The Issues

Energy

As responsible citizens, it is incumbent upon us to ensure we are doing our part to keep our planet clean and useable for the next generation. That responsibility includes making advances in green energy, but it does not restrict us from using the natural resources we have available.

The Kansas Energy Council, in its 2009 report, recommends developing all technologies that can provide base-load power while achieving a reduction in CO2 emissions. With the current technology, we can still use natural resources in an environmentally friendly and ecologically safe manner.

We must also develop more efficient ways of using energy in order to reduce our impact on the environment. This can be achieved by incentivizing the use of green energy methods, improved fuel efficiency in automobiles, and taking advantage of the wind and solar resources abundant here in Kansas.

Jobs

Kansas has several extraordinary colleges and universities throughout the state. We need to find a way to keep the talent coming from these schools in Kansas by attracting new businesses to the state and by making sure we keep the companies that are already here. Wind and solar energy production companies could thrive in Kansas. By encouraging those companies to locate in Kansas, we can help Kansans and advance the green energy market.

Education

Education Pays.

According to the Census Bureau, a college graduate earns more than 1.5 times more per year than a high school graduate. A master's graduate earns almost two times as much per year as a high school graduate.

With the current cuts to the K-12 education system here in Kansas, how can we expect to prepare students for the rigors of college? How can we prepare them to reach their full potential?

The answer is, we can't. Education must be funded at appropriate levels in order to ensure the success of our next generation of leaders. Great teachers need adequate pay and incentives to keep their classes productive.

As your elected representative, I will fight to make sure we provide the necessary resources to teachers and school systems to educate our children.

Accountability

Representatives are elected to execute the will of the people they represent. I have spoken to many disgruntled voters that have expressed anger because they don't feel like their elected officials care or even know what is important to them. Everytime I speak to a voter, I make sure they have my phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address so that they can reach me to express concerns and hold me accountable to serve the people I represent.

You, the voters, will send me to Topeka to do what is right for the 91st District and for all Kansans. I take this duty as seriously as I did my duty as an Army officer in taking care of my Soldiers.