This past Thursday, four candidates announced their intentions to run for Governor of Kansas. Mayor Jack Griswold and Senator Brandon Boyce will be running on behalf of the Free State Party. The two Sunflower Party candidates now officially in the running are: Senator Sebastian Uriarte and ADA Isabella Southwick. Here are the biggest takeaways from each candidates announcement.
Jack Griswold (F)
Mayor Griswold is a native Kansan and was born in Overland Park. He received his JD from KU Law School and began practicing as a public defender. Griswold attributes his time as a public defender as the motivation behind his strong stance on Criminal Justice Reform. However, Griswold's press conference seemed to leave us with more questions than answers. The Griswold Campaign Communication Director, Anil Bhandari, seemed confident that Griswold would support measures to decriminalize marijuana in Kansas, however; he was unable to give a clear answer as to whether Mayor Griswold would support the legalization of marijuana in our state. Unclear answers seemed to be the continuing theme of the Griswold press conference. Bhandari remained very vague on whether or not Griswold believed that Climate Change was caused by humans. He was also unable to answer simple questions regarding Griswold's stance on Medicare expansion in Kansas, however; he did confirm that Griswold would not support any measures to deny coverage to individuals with pre-exsisting conditions. Overall, Mayor Griswold seems committed to being a champion for disadvantaged Kansans who are struggling to get by, but his policy positions seem vague and wishy-washy.
Brandon Boyce (F)
Senator Boyce was also born in Kansas and received a Communications degree from the University of Kansas. Boyce began his political career at a young age as a State Representative for his hometown Emporia, Kansas. Boyce then went on to serve two terms as a State Senator and was head of the Agricultural Committee. Senator Boyce's Communications Director, Garrett Miller, appeared to be cool, calm and collected when speaking about Boyce's campaign and policy positions at the press conference last Thursday. He spent the majority of his time focusing on issues of strengthening and funding of Kansas public schools and Criminal Justice Reform. Miller clearly stated Boyce's intentions to support, not only, the decriminalization of marijuana but the legalization of medical marijuana as well. Miller also speaks extensively on Boyce's healthcare policies. He refers to the Affordable Care Act as a "disaster" and believes that allowing competition among insurance providers in Kansas is the best way to drive down costly premiums. Boyce appears to have a solid campaign team behind him. That, combined with his lengthy experience and record of bipartisanship will make him a force to be reckoned with in the Free State Party primary.
Sebastian Uriarte (S)
Senator Uriarte was born in Shawnee, Kansas and has served two terms in the Kansas Senate. Prior to his time in the Senate, Uriarte served on the City Council for Overland Park, Kansas. He has a bachelor's degree in Political Science, and a Master's in Political Science and Public Policy. During his terms as a Senator, Uriarte helped increase the budget of the state and guaranteed more federal subsidies for the state than any senator before him. His impressive record and experience certainly give him an edge over his primary opponent, Isabella Southwick. In his announcement video and press conference, Uriarte and his Communication's director, Gabe Mullen, spoke confidently about his intentions to improve funding for law enforcement to ensure that our communities are safe. Uriarte also passionately supports expanding Medicaid in Kansas and providing incentives to farmers and industries who are committed to adopting environmentally friendly practices. Senator Uriarte is an avid family man and is very active in the lives of his three young children while working day and night to provide the best possible lives for all children in Kansas.
Isabella Southwick (S)
Mrs. Southwick was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas. She attended KU Law School, where she received her JD and began working for the State as a criminal prosecutor. Her background as a criminal prosecutor drives her to policies which advocate for safe communities, protection from sex offenders, and freedom from abuse. Her dedication to keeping Kansas safe and crime-free for our children is paramount. She is a mother of three children, all in various phases of their education. Because of this, Mrs. Southwick has a solid grasp on the Kansas Public Education System, and while her children all attend public schools, she understands the importance of letting parents and children choose the education they receive. During the press conference, her Communications Director, Joshua Hughes, ensured that as Governor she would continue to support tax-credit programs that encourage competition and promote school choice. Hughes also spoke in detail about Mrs. Southwick's support of the Affordable Care Act and the expansion of Medicaid in Kansas. He stated that Mrs. Southwick is confident that this expansion will decrease the number of Kansans that are insured while providing affordable premiums and coverage for those with pre-exsisting conditions.