[10/22/03]In advance of general election voting Nov. 4, The Vicksburg Post provided questionnaires to candidates for local offices.

Their responses, as they wrote them, are being printed in a series of articles, starting today with Senate District 23.

Voters will choose between two candidates, incumbent Mike Chaney, 59, a Republican, and Warren County prosecutor Marcie Tanner Southerland, 50, a Democrat.

The district covers Warren and Issaquena counties and part of Yazoo.

Q: How do you assess the Legislature’s 2002 efforts at reforming the state’s civil liability system? What, if any, additional measures would you recommend? Why?

Chaney: Changes we already made in civil liability were a move in the right direction. Doctors can continue to work with less fear of legal abuse and insurance loss. The Legislature needs to continue reform of joint liability, non-economic damages, insurance companies and the formation of an insurance pool for doctors. More must be done to make and keep health care available for rural areas and thousands of our citizens. Business liability reforms that attract and bring jobs back are needed.

Southerland: It is much too early to determine what impact the changes that were made will have. We certainly need to make sure that the insurance industry keeps the promises they made regarding lower premiums and greater insurance accessibility for our doctors. We should do a better job of requiring insurance companies to honor the contracts they have with their insured. It is my experience that many lawsuits are filed because insurance companies have received premiums from people for years and then have refused to pay valid claims.

Q: Is state government too involved in public education or not enough? Why?

Chaney: State involvement is just enough. Student test scores have continued to improve during the past 10 years. State funding has increased, giving every child an opportunity for a good education. Teachers are better qualified and are being paid the highest salaries in the state’s history. State involvement allows teachers to teach, funding for teacher pay and training to continue, local district administrators to be flexible but accountable and ensures a good education for every child.

Southerland: No. State government is not too involved. State government is the only entity that can ensure that all children statewide have the same opportunity for a quality education. We must remember that education is the No. 1 tool for economic development, crime-free neighborhoods, affordable health care and all other goals that we have for the future of our children and grandchildren.

Q: What should the state do to promote economic development?

Chaney: The existing industry program should be reorganized to actually help existing industries. Workforce training needs to be strengthened and flexible enough to meet the needs of business. Elected officials and economic developers must be educated in the programs available for new and existing business. Infrastructure must be maintained (water, sewer, roads, housing and quality locations).

Southerland: The No. 1 question asked by potential industry is the availability of an educated and trained workforce. In order for our state to attract industry with higher-paying jobs for our working men and women, we must not only do a better job of educating our children, but we must also do a better job in creating adult literacy and vocational training. We must focus on creating a skilled, educated and well-trained workforce that will ensure our ability to compete in the world market.

Q: Do you support a system of voter identification? Why or why not?

Chaney: I support a system of voter identification. Identification for cashing checks, getting a card from the library and boarding airplanes is a normal requirement in our state. Some form of voter ID should be required, even if it is only a utility bill with an address.

Southerland: I am open to considering any proposal that ensures that we have fair elections without voter fraud or intimidation. However, having been elected and re-elected since 1983, I have not personally observed anything that convinces me that our elections are unfair as they are conducted at this time.

Q: Are there specific goals you have as a member of the state Senate? If so, what are they?

Chaney: Continue education funding, create a high-school career diploma. To prevent wasteful spending of tax money and go to zero-based budgeting to control government waste, continue better workforce training, provide access to affordable health care and insurance especially for seniorstraining and salaries for health-care providers (nurses, etc.), funding for frontage roads and I-20 in Vicksburg and Warren County.

Southerland: My goals are to provide every child with a quality education, to ensure that every citizen has the availability of affordable health care and prescription medication, to work with local, state and federal agencies to develop and recruit better-paying jobs, to work with law-enforcement agencies to promote safe and crime-free neighborhoods and to work to improve the quality of life for our families and our senior citizens.