Southern Illinoisan from Carbondale, Illinois • Page 6

Page 6 Southern Illinoisan, Friday, June 6, 1986 Politics to (0 efttag If Proviow I Of i 'Government has Doris Boynton Li 1 1 I By Tim Landis Of The Southern Illinoisan Doris Boynton "eats, sleeps and drinks" business. That, according to Boynton, is the major difference between her and her opponent, state Rep. Jim Rea, D-Christopher, in their race for a two-year term in the 117th House District. Boynton faces one of the toughest races in Southern Illinois this year. The 117th House District is made up of hardcore Democratic Franklin County and Williamson County, which is a tossup between Republicans and Democrats.

Rea's district was tailor-made for a Democrat and he's held it since 1979. Boynton's strategy in the face of those odds has been to be everywhere, including the Christopher rally at which Rea announced his candidacy. Boynton's view of the race is summed up in her belief that government should work for business, not vice versa. "Government has to be a business," she said." That means profits, efficiency and Boynton founded Optima Management Inc. of Marion, a business management and consulting firm, and she said that background has given her hands-on experience with the problems facing business in Illinois.

business person and that's my springboard," she said. Boynton said her pro-business campaign shouldn't be interpreted as anti-labor, but she said it's important to remember that business creates jobs. She said business and labor should cooperate to project a positive labor image outside Southern Illinois. Her major criticism of Rea has been that he creates laws that affect business without enough business experience to gauge the effects of those laws. Her pro-business philosophy even extends to other issues in the 117th House District race, She would like to see more' emphasis on business in public school curriculums, classes in office skills, job hunting and business etiquette.

"The goal of school should be to get a job," she said. Boynton said students should be taught self confidence and how to sell themselves and she readily presents herself as an example of such training. Boynton favors minimum salaries for teachers, a notion rejected by the General Assembly in 1985. "Teachers are tremendously underpaid," Boynton said. Boynton also has a straight-forward answer for state mandates let the state pay for those mandates.

She said counties shouldn't be forced to pay for jails when the state is forcing them to build or remodel those jails. Boynton also described herself as a strong supporter of coal research and aid for financially-strapped farmers but as on any issue she said the private sector can do a better job than government. She said the private sector must create permanent jobs in the coal industry and find ways to sell Illinois coal to neighboring states and overseas. She also said she believes free market competition is the best way to help farmers. Boynton said she's especially concerned about the future of young people and the elderly in Southern Illinois.

Shesaid too many young people are forced to leave the area to find good jobs and the elderly are often neglected. Boynton said she doesn't have the 'answers to all of those problems, but she said it's obvious the answers offered by the incumbent haven't worked. "We don't see new factories or plants," she said. Boynton said if business is freed from unnecessary regulation and burdensome taxes, an economic revival would come in Southern Illinois as well as the rest of the state. "Losing" isn't in Boynton's vocabulary, and so she talks about her race with Rea only in terms of margin of victory.

It's a part of her core belief in the power of positive thinking. She also downplays that she's only the second woman to run for the legislature from Southern Illinois. Miki Cooper of Harrisburg was the first in competition in Boynton's view. It doesn't mean higher taxes, more regulation and more bureaucracy. Boynton would start by making further adjustments in workmen's and unemployment compensation rates.

She said those rates are still unacceptably high and detrimental to bringing new business to Illinois. She also would cap liability awards in lawsuits, streamline licensing regulations and get rid of duplication among state agencies. Government, she said, should be a "one stop shop." 1984. She said she believes women have equal rights and don't need the Equal Rights Amendment to guarantee those rights. She said the Optima Corp.

is an example of what hard work can do for a man or a woman. "Everything I do gets back to business," she said. for oks oomiOBininc boost bey mi. the budget if necessary," he said. Rea said that in addition to economic development, he would work for improved health care in the district and more services for senior citizens.

