Emporians got to hear from five candidates vying to be the next lieutenant governor of Kansas during a forum at the Granada Theatre Tuesday night.
The Democratic candidates included Manhattan consultant Katrina Lewison (running mate of Josh Svaty), former Gardner Mayor Chris Morrow (running mate of former Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer) and Wichita businessman Lynn Rogers (running mate of Laura Kelly). The Republican field included Rosie Hansen (running mate and wife of former Emporia Senator Jim Barnett) and Goodland businesswoman Jennifer Sanderson (running mate of Kansas Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer).
Questions ranged in topic from education funding to KanCare and Medicaid expansion to agriculture, job growth and economic development.
In terms of expanding Medicaid, Republican Rosie Hansen says expansion should’ve happened a long time ago, noting its rural hospitals that are suffering as a result.
Democrat Lynn Rogers says Medicaid expansion benefits those who can’t afford insurance but says it also would open up new job opportunities.
In terms of the economy, all five candidates agreed that more work needs to be done. Democrat Katrina Lewison says a top priority for them is the economy and believes the path forward should have Kansas leading the world in industries such as animal and biosciences.
Republican Jennifer Sanderson says a key way to improve the state’s economy will be through improved efficiency in every department, including education.
Democratic candidate Chris Morrow says the next governor and the Kansas Legislature needs to respect the opinion of the Supreme Court and close the K-12 funding gap.
On the issue of leadership, Lewison says she and Josh Svaty have cultivated very different adult leadership experiences which allows them to bring the most diverse perspectives to tackle issues important to Kansans.
Sanderson says with the state’s current flat economy, Kansans need a forward-looking governor and lieutenant governor.
A big piece of Kansas’ economy is in agriculture and Hansen says her past experience with foreign embassies will help in the aspect of building trade partnerships with the Department of Commerce. She also says there is more that can be done for farmers.
Morrow says he and Carl Brewer will lead when it comes to fixing KanCare, which includes looking at a possible overhaul replaced with expanded Medicaid.
In terms of higher education, Rogers disagrees with Gov. Jeff Colyer’s opinion that undocumented students should be barred from paying in-state tuition at Kansas higher learning institutions.
Candidates spoke for a little over an hour at Tuesday’s event, hosted by the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce. Incumbent Lt. Gov. Tracey Mann and Wichita businessman Wink Hartman, running alongside Secretary of State Kris Kobach were also invited, but unable to attend the forum.
The primary election is taking place Aug. 7. Advance voting continues through noon Aug. 6.
(Alex Turley and Tagan Trahoon contributed to this story.)
Photos by Brandon Peoples/KVOE News
