Four local candidates debate

West Lafayette, Ind. - The candidates agreed on many points, but here is a look at the issues that separated them.

Candidates for State Representative District 26 Democrat John Polles and
Republican Randy Truitt have similar views on not allowing Sunday sales of alcohol and not supporting a state wide smoking ban.  What the two disagreed on was if the governor's property tax relief should be
permanent.

"I think it's reckless to consider making a constitutional amendment.  We have no idea whether it's effective or not," said Polles.

 "I strongly encourage the permanent property tax
relief because Hoosier families are struggling," said Truitt.

The two also argued about if the state should offer and fund full-day kindergarten.

"It needs to be up to the individual school districts in regard to that.  I believe it needs to be voluntary," said Truitt.

"Number one priority is education, fully funding K-12 education.  It has to start there and when I say fully funded, I mean everything to include full-day kindergarten," said Polles.

County Commission Candidates for District 2 Democrat David Woolums and Republican David Byers both agreed Tippecanoe County needs a Juvenile Justice Center, but differed on how it should be built.

"We looked at empty buildings.  It was going to cost more to you the tax payers to renovate a building then to build brand new," said Byers.

"I would like to see a subtraction to the development.  I think there is an existing facility we could use," said Woolums.

"The current plan is really designed really well and I know it was designed initially with the courts out there and we need to look at that down
the road because our courthouse is getting full," replied Byers.

"The courts never should of been involved.  Judge Loretta Rush, arguably the greatest expert we have in Tippecanoe County, asked the courts not
be added and said a conference room would suffice," responded Woolums.

Both platforms support keeping the Tippecanoe Villa open and not having a county wide smoking ban.