Former Fort Hays State University president running for Kansas House seat – Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — Former Fort Hays State College president Edward Hammond filed Friday as a candidate for Kansas Home in anticipation of difficult Republican incumbent Barb Wasinger.

Hammond, who led Fort Hays State for almost 28 years and retired from the college’s instructing school in 2021, made himself an official candidate within the 111th District one week earlier than the submitting deadline for the Kansas Legislature.

He mentioned he had no intention of in search of political workplace till prompted by Wasinger’s voting file on well being, training and transportation points and an analysis of the impression of these choices on Hays. The Republican was elected to the Kansas Home in 2018 and has served on a better training, tax and monetary establishments committees.

“As I continued to observe the votes being made by our present district consultant, lots of which ignore the vital wants of the district, I felt I had a accountability to the communities in our space,” Hammond mentioned.

He mentioned he disagreed with Wasinger’s opposition to increasing eligibility among the many state’s working poor for Medicaid. Reform of the system, often called KanCare, may add greater than 100,000 folks to Medicaid and ship lots of of tens of millions of {dollars} in federal funding to the state’s well being supply system.

Selections by GOP lawmakers to dam KanCare growth price Hays Medical Middle tens of millions of {dollars} yearly, Hammond mentioned.

As well as, he mentioned Wasinger hadn’t successfully advocated for supply of full state funding of Okay-12 particular training, which was detrimental to private and non-private colleges in Hays. Wasinger additionally “did not receive truthful and equitable funding” for FHSU and fell brief in recognizing the district’s want for higher state funding of freeway infrastructure, he mentioned.

Hammond mentioned the Republican consultant appeared extra all in favour of sustaining an ideal voting file with the Kansas Chamber than addressing wants of constituents in Hays.

“Individuals have to face up if we’re not adequately represented,” Hammond mentioned.

Wasinger wasn’t instantly obtainable to touch upon Hammond’s assertions. The Kansas Home submitting deadline is June 10, and no Republican has filed to problem Wasinger within the August major. To this point, Hammond is the lone Democrat within the race. They might compete for the seat in November.

Hammond served on the native Chamber of Commerce board in Hays and was on the manager committee of the Kansas Calvary, a voluntary financial growth group, underneath three former governors.

He has been a resident of Ellis County since accepting appointment as FHSU president in 1987. In 1997, Hammond created FHSU’s first on-line school system for distance training. He constructed a relationship with SIAS Worldwide College in China that led to institution of a bachelor’s diploma program for Chinese language college students.

FHSU’s enrollment grew from 5,000 to fifteen,000 throughout his presidency, which resulted in 2014.  Earlier than working at FHSU, Hammond served in scholar affairs positions at Seton Corridor College, College of Louisville and Southern Illinois College. He earned a doctorate at College of Missouri and two levels from Emporia State College. He was born in Texas, however grew up in Roeland Park.

Up to now 25 years, the Home district masking Hays has been represented by Democrats and Republicans. Rep. Eber Phelps, a Democrat, served from 1997 to 2013, when he was defeated by Republican Sue Boldra. She served as state consultant for 4 years, till defeated by Phelps. He remained in workplace till 2019, when changed by Wasinger. She carried the district by a mere three dozen votes.