DRIVEN BY SERVICE
I grew up in Carbondale, KS and attended Santa Fe Trail High School where I was a regional champion wrestler under Coach Gary Blosser. Gary was a positive influence in the lives of many young men. Gary was coached by Ray Glaze when he was in high school. Ray Glaze was a legendary coach at Washburn Rural High School. Shawnee Heights also had a great wrestling Coach in Bob Gonzales. The legacy of a good teacher/coach can last for generations. The legacy of a bad teacher can also last for generations.
After high school I served 4 years in the Kansas Air National Guard at Forbes Field in the security police unit and attended Washburn University. I graduated from Washburn with a BA in political Science. After college I went to work for the state of Kansas as an investigator in Child support Enforcement. After 2 years in this role I took a job as a Parole Officer for the state of Kansas in the Kansas City Office. I was a parole officer for 10 years when it got a little too dangerous and I decided to go to work in the private sector.
I went to work for an insurance company in their claims department. I worked my way up to Regional Claims Supervisor and held that position for 7 years before retiring in 2020.
In 2022 I returned to work for the State of Kansas as a Child Protection Specialist in the Topeka Office. I worked in this role for 3 years, investigating child abuse and neglect cases. This job took me to every pre-school, grade school, middle school and high school in Shawnee County, and surrounding counties. The reason I’m running to be a state representative is largely based on what I saw in some of our public schools.
I am currently working as an investigator for the Kansas Attorney General’s Office. If I am elected, I will resign my position and work full time for the people of the 54th district.
Education and economic development are my two primary issues, with health care and the Kansas Supreme Court being high priorities. The hot topic in Kansas right now is property taxes. Property taxes are going up because the cost of everything property taxes pay for is going up. My goal is to bring in outside revenue to reduce the need for property tax increases.
I’m engaged to an amazing woman with three adult children and 8 grandchildren, ages 4 - 15. Keeping up with the munchkins in football, basketball, baseball, volleyball and soccer keeps us busy, it’s a good life.
I welcome the opportunity to meet with your group or organization.
Leadership for a Better KANSAS
BETTER EDUCATION
Our urban schools, and some suburban schools in Kansas are controlled by people with a political agenda. The children attending these schools are captives of those who wish to indoctrinate them. Parents have little or no control over this.
Our rural schools are less inclined to impose a political agenda on our children but the rural schools have fewer resources and technology than the urban and suburban schools. What if parents had school vouchers and could control their children’s education.
Those parents who want to remove their children from political indoctrination could use the funds they control to place their children in a non-political school or education cooperative.
An education cooperative could partner with private industry to develop an education program designed around a specialized subject or industry. The industry partner could contribute to the education cooperative to develop their future workforce.
Conversely, the parents who wish to have their children taught to be political activists and social change agents could pool their resources and develop an education program to serve their purposes. That group of parents could partner with socialist organizations, and the socialist organizations could contribute to the education of those who wish to cause a political revolution in our country.
The mayors of New York and Seattle are socialists. A socialist will likely become the mayor of Washington D.C. There is at least one socialist in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives has several socialists who openly state they want to change the U.S. to a socialist country.
Socialism is growing in our country, due in large part to the education system, which is controlled by those with a socialist ideology. Political philosophy should be part of our children’s education, but they should not be forced into an ideology that goes against their family’s beliefs.
The socialist model is designed to undermine our language, culture, economy and form of government. We are a free country and we should be able to vote not only in elections but with our education dollars.
KEY ISSUES
Osage county economic growth ideas
The Baldwin City Maple Leaf Festival in the third weekend in October is a great success year after year. Let's use that as an example of what we can do in Osage County.
Osage County has several quaint and charming small towns. What if all the small towns worked together to offer a memorable weekend for visitors?
The success of the event will be determined by the nature and scope of what we offer. When I think of the small towns in Osage County I think of a Norman Rockwell Painting.
Norman Rockwell Days would be a good way to "brand" Osage County. When people think of Osage County they would think of Norman Rockwell. Just as people think fondly of Route 66, they think fondly of the Norman Rockwell era. It was a simple time of wholesome family values.
Norman Rockwell Days could include a soap box derby on the hills of Carbondale. Overbrook has a beautiful city lake with vacant land to the east of the lake. A sound stage for live music and plays could be built on the vacant land, with the lake as a backdrop.
Scranton has an Amish Community that could use the vacant commercial buildings for arts and crafts, baked or canned goods, similar to Jamesport Missouri.
Burlingame has a large business district with several large vacant commercial buildings. If Osage County is to be a weekend getaway destination we will need lodging for the visitors.
Burlingame is on the Santa Fe Trail. An old west theme for the hotels would be ideal. The large brick street business district could be used for street line dancing or square dancing.
Trail Days: Every weekend in October. Hay Rack rides, pumpkin carving, a night in a teepee village, street dances and festivals.
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), data shows an average of 6,000 "non-truck" vehicles pass through Osage County on Highway 75 every day. The interchange of US Hwy 75 and Hwy 56 is commonly referred to as "Four Corners."
This easy access interchange should be a major revenue source for Osage County. Let's turn Four Corners into Trail Town.
Trail Town would have an old west theme similar to Lisa Jolly's John Wayne themed Restaurant. The buildings would look similar to the old west buildings in the 1800s. Trail Town would have an old style mercantile store that sells candles, pottery, quilts, old west home decor, lamps, night stands, wall hangings, etc.
Trail Town would have a western wear store with leather goods for horse and rider, (Saddles, hats, boots, etc.). A hunting/camping fishing outfitter. A place to buy or rent ATV's, Dirt bikes, etc.
Trail Town would have to have enough offerings to bring people off the highways to buy unique items.