Our property taxes keep going up. Increased valuations in the current market coupled with rising demands on our tax dollars have created the perfect storm that can price young buyers, seniors and those on fixed incomes out of homeownership. We must ensure everyone is paying their fair share and that our spending priorities are balanced with keeping property taxes under control.

As a longtime educator, we talk a lot about the “brain drain” in our state. Kansas teachers and parents are some of the best educators in our country, and yet we’re losing our young people and skilled workers to other states. We must tackle this problem and identify the cost of living, job opportunity and quality of life issues that are sending our kids and grandkids elsewhere.

A deep respect for the service and sacrifices of our veterans, military families and first responders is what drew me to establish the Honor Flight program in our community. It is also what drives me to advocate for action at the state level that will protect and serve the best interests of those who protect and serve our communities.

Kansas is not immune to the fentanyl crisis that Is endangering the health of our neighbors and communities. We must take action to protect our next generation from this deadly drug, and we must get to the root of the problem so this drug is not getting into our country illegally or into the hands of our children.

Our local economy relies on the availability of good-paying jobs - jobs that allow our families to get ahead. We must push for a tax and business climate that encourages employers to come to Kansas, grow in Kansas and stay in Kansas.

With a long history of educating Kansas teachers, our district is well-positioned as an educational hub. We must continue to strive for effective investments in the opportunities that our K-12 schools, FHTC and ESU provide for our students and our workforce.