<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602555662053.jpeg" alt="Kansas House 111th District candidates Eber Phelps, D-Hays, and incumbent Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, debate online Monday evening in Hammond Hall, Fort Hays State University." />
 <figcaption>Kansas House 111th District candidates Eber Phelps, D-Hays, and incumbent Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, debate online Monday evening in Hammond Hall, Fort Hays State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostMonday night's Kansas House 111th District debate was forced online by COVID-19.The coronavirus pandemic was one of the concerns in numerous questions submitted to the candidates - incumbent Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, and challenger Eber Phelps, D-Hays.&nbsp;Phelps has previously served as the 111th District state representative.&nbsp;

He was defeated by Wasinger two years ago by just 35 votes, following a&nbsp;<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2018/12/28/election-lawsuit-against-rep-wasinger-dismissed/">ballot recount and lawsuit that was ultimately dismissed</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;COVID CONCERNSOne of the first questions asked of the candidates was whether it worked when Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, temporarily shut down non-essential businesses on March 30 to help stop the COVID spread. Executive orders also required Kansans to wear face masks in public and not to gather in large groups.&nbsp;Wasinger feels "the blanket approach was wrong" and such actions should be decided by local governing bodies."On March 30th, more than 90 counties, including Ellis County, had no cases of COVID. When we exited the shutdown on May 3rd, there were 10 cases in Ellis County," Wasinger noted. "Local control is so important for all of our communities. The county commissions, the city commissions, they know what's best for their communities."I think it was wrong to shut down all of these businesses and pick winners and losers in this shutdown.&nbsp;"Suddenly, it was okay for Home Depot, or Dillons or Walmart (across Kansas) to be open but we couldn't have businesses open in downtown Hays.&nbsp;"The economic damage is considerable," Wasinger declared. "We need to use common sense and learn how to improve. The state will not be able to survive another shutdown."Phelps considers the COVID shutdowns a "health issue" and "a threat to our safety all across this country.""So, steps were taken in Kansas. Things worked at the very beginning. We didn't have any (local) cases. But some people looked at it as a political issue or an economic issue."The governor took the advice of medical science. ... County governments all over the state decided to look at it as a political issue and pushed back on the governor, saying no, we're not going to wear masks (including Ellis County)."It was the right thing to do, with the effect of flattening the curve." Phelps said. "It was the opening up too soon, which we've also seen in Florida, Texas and Arizona, that's causing resurgence."In Ellis County, we jumped over 1,200 cases today, according to KDHE.&nbsp; That could have been zero if our county commission would have followed through," Phelps contends.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DIagV-9QbPI"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As of Monday, there have been 1,211 cases of <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/e033c059-4566-475c-bd29-8eec77237729">COVID-19 identified in Ellis County</a>, including 13 deaths.On Oct. 2, the Hays City Commission voted to <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b927d4eb-e1b4-4c57-bc57-56ad4e14516e">extend the ordinance requiring face coverings</a> until the seven-day new case average is five or fewer for 14 straight days.The number of <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f8048be6-aec5-4ce3-8d21-1234a7fa4fcd">confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas</a> increased by 2055 to a total of 67,862, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 771, an increase of 8.Asked who should have the authority to declare emergency actions regarding health issues in Kansas, Wasinger said there should be a "system of checks and balances, without partisanship."&nbsp;She again advocated for local control.Phelps, who said he believes "the worst is yet to come," wants the governor and state legislature to work together in making such declarations.The pandemic may promote a positive for rural Kansas."People are leaving larger cities to live in rural areas," Wasinger said. "We must have broadband everywhere in Kansas to accommodate those workers."&nbsp;&nbsp;Because of COVID, some employers are more willing to allow their employees to work from home, Phelps added.MEDICAID EXPANSIONBoth candidates can see their way to supporting Medicaid expansion in Kansas, albeit by different paths.&nbsp;Wasinger listed what she called "important additions" to any bill for expansion of KanCare, the state's Medicaid program."People need to have some skin in the game. "We need to have them pay a premium according to their income base.&nbsp;We also need to have some sort of pathway to work."KanCare reimbursement needs to be improved, according to Wasinger.&nbsp;"We have a disabled community that's waiting in line for services and they will be stepped over by Medicaid expansion," she said. "We have to clean up those lists so our most vulnerable citizens are not sitting and waiting."Phelps said he voted for Medicaid expansion at least three times during his tenure in the legislature.&nbsp;If Kansas had adopted it when the chance first arose in 2014, "we'd be so much further ahead budgetwise here in the state," Phelps said.&nbsp;According to a ticker hosted on the <a href="https://www.kha-net.org/CriticalIssues/KanCareExpansion/">Kansas Hospital Association</a> (KHA) website, Kansas has so far forfeited more than $4.3 billion in federal funds."That's just under a million dollars a year for HaysMed. Just think what that would do for our community if they had those additional resources in their current budget."Phelps says Governor Kelly will not veto a Medicaid expansion bill, which would affect about 150,000 uninsured Kansans."We have an opportunity here. Yes, it's matching funds - 90% from the federal government - but in that bill if it goes below that, the state can pull out of it."Thirty-nine of the 50 states have adopted Medicaid expansion - including the four states surrounding Kansas - or are in the process of doing so.&nbsp;Bringing a Medicaid expansion bill to a vote would be Phelps' immediate priority elected, he said last night.Wasinger said her number one goal would be to fix the foster care system in Kansas and make it easier for people to become foster parents.EDUCATION FUNDINGThe candidates talked about school funding in Kansas, for K-12 and higher education.Wasinger sits on the budget committee for higher education funding. She said she is a "strong supporter of FHSU" and sees a need for more technical school graduates. Once the legislature convenes in January, Wasinger anticipates cuts to higher ed funds to help balance the state's COVID-ravaged budget.Wasinger wants "accountability" in K-12 funding and believes not enough dollars are going to teachers and classrooms. "Some Hays USD 489 teachers are making an unlivable wage," Wasinger said, "especially if they are living alone."Approximately 65% of the state's budget is spent on education.&nbsp;"Investing in our kids is the best thing we can do for the future of Kansas," Phelps believes.OTHER TOPICSThe hour-long debate at Fort Hays State University's Hammond Hall also included discussions of affordable housing, support of the state's agriculture industry, protection of small businesses, social and racial justice in Kansas, a state increase in the minimum wage, and limiting abortion rights through constitutional change.Kansas House District 111 includes the cities of Hays, Munjor and Victoria, as well as the townships of Big Creek (partial), Freedom, Herzog (partial),&nbsp;Lookout (partial), Victoria and Wheatland (partial).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602567093541.jpeg" alt="Debate moderators&nbsp;Isaiah Schindler and Dr. Wendy Rohleder-Sook from the FHSU Dept. of Political Science." />
 <figcaption>Debate moderators&nbsp;Isaiah Schindler and Dr. Wendy Rohleder-Sook from the FHSU Dept. of Political Science.</figcaption>
 </figure>Monday's debate was livestreamed on the FHSU Student Government Association (SGA) Facebook page by Tiger Media Network (TMN) with support from SGA, American Democracy Project, Dept. of Political Science, Docking Institute and the Hays Chamber. There was no audience in Hammond Hall.Moderators were&nbsp; Dr. Wendy Rohleder-Sook, asst. professor of political science and Isaiah Schindler, a political science sophomore from Hays. Voter registration in Kansas continues through Oct. 13.&nbsp;Early voting begins Mon., Oct. 19.&nbsp;The general election is Tue., Nov. 3.

🎥 COVID, Medicaid expansion, education funding dominate 111th District debate