Rep. Stephen Owens, a Hesston Republican, is trying to switch chambers as he runs for the Kansas Senate against Democrat Jason Miller. Outgoing Sen. Carolyn McGinn has held this seat in the 31st District since 2005. Election Day is Nov. 5. Oct. 15 is the last day to register to vote. Early voting starts Oct. 16. You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here. Who are the candidates in Kansas Senate District 31?Democrat Jason MillerMiller is the director Mennonite Abuse Prevention, a nonprofit aiding survivors of sexual violence. He also works at Grazing Plains Farms, a dairy farm. He is married to a public school teacher who has been in the field for 20 years. Miller also fostered and adopted two children and spent two years on the Kansas Mental Health Task Force. “My experiences supporting traumatized children, losing a son to suicide, and working alongside survivors of sexual violence drive my belief in the possibilities for Kansas systems to promote resilience and healing,” Miller said.He is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, Cannabis Justice Coalition-Kansas, the Kansas National Education Association, Game On for Kansas Schools and Planned Parenthood Great Plains. Republican Stephen OwensOwens was elected to the Kansas House in 2018 and is hoping to make the jump to the state Senate. He and his wife Rose own a small business in Hesston and have three children. The grandfather of two graduated from Bethel College and has an MBA from Southwestern College. Owens is a board member of the Kansas State Rifle Association. “Together, our family is rooted in Kansas values and are thankful for this great state that has so blessed our family,” he said. He is endorsed by Americans for Prosperity Kansas, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Family Voice, Kansans for Life and the Kansas Rifle Association. If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble?Options include: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else.Miller: Carolyn McGinn is my friend and a mentor. I hope to serve the community with the same centrist sensibilities, straight talk and Kansas work ethic.Owens: Ronald Reagan. He said: Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why? Miller: I would pass a bill requiring that all public and private eighth grade graduates in Kansas be explicitly informed of their rights to a free public high school education. I descend from a tradition of conservative Mennonites and Amish who forbid education beyond eighth grade, and many children of these groups in Kansas continue to end their schooling early. I am the first generation in my family to attend a public high school. I believe that a high school education for every child is not only beneficial to them individually but is in the best interest of our communities.Owens: Kansans need and deserve true property tax relief. To do so, we must reform the current system in a way that ensures Kansas senior citizens aren’t taxed out of their homes, Kansas citizens aren’t forced to pay property tax increases before putting food on their table and young Kansans can afford to live in the homes they purchase. This will take out-of-the-box thinking, looking at what other states are doing and a simplified approach to spending.How would you have voted on the following items? You can vote yes, no or pass. The Aug. 2, 2022, constitutional amendment on abortionVoting no meant the state constitution would continue to protect the right to abortion. Voting yes would have meant it can be regulated or banned. Miller: No. I don’t believe that Kansas needs to introduce any further restrictions on abortion. I believe that abortions are reproductive health care, and I believe that the same health care rules and laws should apply to both men’s and women’s bodies. I trust individuals to make the best health care decisions for themselves in consultation with their support networks and medical professionals.Owens: Yes. I believe all life is precious. The constitutional amendment would have allowed the Legislature to continue to regulate the abortion industry. With its failure, we have now become the abortion capital of the region and nearly all regulations have been overturned. Flat tax on incomeA flat tax on income was packaged with property tax cuts and eliminating Social Security income tax. Democrats and Republicans agreed on other parts of the plan, but were at odds over a flat tax. A single rate on income didn’t pass this year.Miller: No. I believe a graduated income tax best supports strong communities. I also believe the concept is ethical and supported, for example, by the Bible: “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required.” (Luke 12:48, NKJV)Owens: Yes. Simplifying our tax structure is the first step to eliminating state income taxes altogether. The next best was creating the two-tier system which eliminated the lowest tier for the benefit of all Kansans. In addition, we lowered property tax and eliminated taxes on Social Security!Banning transgender women from women’s sportsVoting yes would mean athletes have to play the sport based on their gender assigned at birth. This bill was vetoed but the veto was overridden in 2022. Miller: No. I believe the law overreaches and unnecessarily escalates into a legal matter something that