Why did you decide to run for office?
It wasn’t my decision so much as an answer to a call. My party asked me to run and my faith calls me to serve everyone, not just people who look like me, believe like me or share my political views. I am a sixth-generation resident of this district, and I know well the issues and the history behind them. I want to provide assertive leadership in the House of Representatives to help solve problems of the district and state.
Also, when Fowler is your surname and you grow up in “Fowlerville” (southeast of Emporia), public service is part of your heritage.
What do you see as the greatest challenges facing this office?
We must build relationships with constituents and government officials so that we can work together to make Kansas a great state again. Many of the people of the 76th district have told me they’re angry — about their property taxes, the high costs of health care and the lack of better-paying jobs — and they don’t trust politicians to help them. I hope to restore confidence in this office by reopening communications between constituents and policymakers. I believe in working with all parties, not just those who believe as I do. Our issues are too important to do otherwise.
What are the three greatest challenges facing Kansas as a whole?
We have more than three challenges, but I would categorize them as immediate and long-term. An immediate challenge is our property taxes. The current Legislature continues to put more and more of the tax burden on property owners, especially for school funding. Local option budgets (LOB) were supposed to cover the ‘extras’ — now they’re being used to fund the necessities. Since the state isn’t providing assistance to offset the LOB, poorer areas such as Lyon and Greenwood counties are hit especially hard.
Another immediate challenge is education. We need to continue to solve the K-12 funding dilemma and begin addressing higher-education needs. The Regents have shown us the dire need to repair buildings on all campuses, yet the Legislature refuses to fund adequately our state universities. The result is higher repair costs and higher tuition rates for students and their parents. I think the frustration many of us feel is knowing that our state universities are resources that can help us solve the problems of the future — energy, water, clean air — and not to fund them hurts our state. It just doesn’t make sense.
Long-term needs are managing health-care costs and continuing to grow the economy so that we have more, better-paying jobs. I want to honor the governor’s request for health insurance for children age 0 to 5, because we know that a healthy start results in fewer health problems later in life. Education is also a protective factor when it comes to health — the more education you have, the healthier you are — and it’s particularly true for children of well-educated mothers.
My hope for growing the economy is to help existing businesses thrive and encourage new businesses to locate in or near our towns so that our well-educated workforce has a choice of employment and minimal commuting distance. Walk through any of the towns in the 76th district and you’ll see a wonderful quality of life — but most people have to drive a long distance every day to go to work. I think we can do better.
What do you hope to achieve if elected to office?
I would like to help build a solid infrastructure of education, health care and jobs for future generations, just as previous generations worked to make opportunities for my generation. Strong schools, affordable and accessible health care and a strong, diverse economy are what all Kansans need, now and for years to come. If we have these three solidly in place, we can manage the other challenges that come our way.
I also want everyone in my district to know that I represent them, not my personal beliefs or those of my political party. I will work hard to make their voices heard in Topeka and to bring benefits to this district.
Why should people vote for you instead of your opponent?
We live in a complex world, one that requires a different way of problem-solving than what worked 30 years ago. Solving complex problems requires a multi-prong approach, one that I am uniquely qualified for because of my education and my professional experience in law enforcement and information management. I am trained to think broadly and creatively and to accurately research and assess any issue. While I am more than capable of thinking and working independently, I am also very comfortable working in teams with rotating leadership roles. This combination of ability, experience and aptitude is what I offer to the 76th District.