PLAINVILLE—Mark Schaukowitch, Democrat, is publicly announcing his candidacy for the Kansas Legislature. Mark is seeking to represent Kansas House District 110, which is being vacated by Ken Rahjes, who is running for Kansas Secretary of State. House District 110 comprises Norton, Phillips, Graham and Rooks Counties. Ellis County, minus Hays and Victoria, is also included.
Mark’s campaign is about building rural power.
“For at least the last twenty years, Topeka politicians in the majority have taken the rural vote for granted,” said Schaukowitch. “Consequently, rural Kansas has been ignored for economic development, housing, and school quality. At the same time, our cost of living has gone up, our tax base diminished, taxes increased, and public services eliminated.”
Mark believes building rural power is the only way to decrease rural taxes, preserve rural communities, and develop northwest Kansas as a health care oasis.
“Northwestern Kansas has huge potential to be a health care oasis. The only growing population is 55 and older. But we need high-paying jobs to attract talent. Given the current population needs, healthcare makes the most sense.”
Unfortunately, the Kansas Legislature has continually passed the buck. Instead of passing Medicaid expansion, or reforming housing loan programs to make the USDA Community Facilities Loan easier to access for frontier rural communities, the legislature focuses on the wrong issues.
“We need leverage in the legislature. Joining my campaign will make the legislature listen to rural Kansas. And that is power,” Schaukowitch said.