Political newcomer Dave Pack is running against incumbent Kelly Meigs in the 23rd House District in the Nov. 6 general election.

Pack, a Democrat, said that if elected, he would support rescinding the recently passed tax plan.

The plan is “fiscally irresponsible, potentially leaving the state $2.5 billion in the red by FY2018,” he wrote The Star. “Governor Brownback has already asked for across the board 10 percent cuts in state expenditures for next year. Kansas faces serious problems providing adequate services for people in the future.”

As the father of two kids who graduated from the Shawnee Mission School District, the retired statistician also cites education as an issue very close to his heart.

He is frustrated by the inadequate funding being offered to Kansas public schools.

When asked by The Star if he would vote to increase the percentage of local option budget authority allowed school districts under state law even though it might result in higher property taxes, he reluctantly said yes, only because he thinks it might be inevitable under the current administration.

He said he worries that many areas of Kansas don’t have the property base to support a local option budget, which could lead to educational inequality.

“We must look at education as Kansans, not as residents of Johnson County who are only looking after their own personal interests,” the Lenexa resident states on his campaign website.

His opponent, Meigs, who has worked as a math paraprofessional in the Blue Valley School District, names education as one of her biggest concerns as well. She said she would support legislation that revises the current state funding formula.

“Equally important is the need to increase the visibility and accountability over where our education dollars are being spent,” the current state representative stated on her campaign website.

She would like to see fiscally responsible leaders in Topeka who rein in spending, lower taxes and encourage businesses to come to the state.

Immigration is a key issue for the Republican.

“I would also support legislation which encourages all immigrants to fully assimilate themselves into the American culture which would include its traditions, language and heritage,” Meigs states on her website.