In this series, Westwood Patch asks the three 9th District Congressional Candidates about certain issues of the day. The November 2 election will be between Congressman Stephen Lynch (D), Vernon Harrison (R) and Phil Dunkelbarger (I). (Attempts were made to get Congressman Lynch's viewpoint for the following Q&A, but they were unsuccessful.) Do you support Ballot Question 3, which, if passed, would reduce the state sales and use tax rates (which were 6.25% as of Sept. 2009) to 3% as of January 1, 2011. If so why? If not, why not? Vernon Harrison: I am in favor of any tax decrease. I think our…

In this series, Westwood Patch asks the three 9th District Congressional Candidates about certain issues of the day. The November 2 election will be between Congressman Stephen Lynch (D), Vernon Harrison (R) and Phil Dunkelbarger (I). (Attempts were made to get Congressman Lynch's viewpoint for the following Q&A, but they were unsuccessful.) There is an obvious divide between the two major political parties, how would you reach across the aisle to work with the opposite party? And please cite a specific example in your career or life that exemplifies this notion. Vernon Harrison: I think that…

In this series, Westwood Patch asks the three 9th District Congressional Candidates about certain issues of the day. The November 2 election will be between Congressman Stephen Lynch (D), Vernon Harrison (R) and Phil Dunkelbarger (I). (Attempts were made to get Congressman Lynch's viewpoint for the following Q&A, but they were unsuccessful.) What strategies/techniques would you use in governing if the opposite party is in the majority? Vernon Harrison: That in a sense is what I do in my work. I don't know how to talk to anyone else than how I talk to them. That what's one of the problems in …

In this series, Westwood Patch asks the three 9th District Congressional Candidates about certain issues of the day. The November 2 election will be between Congressman Stephen Lynch (D), Vernon Harrison (R) and Phil Dunkelbarger (I). (Attempts were made to get Congressman Lynch's viewpoint for the following Q&A, but they were unsuccessful.) How should the government reform Social Security, if you believe it should at all? Vernon Harrison: They should've started 30 years ago by not having social security contributions go into general fund, which has been used for anything except for social …