He said his record and his experience are his major advantages over to his Republican opponent. Rea noted he has several key committee assignments, including chairmanship of the House Committee on Economic Development, and that influence would be valuable in bringing state economic development programs to Southern Illinois. "I'm a true Southern Illinoisan," Rea said. 'If we hadn't been so reliant on coal, things wouldn't have been nearly as Rep. Jim Rea eral Neil Hartigan as a potential runningmate in Hartigan's ill-fated effort to win the Democratic nomination for governor.

Rea withdrew from consideration in order to run for another two-year term in the 117th House District but he said he won't rule out yet another try for higher office in the future. "Right now, I'm happy where I am," he said. Rea acknowledged that he enjoys one of the strongest Democratic districts in the state but he said he isn't taking the challenge from Boynton lightly. He said he isn't too concerned about the presence of two right-wing backers of Lyndon La-Rouche nor about the fact that Adlai Stevenson may have to run a third-party race for governor. "I would just ask the voters to look at the candidate's background," he said.

"I think people will look at the issues closer this year than in a long time." Rea said he foresees an uncertain budget year in Illinois that may require cuts in some areas. He doesn't foresee the need for tax hikes. "I think there are ways we can cut narrow a view of the district's problems and promises. "You can't approach economic development with blinders on," he said. Rea said he doesn't believe Illinois' business atmosphere is as bad as some Republicans portray it.

He acknowledged that the state had gone overboard in the mid-1970s in raising unemployment and workmen's compensation rates but said that has been corrected. Rea said tourism will be one of the major components of his economic recovery program. Rend Lake may lead that way, he added. "I think we'll see this become a major recreational complex) for Southern Illinois," Rea said, He said Crab Orchard would also figure in that tourism package Rea said he plans to explore the possibility of state takeover of recreational operations at the federally-owned lake. He said the Crab Orchard industrial park complex might also benefit from operation by the private sector.

Last fall, Rea was one of the names mentioned by Attorney Gen- Herrin City Cemetery floral pieces and decorations must be removed from graves by June 8, 1986. By Tim Landis Of The Southern Illinoisan Coal was state Rep. Jim Rea's "top priority" when he ran for reelection in 1984. In 1986, that top priority is economic development. Rea, 48, has been in the General Assembly since 1979 and he said he believes 1986 will mark the departure of his district's traditional over-reliance on the coal industry.

Rea, who faces Republican Doris Boynton in the 117th House District, said he believes his major achievement of the past two years has been to assure continued state assistance for coal research. "This has given us the stability that we've badly needed," Rea said. Rea said he doesn't expect a quick recovery in the coal fields of the 117th but said the industry has bottomed out and there may be an upturn in the near future. He said the biggest roadblock may be federal acid rain legislation. "Miners are scared to death," he said.

Rea said legislation pending before Congress could cost Southern Illinois 9,000 coal mine jobs and he joined in a legislative resolution in opposition to the bill. However, Rea said it isn't enough to simply oppose federal legislation. He said he would also work with U.S. Rep. Ken Gray, D-West Frankfort, to push for more federal dollars for coal research.

While coal continues to be one of Marlene cierk the most important industries in his district, Rea said the 117th has many other advantages that can be used to diversify its economic base. "if we hadn't been so reliant on coal, things wouldn't be nearly as bad," Rea said, estimating that 25 percent of the district workforce is employed in coal and related industries. Rea said the district has Rend Lake, Interstate 57, Illinois 13, Williamson County Airport, community colleges. Crab Orchard Lake and a ready workforce that can provide the base for economic recovery. "There's no question that we shouldn't rely on coal alone," he said.

