GOP bus tour follows party line
Staff writer
Running late and on a tight schedule, Republican candidates all but jumped out of their “Fire Kelly, Fire Pelosi” bus Friday afternoon at Hillsboro Industries to speak to their faithful about upcoming elections.
Senator Roger Marshall introduced gubernatorial candidate Derek Schmidt; Schmidt’s running mate, Katie Sawyer; State Rep. Steven Johnson, who is running for state treasurer; and former secretary of state and failed 2018 gubernatorial candidate Kris Kobach, who is vying to take Schmidt’s seat as attorney general.
Marshall, whose term doesn’t expire for four years, spoke to the Record by phone after the event.
His three biggest concerns for Marion County residents, he said, are the price of gas, groceries and housing; safety and security; and who will “control the guardrails of schools’ curriculum.”
President Joe Biden, he said, has “declared war on American agriculture” just as he has done with American energy.
The price of fertilizer, he said, has skyrocketed, putting farmers in a bad position at a time many of them are dealing with drought.
Fentanyl is a scourge everywhere, including in Kansas, he said. Although area law enforcement officers have said the drug has not made its way to Marion County, they know it will. Fentanyl often is added to other drugs that people misuse. In Wichita, city council members recently decriminalized possession of fentanyl test strips. Leaders there said test strips save lives.
“We need to secure the borders,” Marshall said of illegal drugs. “I’ve introduced legislation to work proactively against these pushers.”
Local school boards should make policy locally, not be forced to accept federal policies, Marshall said.
“Local parents should have input on schools, and we need to elect school board members who have traditional Kansas values.”
Schmidt, Sawyer, Johnson, and Kobach said much the same at the campaign stop.
They drew applause when they said it was time to “fire” Democratic Governor Laura Kelly.