Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt is among several Republicans hoping to succeed Democrat Governor Laura Kelly, and she had a busy day in Emporia on Wednesday as she continues her campaign.
Schmidt made a stop at the KVOE studios for a profile interview as part of a day’s worth of conversations across town, saying her approach is helping her separate from the rest of the field.
Schmidt says residents have several policy concerns. Like lawmakers representing Lyon County and other Republicans running for governor, Schmidt says property tax relief is the main issue. Unlike others, she says there is more the state can do to help in that regard — but only after a “top-to-bottom review” and “getting our own house in order.”
Affordability is another concern that’s key for residents as prices have gone up in several categories.
Residents also have mentioned concerns about health care policy. She believes Medicaid expansion is a non-starter, but she says recent legislative action on pharmaceutical policy, notably pharmacy benefit managers, can help residents to a degree.
Schmidt has been the state’s insurance commissioner for eight years. She says the Insurance Department has had a lot of success in cutting its own costs and, by extension, returning money to taxpayers. She also says her time in leading Insurance has demonstrated her cooperation with the Legislature.
Besides Schmidt, the only current state department head in the race is Secretary of State Scott Schwab, another Republican. Other Republican candidates include former governor and lieutenant governor Jeff Colyer (KAHL-yer), current Senate President Ty Masterson, talk show host Doug Billings, data analyst Joy Eakins and entrepreneur Stacy Rogers. For Democrats, Johnson County lawmakers Ethan Corson and Cindy Holscher are the announced candidates.
