VOTERS GUIDE | James, Roeser seek to replace Dodson in District 67

James is a Junction City High School graduate, a former U.S. Army soldier and a member of the Riley County Law Enforcement Agency. He has sought public office before, running four times for the Manhattan City Commission between 2015 and 2021.

Roeser is a business development strategist with Flint Hills Pain Management and a pillar chair for HYPE, the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce’s young professionals’ program. She graduated from K-State with a bachelor’s of science in human development and family sciences with a focus in personal financial planning.

The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Kim Zito in the Nov. 5 general election. Zito ran for the same seat in 2022 but lost to Dodson.

What are your priorities as a candidate, and of those, what is the greatest challenge the state is facing?

James: My priorities are lowering taxes, protecting parental rights, support for our aging population, retention of retirees and our young workforce, addressing affordability and protecting the First and Second Amendment rights.

Roeser: My priorities as a candidate are to fight inflation and reduce costs for families and seniors; fully fund K-12 education and special education and champion K-State and Manhattan Area Technical College; invest in infrastructure to support better jobs; support military members, veterans and their families; make government more efficient to better serve our community. The greatest challenge Kansas is presently facing is the ability to attract and retain the next generation of Kansans. This issue is of priority because it is the foundation for our communities to be able to thrive. We need trained workers to care for our aging seniors. We need qualified teachers to educate Kansas kids. We need workers to be able to build and repair our infrastructure. We need dedicated young Kansans that want to serve in our military. We need to be a place that industry leaders want to come to hire our talent.

What are the key issues in K-12 education in Kansas?

James: As a parent of three kids, the biggest issues I see in education in Kansas are: No. 1. Upon graduation many of them are not prepared for the academic rigor that universities require of their students. No. 2. Funding mechanisms in the school districts are applied in a way that prioritizes the operations of a school district and not the education of the students.

Roeser: Currently, the biggest priority in Kansas K-12 education is completing the task of funding special education. Additionally, we must continue to work at the task of training teachers in understanding the science of reading. The legislature has created the foundation for investing in early childhood education and literacy, supporting continued teacher mentorship and professional development, and improving school safety. We need to ensure these priorities stay top of mind.

Do you support Gov. Laura Kelly’s push for Medicaid expansion? Why or why not?

James: No, I do not. As written, I believe that the impact on rural hospitals would be devastating.

Roeser: While expanding access to healthcare is important, I don’t currently support Medicaid expansion. In order to be fiscally responsible, it is necessary to first re-evaluate how Medicaid funds are being utilized. I will continue to seek input from the stakeholders in this conversation as I carefully consider what is best for Kansans.

How would you handle taxes on Kansans?

James: Flat tax, lower sales tax and cap property taxes.

Roeser: First and foremost, I believe that we need to continue to do the work to make our government more efficient. How could it better serve the people of Kansas? Government should work at the speed of business. If we have properly funded the necessary services for efficiency and have a rainy-day fund, then tax dollars need to come back to the pockets of Kansans. More government is not better government.

Tuition is set to increase at K-State next year. What can the legislature do to help universities generate enough revenue while making sure they’re affordable for students?

James: Universities have to make sure that their degree offerings have real world application and that the students upon attaining those degrees will see a return on their investment. Colleges also need to assess the number of buildings they maintain as well as the most efficient approach to balancing in class vs. online course offerings to appeal to a wider variety of students.

Roeser: States play an important role in maintaining affordability for higher education. However, the responsibility is two-pronged and must be done alongside support from Congress. At the state level, if I am elected, I will work with House leadership and the House Appropriations Committee to adequately appropriate the university’s base funding request. This is critical to fund the operating budget so the burden on students and student debt can be lessened.

Do you support using incentives to attract a professional sports team like the Chiefs or the Royals to the Kansas side of the border?

James: I do not think that we should default to using tax incentives. If we do leverage them, it needs to be voted on by the people, and the measure has to have as close to a guaranteed return on investment as possible.

Roeser: Yes, I do. As a business development strategist, one of the biggest priorities of my job is to foresee future profitability using research and cost analysis. Based on what was presented to the public prior to the June 17 special session, I believe this opportunity will not harm taxpayers. Rather, it would enrich the lives of Kansans and promote a further sense of unity within our state. If you elect me to be your legislator, my positioning will always be that state government investments should be both profitable and ethical. Therefore, the incentive to attract a professional sports team is a completely logical option for Kansas to consider.