OLPE — Gov. Jeff Colyer is in the early stages of a whirlwind tour across Kansas, and that tour brought him to the KVOE listening area Monday.
Colyer stopped at Olpe Chicken House, where KVOE News caught up with him.
Colyer says his administration is working to alleviate the drought, and recently it announced half the state, including the KVOE listening area, is in a drought emergency — a step that can help producers and cities gain access to water from more sources than they can under normal circumstances. Having said that, Colyer says producers are facing tough times.
Colyer says recent tariffs are causing concerns for producers, although the state is working hard to reduce the impact of those extra duties. He also says Kansas is working to find new markets for its goods.
Colyer also had a stop in Morris County earlier in the day. The Colyer campaign launched its rapid-fire tour over the weekend, and Wabaunsee County was a tour stop on the first day Saturday.
Colyer is seeking his first full term in office after ascending to the governor’s desk in January following the appointment of then-governor Sam Brownback to a position in the Trump administration. He’s part of a crowded field of Republicans hoping to be governor, including current Secretary of State Kris Kobach, current Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer, former Emporia Senator Jim Barnett, as well as Tyler Ruzich, Joseph Tutera and Patrick Kucera.
