There are 12 candidates for governor of Kansas, four spoke at the 2018 Candidates Forum at Fort Scott High School July 31.
The following are excerpts from opening comments that were given:
One spokesperson, Shirley Palmer, did so for Josh Svaty. When Palmer served as a representative, she knew Svaty to be articulate, and “making a difference,” she said. He is a Kansas farmer, married with four children. Savty is able to unify Kansas. “Want to make a change…(and are ready) to move this state forward.”
Arden Andersen: He was a vo-ag teacher initially, is a doctor, and flight doctor, and has served in the military. “I am tired of a broken health care system, I have answers to solve that system…To make health care available to everyone from the least to the greatest.” Additionally “We need to get more money into the classroom for supplies and paraprofessionals.”
Lynn Rogers: He is running for lieutenant governor with Laura Kelly as governor. He is a senator, worked for a farm credit business, married with three children and three grandchildren, was on the Wichita School Board for over 16 years. “Services… are not being performed…roads.. and schools are falling apart.” “We are ready to work for you right away.”
Patrick Kucera: He is an entrepreneurial evangelist. Married 28 years with six children. He is a visionary leader, not a manager.
Ken Selzer: He attended K-State, married 38 years, CPA, business man, Conservative, pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment, and is the current state insurance commissioner. While in office he reduced the size of the office, reduced costs to the state, and improved customer service.
Question 1: The Supreme Court has said legislative funding for education is deficient. How would you propose it be financed?
Andersen: Diversity is needed in the state, other sources, perhaps tourism, getting the economy going. Medical marijuana helps with the opioid crises, he said, as a doctor. There isn’t one thing that will solve all problems. Health care and the prison system need to be overhauled. These are ideas to get more revenue.
Rogers: Legislature did that this year. “We did that through overturning the unfair Brownback tax experiment.” “We had 400,000 people who weren’t paying taxes. We have made it a fairness issue… We balanced the budget this year. As a state, we have begged borrow and stolen from every fund.”
Kucera: He said entrepreneurs create revenue and an evangelist creates a revival and he is creating a revival of revenue. Wants to redefine what revenue is: not taxation. “I’m the agricultural hemp guy in this race. We are an agricultural economy. I believe that revival of revenue is coming from industrial hemp.”
Selzer: Lean in on costs. Operate more effectively. Make Kansas grow. “We have to think more broadly. That will solve some of our funding problems.”
Question 2: What would you do to improve rural Kansas hospitals?
Rogers: Expand Medicaid, it would cover $1.2 million and create thousands of jobs. Another idea: Ark City pays a 1.5 percent sales tax to fund their hospital.
Kucera: “Agricultural, industrial hemp. A plant that can be grown, create jobs, make property tax grow up. That is the answer.”
Selzer: “A natural selection of hospitals…. sometimes yields a better result.” “Some rural hospitals will affiliate with larger hospitals.” “We need to be careful what we do with Medicaid Expansion., it’s incredibly expensive.”
Anderson: Some insurances cost $1,000 to $2,000 per month and with deductibles $5,000-10,000, he said. “you essentially don’t have insurance”. The medical system has to be overhauled and suggested looking at the Australian model.
Question 3: Would you lower the property tax?
Kucera: The state must make more and spend less. The more money you have in your tax, the more the economy will grow. The government should be more entrepreneurial.
Seltzer: Absolutely, we will take a business approach…increase the economy.
Anderson: Pproperty tax is not fair to seniors and lower social economic level.
Rogers: Many weren’t paying taxes, the tax burden was pushed on cities and counties. A county’s biggest expenses are law enforcement and mental health, those costs have been pushed from state to local level and are unfair.
Closing remarks:
Seltzer: He is a successful business man and has a government background. He has improved costs and productivity as the current insurance commissioner. “I have released my tax returns, you need to lead by example.” He has a farm and is connected to rural Kansas.
Anderson:” It’s important to understand there are a number of things we need to overhaul. Health care is the no.1 issue nationwide. It’s important to turn this thing around in three ways: 1) De-privatize, 2) go after drug costs,3) go after radiology and laboratory costs.
Twenty-percent of children have developmental delay in our classrooms, caused by mercury, aluminum, pesticides and industrial chemicals.” We won’t be able to train them…. and who will take care of them when their parents no longer can.”
Rogers: “We will be out in state visiting on a regular basis… Laura Kelley has fought back. Kansas deserves better service. We want to get to work for you as a no-nonsense problem solver.”
Kucera: A change of direction in the state is needed. Hemp can be converted into 50,000 products. Those will create jobs and farmers will have hope again. He is a visionary leader.