One of Boynton's major criticisms of Rea has been that he lacks the business experience to aid industry and business in the district. Rea replied that he's spent two decades in community and economic development and that Boynton is taking too TfflEWDNIDOW am Ti INC MARION IL aunt Wmt Caradco Ancersen SCORR LARGEST SELECTION IN TRI-STATE AREA ALL STOCK UNITS 3ffflOL (HFZC Manufacture Vy lrlr Retail Price Guide ALL SPECIAL ORDER AT 25 OFF MFG. RETAIL PRICE GUIDE Do your Window Shoppin' at P.D.W. THE WINDOW WA1UHOUSK Foot YotS r) West Frankfort 932-6150 fpetGleaii Marion 997-9020 Giray, Dixon among wealthiest lawmakers iff- MSI P.D.W. on Rt.

37 USS COUPON i A It I MARION "'j Pdw Cau cotucr 99? 6411 By Tim Landis The Southern Illinoisan U.S. Rep. Ken Gray, D-West Frankfort, and U.S. Sen. Alan Dixon, D-Belleville, are among the wealthiest members of the Illinois congres South Marion IL (618) 997-6411 (Call Collect) Next Door to Marion Metal Et Roofing NeedlllewaDii'k IFramnunm! 1 ft Home IMYIPLEIR rtrrrl ImiiijiiiiiiiiiiiiiimimiiiniiMiiti erals.

He received mortgage payments from Bella Trix Resort Inc. of between $15,000 and $50,000 and rent from a West Frankfort office and apartment complex of between $5,000 and $15,000. Gray's liabilities included a loan at the Bank of West Frankfort between $100,000 and $250,000 and between $50,000 and $100,000 on three Visa accounts. The Simons' assets of $391,423 compared to liabilities of $278,380 in 1985. The largest asset listed by the.

Simons was a $142,000 home at Ma-kanda and an $81,000 condominium at Tarpon Springs, Fla. The biggest liabilies were a $94,125 mortgage loan and a $57,800 mortgage loan. While Dixon listed $1.19, million in total assets he listed no liabilities. gu-rs- iux kmiit framing University Mail uahbuwumu i VDALc 549-2411 6-30-86 fit Vrl COUPON EXPIRES For guys and gals 1 3 years 8c older EXPERIENCED OR NOT 1 JJdPta aaMamica (CflMM Me LoMMg IFawr Ye Representatives of the world Famous John Casablancas will be conducting qualifing interviews on Sunday, June 0, 1986 from 11 to 4 at the Ramada Inn on Rt. 13 in Carbondale, IL If you ever considered modeling this could be your big opportunity.

Trained with star maker John Casablancas modeling Career Center. V3 Off mam sional delegation both with net worths over $1 million, according to their annual financial disclosure statements. Gray had income and assets worth at least $1 million in 1985 while Dixon had least $1.19 million in assets and income, according to the disclosure statements. U.S. Sen.

Paul Simon, D-Makanda, by comparison, listed $112,770 in income and $391,423 in assets for him and his wife Jeanne in 1985. The disclosure forms required only broad estimates of assets, income and liabilities rather than specific figures. Most of Gray's assets were listed under the Ken Gray Antique Auto Circus at West Frankfort and Bella Trix Resort Inc. both worth over $250,000. Gray also listed property in West Frankfort worth between $30,000 and $100,000, a cabin on Lake of Egypt worth between $50,000 and $100,000 and a West Frankfort office building worth between $50,000 and $100,000.

Gray's 1985 income included his $75,100 House salary and an $8,999 commission from Cave Coal Min- Abzug wants to return to Congress WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) One of polities' most famous hats entered the ring for the first time in nine years Thursday when former Rep. Bella Abzug announced she is seeking the Democratic nomination for Congress from southern Westchester County. "I know the ropes. I know the players.

I will hit the ground running," Mrs. Abzug said in a small room packed with supporters and reporters. "Years of experience as a lawyer and activist make me an outstanding member of Congress." Mrs. Abzug, 65, a feminist and peace movement activist whose trademark is wide-brimmed hats, was a three-term member of the House of Representatives Selected Group Of Ladies Sportswear J.H. Collectibles Wilroy Sweaters Lilli Ann Suits Dresses One group of Jantzen and Kenrob Vi price.

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