For Kansas gubernatorial candidate Josh Svaty, the state needs to shore up its financial situation before it can truly move forward.
Svaty came to Emporia on Tuesday as part of what he calls a college tour to get students interested in the election and the issues at hand. Svaty says the state’s financial health is a major concern for him. As part of that, he says, state investments should be targeted towards entrepreneurs already here instead of “chasing out-of-state businesses.”
Svaty tells KVOE News there has been a lot of attention paid to public K-12 education this session — and understandably so, with a Supreme Court ruling on funding adequacy hanging over lawmakers — but he says higher education hasn’t had the attention it deserves from state leaders.
Svaty is part of a crowded Democrat field hoping to win in November. He says the state should not ignore natural resources, particularly water but also soil, as part of the economic picture. Failure to address water issues will stunt the growth of several vibrant communities across Kansas, according to Svaty.
