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Governor Candidates Debate in Wichita

By Stephen Koranda/AP

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-928244.mp3

Wichita, KS – Republican gubernatorial candidate Sam Brownback says the state should lead by example by banning smoking on its state-owned casinos and leave local governments to decide the issue for themselves.

Brownback made the statement during a forum televised from the Wichita studios of KWCH.

State Sen. Tom Holland, the Democratic nominee, said that while in the Legislature, he voted against the statewide smoking ban because he believes those issues are best left to local control.

Libertarian Andrew Gray and Reform Party candidate Ken Cannon also said they opposed the statewide ban.

Education funding has become an issue because Brownback has said the state's formula for distributing aid to public schools is flawed and needs to be revised. But Holland has criticized him for not being specific about his plans.

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