

GAITHER--on Medicaid, he encouraged upgrading the computer system to facilitate easier access; on Social Security, he said he should be increased, and that he won't cut it if elected; on the Socialist label, he encouraged discussion, saying "some issues that matter to them matter to us"; on higher education, he encouraged a restructuring so schools will work better, but thinks more funding for young learners is really the key; on the tax cuts, he encourages getting rid of cuts for corporations and to tie everything to jobs created; on climate change, he encourages supporting small energy companies, and also working on preservation of our waterways; on organized labor, he encouraged efforts to get rid of right-to-work across the nation

HURSEY--on Medicare, he said he is a supporter of Medicare-for-all and said he would be willing to pay bigger taxes in exchange for lower fees for services, and would also see legalization of marijuana use at the federal level as a revenue source to maintain Social Security; as to the Socialist label, he said, "Yeah, I'm a socialist, we need to own that"; on education, he encourages free Kindergarten care and negotiate the cost of services for education at higher levels; once repairs are made, he could push for free college; on climate change, he would bill it as "the ongoing environmental crisis" and would work to reduce CO2 levels; on organized labor, he said he is a union member from a union family

WEAVER--on Social Security, she said she doesn't have a policy, but does have an end goal and recommends working together toward a remedy; as to when someone equates being a Democrat with being a socialist, she doesn't debate the issue, and thinks most people have their minds made up on the issue; as to ways to help education, she suggested expanding dual credit class offerings, and requiring the Federal government to "provide the funds they're supposed to"; as to the Trump tax cuts, she said the provisions "seem to vary according to whom (Trump) is talking to", but said any tax changes need to be long-term; as to climate change, she said municipalities need funding to implement the changes needed: on organized labor, she said those trying to organize need to be protected from retribution in their efforts

In closing remarks, Morton said he has won elections, and believes he is the "most electable" candidate; Gaither said he is a fighter, and has been "fighting for people most of my life"; Hursey said he has a "values-based approach, rather than a party approach" to issues, and said he is a consensus and coalition builder and non-partisan; Weaver said she is "a hard worker, a mom, a public defender, a school board member, and works to get the job done and will so for the district."

About 50 people gathered for the forum, which took place at the Effingham American Legion Hall.

The primary election will be held on Tuesday, March 17. Early voting is already underway.