Party: Republican
Age: not given
Profession: Business owner
Community involvement: Helped get the city of Hays to put plaques below all of Pete Felten’s sculptures in the Capitol to identify him as the artist; Graduate, Leadership Hays, Hays Chamber of Commerce, Class of 2000; Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, former volunteer assistant director of Drama; Lector, Commentator and Eucharistic Minister, St. Joseph Church and former president and member of the Parish Council; Hays Public Library, past board member; volunteer-weekly, Holy Family Elementary, 1999-2009
1. You are a long-time elected official, why do you continue to seek office? What fresh ideas would you bring to the Legislature?
I plan on continuing in office as long I am working effectively for my constituents. I have continued to fight for lower taxes for them and will make that a priority this session as well.
2. What do you think is the top issue facing the Legislature in 2027?
The top issue is clearly lowering property taxes. In my tenure we have also lowered income tax rates, removed food taxes and removed taxes on social security income.
3. What would be your top priority in Topeka if elected?
Property taxes. Clearly this is top of the minds of all citizens who have had enough to higher taxes. Citizens need to be able to be protected from being taxed out of their homes.
4. Higher education institutions across the country are seeing enrollment declines. How would you support higher education, including capital needs, while keeping tuition affordable? Would you support state funds to save the Sternberg Museum?
I have worked to be a wise steward of the state budget and will continue to support Fort Hays State University. I was able to make sure that the new graduates of the Fort Hays State University’s social work doctorate program could apply and receive state licensure. I voted for the nursing program to receive $15 million to expand and remodel Stroup Hall and have been available to FHSU whenever they needed me.
The Legislature found out last week that FHSU was going to close Sternberg just like the public, and it needs to be studied to see what we can do to help. But more information is needed, and I applaud the private sector for how it has responded to the Sternberg’s issues.
5. How do you think the Legislature should address property taxes? Do you support the cap that failed to become law last session? If you support a different plan, what is it?
Once again, we must be able to balance the needs of local government, and their tax base has had to respond to increased demands. People want to stay in their homes and not be taxed out. It needs to be further defined as to what guardrails we need to agree on to be able to give relief without crippling communities. That is the goal.
6. Do you think the K-12 funding formula needs to be changed? How? Would you support more state funding for special education?
K-12’s funding formula has been in place since 2016 and revised 2019 and has reached a point where the Legislature has satisfied all requirements from the [Kansas Supreme] Court.
In state statute the funding formula actually expires July 1, 2027, so the Legislature has to do something to the current formula or make changes to the formula. If we don’t, there is not mechanism for funding for the schools.
Special education will absolutely be included in that discussion. The School Funding Task Force have to have recommendation to the Legislature for the funding formula by January 17, 2027. It will then have to go through the legislative process. The task force is meeting in November and December to do just very that. My job is to make sure that our community gets their fair share and that teachers [are] adequately paid.
7. Do you think the state needs to ban or further regulate data centers?
Local communities need to decide this and figure out what is good for them and what they need. It is very complicated to be able to meet the needs of all parties are heard and privacy/property rights are respected.
8. What if anything, do you think the state should do to promote cyber security? Do you think the state needs to regulate AI? If so, how?
I was the chair of the Legislative Modernization for two years and in 2024 passed Senate Bill 291 which created and amended Kansas law concerning the organization of Information Technology and Cybersecurity Services for each branch of the government. Consolidating information technology services allows for better coordination of cyber security and savings for all organizations.
AI is clearly needing guardrails and needs a great deal of study to make sure we protect Kansans. Creating such policy can’t be done quickly.