Known most well for its famous horse races, Kentucky's third congressional district faces two issues that have little to do with the annual spectacle.

Pat Miller says education and employment are the two major problems facing Kentucky's third district.  A board member of the Louisville Visual Arts Association and mother of two, Miller wants the best possible future for her community and children.

She thinks people should focus on getting an education so that the area can have a more knowledgable and experienced workforce.  Once education opportunities are increased, job availability would be the next issue to address.  Miller says that the district needs more higher-paying jobs that would ultimately help boost the economy.

Kentucky's third congressional district encompasses nearly all of Jefferson County, home to the state's most populous city, Louisville.  The area is mostly populated by white families whose average household income is just below $27,000.  Nestled along the Ohio River, the district offers lush foliage, colonial style homes, and the newly redesigned riverfront area.

The district is home to several top medical facilities and its top employers include United Parcel Service, Ford Motor Co., and General Electric Appliance Park, as named by The Courier Journal.  The majority of the district's corporations are located in Louisville, where the growing economy can support large businesses.   WFPL News reported that the district's congressman and member of the “Gang of 7”, John Yarmuth, has been working to pass a bill concerning immigration reform because “Kentucky stands to gain $23.2 million in increased revenue should Congress pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill”.

Despite the abundance of corporations, employment rates are low in the area and Miller believes that Louisville Mayor, Greg Fischer, in his first term has a new approach to dealing with community issues that will eventually benefit everyone.

She said that Mayor Fischer understands the needs of the community and is more focused on the future than his predecessor, Jerry Abramson was.  The Courier Journal recently covered Fischer's forward-thinking plans that involve “using data and information technology to make a difference in the lives of residents and ensure local government is more accessible.”

Except for Derby season, the state of Kentucky usually doesn't see much traffic from the outside world.  Pat Miller said her district sees few undocumented or even legal immigrants, but she still favors reforming immigration law.  Miller says that America is “a country of immigrants” and that eventually the country could gain economically and morally from the influx of people entering the U.S.

Miller thinks that immigrants should be allowed to enter the country, with some strengthening of the borders to make them safer.  Her husband, Steve, said that without immigrants, the population could decline and that the constant flow of immigrants keeps America young and alive.

From the northeast corner of Jefferson County, Shari Kremer, a dental assistant, said immigrants aren't benefiting the nation's economy and that border security should be tightened.

Shannon Loucks, owner of Copper Cupcake, disagrees.  A former resident of Los Angeles, Loucks is no stranger when it comes to the topic of immigration.  She said that immigrants are actually boosting the economy and that they should be allowed to come into the country.

One thing that Kremer and Loucks agree on is helping those immigrants already here to gain citizenship and improve through education and opportunities.

John Yarmuth, a former Republican, is the third district's congressional representative and is currently serving his fourth term.  A Louisville native, he has focused on the issues concerning the community and has attempted to appeal to those demands while in working in Washington.

Stephen George, a spokesman for Yarmuth, said that the Congressman is focused on “ensuring that young people will have access to a good quality education and that young adults can have affordable access to a college education.”

In addition to addressing local issues, George said the congressman has also been working hard to appeal to the recent immigration reform as he “is a strong supporter of reform that will give the people who are here without documentation the chance to achieve legal status just like anyone else.”

The “Gang of 7”, which Yarmuth is a part of, is determined “ to produce a bill that bridges that gap between the two sides, or at least bring forward a measure that is middle-of-the-road but tough enough to get conservatives to buy in,” International Business Times recently reported.

Yarmuth and some fellow representatives “have  worked for months behind closed doors to find common ground on putting 11 million undocumented immigrants on a path to citizenship, while at the same time securing the nation’s borders”, The Courier Journal specified.

Yarmuth's view towards immigration brings hope to the third district that revenue will rise and help benefit the issues of education and employment that its citizens have been hoping for.

District Fact Box

 Population: 721, 626

White: 72.4%

Black or African American: 21.1%

American Indian or Alaska Native: 0.2%

Asian: 2.2%

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 0.1%

Hispanic or Latino: 4.3%

Total: 100.3%

Average Household Income: $26, 710

Voter turnout in 2012: 339, 524 (64.84 %)

Current voter registration: 523, 634

Democrat: 186, 179

Republican: 148, 423

No Party Affiliation: N/A

Unknown: 4, 922

Winner of the 2012 election in Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District: Barack Obama

Winner of the 2012 election in Kentucky: Mitt Romney

 

Reach guest contributor Alyssa Grismer here.