CARTERVILLE - The two candidates vying for the 59th District Senate seat sat down for a debate Tuesday to take their stands on a number of issues affecting the region.

State Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, and his Republican challenger in the race, Benton businessman Ken Burzynski, answered questions submitted by listeners of WJPF radio, which hosted the debate during the station's morning drive program.

Moderated by WJPF Program Director and Operations Manager Tom Miller, the debate touched on issues ranging from the condition of the state's finances to job creation to the district's unemployment rates.

Miller's first question to the candidates posed the possibility of raising taxes to get the state out of its deficit.

"We don't really have a revenue problem in Illinois, we have a spending problem," Burzynski said.

"We need to stop creating new programs and expanding the programs we have until we can pay for what we've got already."

Burzynski said the state must also stop pork-barrel spending and instead spend wisely and efficiently.

Forby said putting people to work will take care of budget problems. Job creation through a capital bill would create much-needed revenue for the state's coffers, he said.

Both candidates said they would be against raising taxes.

Miller next turned to unemployment figures, citing three counties in the 59th District with double-digit unemployment.

"I will do what I've been doing," Forby said. "I've been bringing jobs to the district."

In particular, he said, he helped bring 100 jobs with the Southern Illinois Miners to the area through his efforts to help fund infrastructure for the Marion stadium. In addition, hundreds of jobs will be available during construction and operation of several coal mines coming to the district, he said.

Burzynski said seven of the district's 13 counties have among the highest unemployment rates in the state and that job growth in the state ranks 44th in the nation.

"That is unacceptable and we can do better," he said.

He suggested focusing more effort into landing small-to-midsize manufacturing companies and other businesses - the bread-and-butter of many rural areas.

The two candidates had different thoughts on how best to end the slow payment by the state to health care providers.

Forby again pushed the capital bill, saying the revenue from the bill would ensure more prompt payment, while Burzynski said the state should simply make a commitment to pay its bills on time, especially those bills that pay for services for the state's most vulnerable citizens.

Neither candidate supports a proposed constitutional convention, while both would support conceal carry legislation.

The two also agreed that the Illinois Commerce Commission, which allowed two controversial electric rate hikes, should be composed of elected members rather than appointed and that the region should have representation on the board.

Miller said the race is of high interest to people in the district, as shown by the response to his request for audience-submitted questions.

"Within minutes, we got a whole lot of questions," he said. "We're hearing a lot about this election, some contentious stuff. Many people have already picked a winner, and the lines are firmly drawn."

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