Salvi speaks with ethnic newspaper editors (10/27/96)

Salvi speaks with ethnic newspaper editors

by Irene Antonovych

CHICAGO - Al Salvi, Republican nominee for the United States Senate from Illinois, met with ethnic newspaper editors on October 10 at a luncheon in the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Chicago. German, Polish, Middle Eastern, Estonian, Lithuanian, Hungarian and Ukrainian representatives were present.

The meeting at the Ukrainian Cultural Center was significant because, not only did the participants hear Mr. Salvi's platform (elimination of excessive government spending, lower taxes, pro-family reforms, tort reform, term limits, budget amendment), but also because Mr. Salvi himself had an opportunity to hear the concerns of ethnic Americans.

When Mr. Salvi was asked what were the six most important areas of interest to the general public, he replied, "Taxes, education, government spending, crime, health care and environment, in that order."

During the meeting, a strong appeal was made to focus more attention on the problems of an aging population. A plea was made for improvement of nursing homes, more retirement homes and more emphasis on home care.

However, the topic of greatest interest to those present was foreign policy. The candidate acknowledged his interest in this area and stated that, once elected, he would seek to work on the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. Salvi is a strong supporter of Israel because he said it is an important ally in an unstable part of the world. He supports China's most favored nation trade status, because by maintaining economic ties there exists the possibility of influencing China's internal reforms.

The candidate has a cautious attitude towards Russia because of its political instability, nuclear weapons and widespread organized crime. Thus, he supports solidifying America's alliance with friendly democratic countries and supports expanding NATO to include Eastern European countries.

Former Rep. Ed Derwinski, ethnic coordinator for Bob Dole, remarked that when Mr. Salvi joins the Senate, he will find the Republicans far more positive and determined to expand NATO than the Democrats. "Specifically, Bob Dole has gone so far as to say that if the people of Ukraine wish to join NATO that is something we would vote on," said Mr. Derwinski.

Mr. Salvi, presently serving his second term in the Illinois General Assembly, is supported by a grass-roots organization, Ukrainians for Salvi, whose honorary chairman is Illinois state Sen. Walter Dudycz. The co-chairmen of Ukrainians for Salvi are Orest Baranyk and Myron B. Kuropas.