FRANKFORT — It’s been a whirlwind for Carter County Republican Jill York, the state representative from the 96th District. She’s in the middle of her third election in less than a year, opposed by Democrat David Hayes.

York, 43, owner of Print Works in Grayson, faces Hayes, 55, a Grayson outlet store owner, for the House seat once held by Democrat Robin Webb, who won a special Senate election in August 2009. York took the House seat in another special election that year and faced a primary opponent this spring.

“I’m a little battle-weary, but I keep finding people who are pleased with how I’m representing them, so it’s really been very positive,” York said.    

The 96th covers Carter and Lewis counties — Carter is Democratic in registration while Lewis is heavily Republican. The key, according to Mignon Colley, Carter County Republican chairwoman, is Lewis County where York should do well.

But Lewis County, like many mostly one-party counties, basically chooses local officials in the primary. Those winners aren’t opposed in the general election and that could affect turnout, which might help Hayes.

“I intend to carry both Lewis and Carter counties,” York said.

The two agree on the top issues: jobs and drug problems. Hayes ties the problem of drugs to the region’s economic problems.

“Jobs and drugs are a nightmare in eastern Kentucky,” he said. A counselor for a faith-based drug counseling program, Hayes wants to devote more resources to counseling and rehabilitation for those addicted to drugs which he says will save money on corrections costs and make the local workforce more attractive to employers.

“The drug epidemic that we’re beginning to see more and more of in rural and eastern Kentucky is a key issue,” York said, “and of course, the economy and jobs.”

York said the best way to boost the economy is to reduce taxes and regulations on business.

“We have to get our hands off some of the regulations that stifle business,” York said. “We’ve got to quit reaching into people’s pockets.” She says she’ll be an advocate for the region, offering legislation to help attract or retain employers when appropriate and working with state and local officials to remove obstacles to attracting new employers.

Hayes thinks attracting tourists to the area through local state parks, lakes and a proposed horse trail and a wellness center might benefit from state funding “if the economy turns around.” Until then, he said, such plans can be implemented in stages with local resources.

“Before you can get someone to relocate to your area, you’ve got to do something to attract people to your area,” Hayes said.

Voters are in a sour mood although that’s generally seen as more of problem for Democrats. But Hayes says he’s a different kind of Democrat — fiscally conservative, pro-life, supporting traditional marriage and gun rights.

“We need to wean ourselves off of government,” Hayes said. York doesn’t disagree: People “want the powers that be to listen. They ask why can’t government operate on the same principles as we operate on in our lives.”

Hayes said there are no easy answers for the growing costs of Medicaid. He wants less reliance on government but added, “When we get to the point where we can’t feed the hungry or treat the ill we’re no longer a Christian nation.”

York serves on the General Assembly’s Medicaid Cost Containment Task Force that must recommend ways to save money in the insurance program for the poor and disabled. But uncertainties about the implementation of the federal health care reform legislation — that will make more eligible for Medicaid — makes that difficult. Until the federal government provides some answers, “we may not have much we can do but whittle away while trying to preserve essential services.”

House Republicans say they will pursue measures to require tax and spending bills to be available to lawmakers 48 hours before a vote; prohibit legislative pay for special sessions called to pass a budget lawmakers couldn’t agree on in regular session. York supports those measures.

Neither candidate supports new or increased taxes. “I’m against them,” Hayes said. York says higher taxes and regulations discourage business from expanding or hiring.

“People understand we have to pay taxes, there are things government has to do for us, but why does the government have to put penalties on us if we want to go into business,” York said.

Hayes said he supports the philosophy of charter schools — more discipline, an emphasis on performance — but thinks that philosophy should be incorporated into public schools. York says research on charter schools “indicates they would pull resources away from public schools and they defy standardization and accountability.”

Hayes opposes gambling but thinks the decision should be left to voters. York says the district opposes expanded gambling — and so does she.

RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.