In the race for the District 45 seat in the State House of Representatives, incumbent Republican Thad Balkman is going for re-election against Democratic candidate Wallace Collins. District 45 covers land within Cleveland County including eastern portions of the city of Norman.The incumbent, Balkman, has been living in district 45 for the last 12 years. Some of the larger issues Balkman is looking at include education, public safety, economic development, and health care. Balkman, who is originally from Long Beach, California, was a member of several legislative committees during his previous term in office including appropriation and budgets, health and human services, higher education, as well as public safety and homeland security."I believe that one of the most important jobs a public servant can do is to keep the public informed," Balkman said. He hopes to keep informing the public for another term.The Democratic candidate is no stranger to the seat. Wallace Collins, a long time Norman Resident and retire mechanist, served as the Representative for District 45 from 1996 to 2000 when he lost to Thad Balkman. He also lost to Balkman in 2002. Collins three main issues for this campaign include education, health care, and jobs. Collins would also like to look at increasing the minimum wage."I think the people that are actually producing and performing the service ought to get a piece of the pie," Collins said in response of the current minimum wage.Balkman is an attorney in Norman with a wife and four children.Collins is a 45 year resident of District 45 as well as a husband and father.Both candidates have been focusing heavily on mental health. District 45 contains the only state funded mental health facility, Griffin Memorial Hospital, and each of the candidates has taken time to concentrate on its needs.Balkman claims that through his work in the mental health and human services committee, he has secured funding for facilities such as Griffin and the JD McCarty Center for children with developmental disabilities.Collins also has close ties with the mental health facilities here in Norman. Collins, who has been named "outstanding legislator" by the National Association for Mentally Ill, has served on the board of directors for HOPE Community, a central Oklahoma mental health services provider.The candidates have also looked at issues that candidates in most of the races in Oklahoma are currently looking at. Immigration and cost of college education have been hot buttons all year long.Balkman supports lowering the cost of college and feels that immigrants should have access to emergency health care.Collins also feels that college education prices should lower here in Oklahoma. As for the immigration issue Collins feels that it is complex."We are lacking national leadership that could stem the tide of immigrants wanting to come here," Collins said.Balkman and Collins will face off in the polls Nov. 7.
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