can be better handled by school leaders and KSHSAA (Kansas State High School Activities Association) in consultation with a student, their support networks and medical professionals.Owens: Yes. I voted yes every single time. Biological males do not belong in female sports. This is not fair, it’s not safe and it is simply wrong.Banning gender-affirming care for trans youthVoting yes means children under 18 can’t get puberty blockers, hormone treatment, and in rare cases, gender-reassignment surgery. This bill narrowly failed this year and is expected to come up again in 2025. Miller: No. I believe gender-affirming care is health care, and I believe that the same health care rules and laws should apply to both men’s and women’s bodies, straight or LGBTQ+. I trust individuals to make the best health care decisions for themselves in consultation with their support networks and medical professionals.Owens: Yes. I will do so again in 2025 given the opportunity. No child should have permanent, disfiguring surgery or change their gender until they reach adulthood and can make an informed decision. Our children are young, susceptible and often change their minds. Let our kids be kids.Chiefs and Royals stadium-financing billThis bill didn’t spend any taxpayer money to attract the teams, but it did set aside future sales tax dollars from future stadium districts to pay off bonds. This law passed by a comfortable margin, and voting yes opens the door to the Chiefs and Royals in Kansas. Miller: I struggle with this one, but I think I would have voted no. My understanding is that economists have repeatedly found little economic benefit from new sports facilities. While it might make us feel good, I don’t believe luring the Chiefs and (Royals) would be a wise financial investment.Owens: No. While I am a Chiefs fan and would love to have my “My-Homey” on the Kansas side of the border, there were serious problems with the bill that left too many questions unanswered.APEX (Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion)This bill had billions in tax incentives to bring a Panasonic battery plant to De Soto, Kansas. As it was being passed, lawmakers were not told which company would be coming, but were told the bill is necessary to attract large businesses. Voting yes approved a massive tax incentive plan for companies. Miller: No. I believe that, like investments in sports facilities, public investments in businesses in the form of tax breaks and incentives have been shown by economists to be ineffective. Businesses are most attracted to communities with strong workforces.Owens: Yes. Personally, I dislike economic benefit packages. However, we must be competitive as a state. This was an opportunity to land a major employer that will create thousands of high paying jobs. I believe it was the right decision for Kansas at the time.Mail ballot grace periodCurrently, any mail ballot in Kansas can arrive three days after Election Day and still be counted if it was postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting yes would eliminate that grace period. Miller: No. I believe that the priority should be to encourage voting and participation in democracy. The possibility of late ballots does not negatively affect the integrity of an election or vote counting.Owens: Yes. I believe elections should be decided by Election Day. Mail in ballots are sent out weeks in advance with plenty of time provided to mail them in. We are one of only a few states that allow the delay and rarely does it have an impact on the outcome.A bill loosening child care regulationsIt would expand allowed child-to-staff ratios and allow teenagers to work at these facilities. Voting yes approves the loosened restrictions. Learn more about this bill here. Miller: No. I believe this bill was rushed and that professional state regulators should be allowed to work on this before lawmakers prematurely intervene. Changes may need to be made, but they need to be made carefully and in close consultation with state agencies responsible for the oversight of child care facilities.Owens: Yes. Access to child care is an increasing challenge for families and employers. We need more and easier access to qualified child care providers.The Parents’ Bill of RightsThis bill lets parents pull their kids out of classes if they are being taught objectionable material. Republicans say it is up to parents to determine what their children should be learning. Democrats say this bill addresses a problem that doesn’t exist. Miller: No. As the husband of a public high school teacher, I believe that teachers strive to teach students to think for themselves, figure out what is most likely true, and become responsible adults. As a graduate of a public school after being home-schooled and attending multiple private religious schools, I believe that public schools most consistently present unbiased educational experiences and provide a quality education.Owens: Yes. Parents should be the primary educator of their children. They are the ones who should make decisions best for their children and their education.Correction: A previous version of this article misstated the year Sen. Carolyn McGinn was elected. The post Stephen Owens and Jason Miller are running to replace long-serving senator appeared first on The Beacon.