I served in the Kansas Senate for 22 years. During that time, I learned that campaigning and governing are two very different things.
Campaigns make it easy for candidates to promise that they will solve every problem. Governing requires something more. It requires judgment, preparation, persistence and the ability to work with people who may not agree with you.
That is why I am supporting Ethan Corson for governor.
Ethan has served in the Kansas Senate and understands the legislative process, but more importantly, he understands that public service is about improving the lives of the people you represent. He has worked to lower costs for Kansas families, support our public schools and protect the services our communities depend on.
Those issues are especially important in rural Kansas.
For too many years, candidates have come to western Kansas during election season, talked about how much they value our communities and then returned to Topeka without addressing the challenges we face. We need a governor who understands that Kansas does not end at the edge of the state’s largest cities.
Our rural communities need strong public schools, access to health care, reliable water supplies and an economy that gives young people a reason to build their lives here. Families should not have to leave the communities they love because they cannot find a doctor, afford child care or earn enough to keep up with the rising cost of living.
Ethan has made affordability the central focus of his campaign. He has supported eliminating the state sales tax on groceries and the state income tax on Social Security benefits. He has also proposed additional steps to reduce costs for working families, seniors and Kansans living on fixed incomes.
Ethan also understands that Kansas must protect its public schools. Rural schools are often the heart of their communities. When the state fails to provide them with the resources they need, the consequences are felt far beyond the classroom. We lose teachers, families and opportunities for the next generation.
I have also been impressed by Ethan’s willingness to do the work required to be an effective governor. He has traveled across Kansas, listened to people in communities large and small and built a broad coalition of support. Governors Laura Kelly and Kathleen Sebelius have both endorsed him because they recognize the experience, temperament and discipline the office requires.
Kansas has made meaningful progress under Governor Kelly. We have restored fiscal responsibility, invested in our schools and moved beyond the years when reckless experiments damaged our state’s finances and reputation. The next governor must protect that progress while addressing the challenges that remain.
The fact is, Kansas cannot afford a governor who is learning on the job or more interested in political slogans than practical results.
Ethan Corson has the experience, judgment and work ethic necessary to lead our state. He understands how government works, but he has not forgotten who it is supposed to work for.
He has my support, and I encourage Kansas Democrats to vote for Ethan Corson for governor.
— Retired Kansas Senator Janis Lee,
Hays