116 / Methods of Development
The Eighth District Congressional Race
Two qualified candidates have conducted their equally active campaigns to influence the voters
of the Eighth District. Democrat Jerrald Kinsingtonne and Republican Rodney Brolliette repre-
sent their parties well and have conducted themselves as gentlemen in an historically some-
times less than gentlemanly race. Both deserve commendations for that. The voters, however,
must select only one man to serve, preferably the better man.
While Brolliette is a conservative and Kinsingtonne a liberal, labels may offer little help for vot-
ers. Actions, however, illustrate the labels. As a conservative, Brolliette has taken a tough stand
against illegal drugs, demanding unannounced testing of all city, state, and federal employees.
Kinsingtonne, while also opposing illegal drug use, believes the drug testing proposed by his
opponent may well be illegal. His respect for individual rights and concern for innocent victims
makes him wary of possibly illegal measures. He cites test cases in which non-drug users—
ordinary employees in area businesses—tested positive as a result of recent surgery or as a
result of legal, doctor-prescribed medications. At the same time, known users, people having
been arrested for possession, tested negative because they bought “legal” urine and made a
quick transfer of specimens. Instead of such testing, then, he believes a crackdown on illegal
drug dealers—more arrests and stiffer penalties—may better halt illegal practices and at the
same time protect innocent employees from undue harassment. Do Eighth District voters want
on-the-job harassment?
As a result of the recent controversy over a proposed hazardous-waste incinerator to be
located in the heart of the Eighth District, voters have had the opportunity to examine the envi-
ronmental position of the two candidates. Kinsingtonne announced his opposition early, risking
the ire of local construction workers who would likely build the plant as well as the ire of the
general public who looked forward to 30 additional jobs in the area. As local environmentalists
explained to the public the inherent dangers of the incinerator and pointed out its proximity
to a major earthquake fault and the water supply for over half of the district, citizens joined
the opposition. Only then did Brolliette take a position, ironically one mirroring the apparently
successful Kinsingtonne stand. A bandwagon approach to issues of such magnitude reflects
poorly on a congressional candidate. Do Eighth District voters want a “yes” man representing
them in Congress?
Finally, each candidate sees the depressed economy as a major issue in the Eighth District.
Brolliette proposes tax incentives to lure big businesses into the area. The Republican incum-
bent, in fact, voted for the huge tax incentive that brought two moderately sized businesses to
the area. Suddenly, however, area citizens have been hit with major increases in their personal
property tax bills, some increases as much as double. Although the businesses offered over
1,200 jobs, almost all have gone to employees who accepted a transfer as a result of one
business closing a plant in the Southwest. So irate local citizens are footing the tax bill for jobs
not even open to them. Brolliette continues to defend the position. Kinsingtonne, on the other
hand, warned City Council and County Council members that citizens would suffer the conse-
quences and predicted the now-realized increase. He fought for citizen protection even before
he announced his candidacy for office, again taking an initially unpopular position because he
recognized the long-term burden in the plan. The common man’s plight facing the ramifications