By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Barbara Bollier believes government has a role to play in a pandemic because the entire community is affected.
"This is the hardest thing that, to my knowledge, any of us have ever gone through in our lifetimes," Bollier said. "I mean, the exception may be polio. When I talk to my mother, that was very difficult and it was somewhat similar, but this is even more challenging. The fact that it has affected the entire world all at the same time and hurt us in so many ways. We're scared and we're worried and anxious and our whole economy has been put on hold to protect our health and that's a huge issue for all of us."
Bollier said that's why we need good government to lead in times of crisis.
"This is very clearly a public health issue," Bollier said. "It's public health because it affects the entire public. The way we deal with it is through a response that, it's not just about you as an individual, but how what you do affects the rest of the people."
She also understands that there is personal responsibility to be taken here and for her part, she's doing that.
"I'm trying to do everything that is recommended," Bollier said. "We've been staying, sheltering in place. That's getting lifted soon. We are wearing masks out in public and only doing necessary items and I think it's just so important that we do that. Again, it's not about me, it's about me protecting those out there who are at even greater risk than maybe I am."
Bollier is one of two candidates filed for the U.S. Senate race on the Democratic side. Robert Tillman of Wichita is the other.