Legislative Candidates Discuss Education, Health Care

Jul 21, 2008 by Jeff Robinson

Education and health care were the big topics this afternoon at a debate between two candidates hoping to replace former Utah Representative Mark Walker this November. When asked how to balance the heavy funding needs of both issues, Democrat Laura Black emphasized a public-oriented approach.

"We've built a community health care facility in one of our middle schools, so that we've utilized both the space in that middle school and provided those resources and provided a point of service where the community has access to those," said Black.

Black is a former teacher who now works for the Jordan Education Association teachers union. She lost to Walker by only 18 votes in 2006.

Her opponent, Brian Monsen, co-founded Molina Healthcare of Utah. He estimates that his company handles a third of the state's CHIP and Medicare patients, and saves the state millions by doing so.

"Recently, the state has done some studies, and it looks like roughly, over the last two years, my company has saved the state taxpayers over $12 million, in terms of what they would have spent if these members had been with the state instead of Molina, and I'm proud of that," said Monsen.

Tonight, Monsen is expected to be appointed by Salt Lake County Republican delegates to fill the seat, which represents Sandy City, until the end of this year. The seat is open because of Representative Walker's resignation.

Listen to the full debate below:

 

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