Kansas decides: Secretary of State

Recently, the GOP candidates for Secretary of State in Kansas were asked a series of three questions.

All of the questions were the same for each candidate. The candidates are J.R. Claeys, Elizabeth Ensley and Kris Kobach.

The following is their responses:

1) Why do you believe you are best-qualified to be Kansas Sec. of State?

Claeys: Our next Secretary of State will be charged with implementing a statewide voter identification program. J.R. Claeys has experience implementing these programs, verifying vote counts, and advising countries on ways to improve processes at the polls to keep elections secure and accessible. J.R. is not a lawyer or a lifelong bureaucrat. He started businesses in Kansas and understands the consumer side of the office. J.R. has been working as an advocate for small businesses — fighting for paperwork reduction, regulatory reform and tax relief for job creators. He has the experience to keep business fees low and paperwork at a minimum.

Ensley: I started my career in the Secretary of State’s office. I worked 11 years in every department of the office, including Business Services. I currently serve as Election Commissioner for Shawnee County. I was first appointed in 1992 and was re-appointed five times by two different Secretaries of State. I have overseen the upgrade of voting equipment, implemented the National Voter Registration Act, and directed the successful execution of the Help America Vote Act. My experience working in and with the Secretary of State’s office is far above and beyond that of my opponents. It’s my experience and qualifications that has gotten me the endorsements of Former U.S. Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum, Governor and Secretary of State Bill Graves, Former Secretaries of State Ron Thornburgh and Jack Brier, and nine of the past Kansas Republican Party Chairs. I am also the only candidate who has experience rooting out and prosecuting voter fraud. I will be ready to go to work for the people of Kansas on day one.

2) What, in your opinion, is the most pressing issue facing the office for which you are running?
Claeys: Educating voters and poll workers across the state on new voter identification procedures while preparing for the effects of this new policy at the polling places will be J.R.’s number one priority. Once voter identification procedures are signed into law, J.R. will implement a plan to make sure every eligible vote is counted. The alternative to educating the public and our poll workers of new voter identification procedures is piles of provisional ballots after Election Day. Those ballots will require additional staff to verify their eligibility. Processing ballots in this way will be costly for county clerks and elections commissioners.

Ensley: Currently, our men and women serving in the Armed Forces do not have the same access to the ballot as we do. They do not get to vote on local ballot questions even though they live and pay taxes in the district. I believe this should be changed. I have testified before the Kansas Legislature to change the Kansas Law on this issue and will continue to advocate for this change.

3) How do you intend, if elected, to carry out your goals?

Claeys: J.R. Claeys will coordinate a statewide campaign with county clerks to educate voters and poll workers across the state on voter identification. By coordinating through the Secretary of State’s office, McPherson County can have the same resources available to it that Sedgwick County does. On the business side of the office, J.R. will search out money-saving efficiencies for the tens of thousands of Kansas businesses that interact with the office. As a fee-based agency, J.R. understands that every dollar spent by the Secretary of State is a dollar charged to a small business in the form of a filing fee.

Ensley: I believe we need to provide the necessary tools to our local election officials to ensure our elections are safe, secure, and accurate. One way to do this is to provide a clearing house to our election officials of information that will assist them in preparing for elections. I am also in favor of requiring a government issued photo identification at the polling place.,E-Government is another one of my top priorities. I intend to keep up the investment in online business services. I will continue the long-standing tradition of the Secretary of State’s office that Kansans have come to know and expect by making sure the office remains efficient and serves the needs of business, banking, farmers and all Kansans. I am the only candidate in this race who has balanced a budged, managed a staff, and paid payroll taxes, all under the watchful eye of the Kansas taxpayer. I will use this experience to work in the Secretary of State’s office for the people of Kansas.

Note: Kris Kobach did not respond to requests for his answers.