Candidates for state and federal offices outnumbered the local voters there to hear them at a political forum sponsored by Allen County Farm Bureau Saturday afternoon.
Just a handful of potential voters turned out for the event, compared to 13 candidates and their associated staff. That sparked a few jokes as candidates each offered a five-minute stump speech. Josh Svaty, a Democrat candidate for governor, joked that the five Democrats who gathered to talk to him outnumbered the three or four Republican voters available to the 11 Republican candidates. Thats unusual enough in Kansas to qualify for some type of record, he mused.
Mostly, though, candidates talked about their agricultural roots and the importance of agriculture to the Kansas economy.
A brief summary of remarks:
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt
Schmidt has held the office for two terms and is seeking a third. He kept his remarks brief and left early for other engagements.
I want to thank the legislators here for the support youve given us the last two, three years to expand prosecution and, effective July 1, allow us to expand our efforts against online child solicitation, Schmidt said.
U.S. Congress, 2nd District House of Representatives Steve Fitzgerald, Republican
Fitzgerald cited his experience serving with the U.S. Army and that of serving on a school board during a bond issue. He has served in the in the Kansas Senate six years.
I dont want to see the House go to Democrats because it will be nothing but impeachment hearings. Thats what they say they will do, he said. If elected, I Intend to work with congressmen in order to return to regular order in terms of the budget so we dont have another omnibus bill and continuing budget resolutions.
He said he supports President Trumps efforts to restore American security, including funding for the Armed Forces and border security, reducing regulations, and addressing unfair tariffs to give us a fair approach in the world so American farmers and workers can compete with anyone in the world.
Kevin Jones, Republican
Jones said he came to the forum after spending the morning in a wheat field. He said it helped him think about efforts to undo regulations to help farmers and the need to pass a farm bill. He also talked about the need to support and empower law enforcement, and reduce the national debt.
When I think about our kids, I think about their future and this debt is something we cannot allow, he said. We have to put our foot down and stop it. Were at $20 trillion now, going on $21.5. We dont want to end up like Greece.
Dennis Pyle, Republican
Pyle cited his experience as a fourth generation farmer who built his own home with help from his wife and six daughters.
As a farmer who built a house and built a lot of fence, I want to help our president build a wall, he said.
He pointed to his 16 years of experience in the Kansas Legislature and how he stayed true to his commitment to values like pro-gun, anti-abortion positions and opposition to raising taxes every time an increase was proposed. He also pledged to support President Trumps agenda.
I think we have to be a leader for national security issues and I think the president is right, he said. I think the first step is to build a wall. No country has ever won a war that wasnt a leader in technology unless it was a leader in energy and agriculture and manufacturing.
