51st District Representative Ron Highland is looking forward to having extra time in his life once this year is over.
Last week, Highland announced he would not seek a sixth term to the Kansas House of Representatives. He spoke about his decision with KVOE News recently.
The Wamego resident has been representing the north half of Lyon County as part of his territory, and he says he has appreciated the chance to represent that area. Among other highlights, Highland says he was pleased with the work he did to preserve the state’s water supply as head of the House Water Committee.
Highland says he would have liked to see more education policies that were “teacher-, parent- and student-friendly,” but he says the Kansas Supreme Court has said that responsibility lies with the Kansas State Board of Education, not lawmakers — and the only legislative responsibility for education is to set the budget.
Highland says his final legislative session has been fruitful, with a plan now in place to end the state’s 6.5-percent sales tax on food now in place and ongoing debt reduction another key aspect of the session.
With redistricting approved by both the Legislature and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, the 51st District is moving out of Lyon County and will be assumed by the 76th District currently represented by Eric Smith of Burlington. Smith has not filed for re-election. Kenny Titus, a fellow Republican from Wamego, has filed to fill the 51st District seat.
