Numerous people have filed for the opportunity of serving constituents in the 1st congressional district.
To date, seven Republicans and one Democrat are interested in the seat that Jerry Moran has served for seven years.
Republican candidates are Jim Barnett, Sue Boldra, Marck Cobb, Tim Huelskamp, Tracey Mann, Monte Shadwick, and Rod Wasinger. Alan Jilka is the lone Democratic candidate.
As candidates meet Marion County voters, we will provide a brief story about the candidates to help voters become better informed.
Candidate offers leadership by example
Staff writer
Marck Cobb, R-Galva, 1st congressional district candidate, says the federal government needs to reel in spending, and he is trying to lead by example with his campaign.
Cobb said he isn’t spending extravagantly on his campaign, focusing instead on visiting the 69 counties in the district.
Cobb says he and the other candidates in the Republican primary generally agree on a need for limited government and low taxes.
“We’re all in agreement on the issues,” he said.
He said health care reform was rushed without enough consideration for cost. He thinks more can be accomplished by amending the bill than trying to repeal it. Cobb thinks the government should do more to enforce existing immigration laws.
He said he has not accepted campaign contributions from outside the 1st District, because he wants his responsibility to be solely to the voters in the district.
Cobb graduated from the Air Force Academy and served in the Air Force for 20 years. In that time he flew 143 combat missions in southeast Asia.
Following his time in the Air Force, he earned a master’s degree in national security affairs. He worked in the Soviet Union from 1980 to 1982 as an assistant air attaché. During that time he helped negotiate a treaty regarding flights supporting the American embassy.
He completed law school at Washburn University and worked 20 years as an attorney.
Cobb is passionate about chess, saying it helps people learn to think. He coached Canton-Galva’s chess team for 10 years and is president of the Anatoly Karpov Chess School in Lindsborg.
He said he has raised more money for the chess school than he has for his campaign.
Cobb authored a book about people who inspired him, titled “Uncommon Sense,” published in 2010. His Web site is www.cobbforcongress.net.
The Republican primary will be August 3.
Candidate says business, local government background give insight to deficit problem
Alan Jilka, D-Salina, 1st Congressional District candidate, thinks his experience in small business and local government gives him extra perspective on ways to reduce the federal deficit.
“The budget deficit is a huge problem that has got to be addressed,” Jilka said Friday. “It is going to take some long-term discipline — something Congress isn’t known for.”
He worked in his family’s business, Jilka Furniture, and was elected to three terms as mayor on Salina City Commission, beginning in 1997.
His time in the city commission taught him about drafting budgets without a deficit, because local governments cannot have a deficit.
“I think I have the best mixture of experience, passion, and perspective to represent the district,” Jilka said.
Regarding international affairs, he said reducing America’s reliance on foreign oil is critical, remembering the effects of the OPEC oil embargo of 1973.
Another crucial issue is immigration because of the rise of drug cartels in northern Mexico, but he doesn’t think America can simply deport the problem away.
Jilka also worked as an intern for Republican Sen. Nancy Kassebaum and Democratic Rep. Dan Glickman. He said he considers his experience working for legislators of both parties an advantage.
Jilka graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Salina in 1980 and earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Notre Dame in 1984.
In 1992, he earned a master’s degree in comparative literature from the University of South Carolina. That same year he began studying for a Ph.D. in Spanish and Portuguese from Vanderbilt University.
In 1995 he returned to Salina to work in his family’s furniture business.