With less than a month ahead before the state’s election filing and withdrawal deadline, a relatively quiet election cycle will likely get a lot more active in a hurry.
On Monday, Democrat Mic McGuire filed for the Kansas House 60th District seat currently held by Republican Mark Schreiber. McGuire is best known locally for serving as pastor at Grace United Methodist Church. He says equality for all is shaping his run for office.
McGuire says tax policy needs to be more equitable and public education needs to be supported and respected. He’s a proponent of Medicaid reform and a bigger emphasis on renewable energy.
The state’s primary ballot in August has a constitutional question that says the Kansas Constitution doesn’t create or continue a right to abortions and the document doesn’t mandate government funding of abortions if voters approve. McGuire is deferring comment on this week’s Politico leak of a US Supreme Court draft decision that could overturn Roe v Wade, but he says he will vote against the state amendment question.
McGuire, who led Grace United Methodist Church from 2002-09 and retiring from his current role as pastor at Harveyville United Methodist, says it’s important to keep church and state matters separated.
Both Schreiber and McGuire are currently the only candidates for their respective parties who have filed for the seat.
Besides the question on abortion, the 2022 ballot includes all Kansas House positions; offices like governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and insurance commissioner; Kansas State Board of Education; and judges. Federal positions include US House. Local positions include Lyon County Commission District 1 represented by Scott Briggs.
The candidate filing and withdrawal deadline is June 1. For more information about the upcoming election in Lyon County, go online to www.lyoncounty.org and click on the Election Office link under the Government drop-down tab. For more information from the state level, go online to www.sos.ks.gov.
