(Editor's Note: Cedar Key News does interviews with candidates for public office. In no way is an interview an endorsement. Statements from candidates seeking the same or other office are welcome.) U.S. Representative Karen Thurman is seeking a sixth term in the House of Representatives. She will face a Republican and two Independent challengers in the November General Election. One of the challengers is Cedar Key's Jack Gargan who was interviewed by CKN last month. Because the Congressional District lines have changed Thurman's theoretical advantage as an incumbent has been questioned by one of her opponents. CKN: How has redistricting effected your campaign? KT: We are trying to get out and introduce ourselves to about 250,000 new voters, going to service clubs, walking through government buildings and having some fund raisers that some folks have put on for us. And just enjoying it. CKN: Education is your field. It is the hot issue in Florida. What is on the horizon in Congress in education? KT: One of the biggest issue that we will face is the Human Services and Education bill. Based on the fact that we have gone from surpluses to deficits there will be limited dollars available. We will probably have some fights over class room sizes. Money that had been put in the past two year will have to go through appropriations again. In President Bush's budget I believe it has been "zeroed out". The other area that will get attention this year is children with disabilities, one area where the federal government is active. Also, in the next tax year teachers who have bought supplies for their class rooms will be able to get a tax credit. CKN: On the international scene-- Do you expect President Bush to take action in Iraq? KT: I think the President is in a very precarious situation. We have what is called the War on Terrorism. We have been able to put all of our allies together to break the cells. What becomes difficult is in other parts of the world there are very negative feelings about us going into Iraq. Can we afford to lose the cooperation of other nations? Our Republican colleagues are being very concerned, and legitimately so. Chairman Hyde is going to have some hearing when we get back. The President has made it clear that he can go into Iraq on his own. CKN: Do we have an exit strategy from Afghanistan? KT: Not that I"m aware of . That question has been asked in the caucuses. There is concern that we leave after giving stability and humanitarian aid. We still have troops on peace-keeping in Bosnia, and Afghanistan is one of those areas where we may have to be there three years. CKN: Do the actions of corporate executives or the international uncertainties contribute more to our stock market decline? KT: When we sent the massage to Wall Street that we were going to be using the surpluses and go back into deficits confidence in the growth of the economy declined. Then if you take the corporate scandals, the brokerage firms wanted to cut fees that fund investigation of corporate wrong doing. The Republican majority defeated a strong bill that would have protected investors, and that was wrong. CKN: Jack Gargan says that Social Security is on the brink of collapse. Do you agree? KT: No. This is what's happening with Social Security. In 2017 there will be enough of us (workers) to pay for SS, and that with the money that is already in the Trust Fund will carry us through to 2035 or 2037, However, full repeal of the estate tax, putting us into deficit and then taking money out of the SS Trust Fund could be very harmful. CKN: Any final words? KT: We have been able to bring in dollars to expand services to veterans in Florida for clinics and nursing homes, and I'm proud of that. Also, I've enjoyed having the opportunity to represent Cedar Key over the last ten years and I 'm looking forward to keeping in touch with them on issues that arise. And, Cedar Key is one of the best places in Florida. | 