Kansas GOP governor candidate arrested on felony charge plunges ahead with campaign – Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — Republican gubernatorial candidate Arlyn Briggs recorded a marketing campaign industrial outlining his imaginative and prescient of conservative authorities in Kansas solely to seek out out a outstanding Christian radio community had no intention of airing the commercial.

He mentioned an worker at Bott Radio Community in Overland Park defined the marketing campaign spot couldn’t be used on the community after studying of Briggs’ arrest on a cost of felony menace towards a regulation enforcement officer. The arrest in Allen County was a misunderstanding that must be resolved in his favor, Briggs mentioned, however the radio community’s rebuff was a setback in his major marketing campaign towards GOP frontrunner Derek Schmidt, who’s the state’s legal professional common.

“I’m a robust Christian,” Briggs mentioned. “My job is to be a robust reflection of Jesus Christ.”

Briggs, 64, of rural Kincaid, mentioned the authorized bother stemmed from permitting a person being sought by regulation enforcement for an alleged stalking offense to stick with him in early June. Briggs observed a sheriff’s division automobile driving slowly previous his dwelling, so he known as the division to remind authorities of the “citadel doctrine,” the stand-your-ground proper of people in Kansas to take affordable motion, together with lethal power, in protection of a house.

He warned regulation enforcement officers to not attempt something, he mentioned, and pointedly added “I’ll shoot you.” He mentioned he wouldn’t have really fired on deputies, and nothing occurred. However officers later served an Anderson County warrant on him for felony menace. He was launched June 15 from Allen County Jail.

If profitable within the Aug. 2 major towards Schmidt, Briggs would doubtless face Democratic frontrunner Gov. Laura Kelly in addition to impartial candidate Dennis Pyle and Libertarian Seth Cordell in November. If victorious within the common election, Briggs mentioned he would donate his state authorities wage to charity.

“I really feel the first is the place the competition is that this 12 months. Kelly is so liberal,” Briggs mentioned. “I say vote for the particular person. Not what they mentioned, however what they do.”

Briggs mentioned he was disillusioned with Schmidt as a political chief, and asserted the legal professional common was too targeted on getting on U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran’s “good checklist” in anticipation of finally working for Moran’s seat within the U.S. Senate. Briggs mentioned he’d challenged Schmidt to 5 debates, however hadn’t acquired a response.

“I feel there’s rising concern amongst conservatives throughout the USA and Kansas with what’s taking place with authorities and our leaders,” Briggs mentioned.

On social media final 12 months, Briggs was crucial of state legislators who he claimed talked in regards to the worth of native authorities management after which handed payments stripping native elected officers of affect. He mentioned Democratic and Republican politicians on the statehouse believed they had been “God’s appointed Kings over the serfs.” He mentioned all of them needs to be taught a lesson by being voted out of workplace.

Briggs ran for the Kansas Home in 2012 and 2020, however misplaced each contests. He was soundly defeated in the newest marketing campaign, falling to state Rep. Trevor Jacobs, with Jacobs securing 83% of the vote in a GOP major.

He mentioned he lived in Johnson County for about 30 years. He labored for a Kansas Metropolis financial institution and at Hallmark and has been employed as a trucker and farmer. He carried out mission work in additional than a dozen international locations, he mentioned.

Briggs’ lieutenant governor working mate is Abilene resident Lance Berland, who Briggs mentioned lately carried out group service in Colorado to cope with his personal authorized challenges.

On social media, Berland mentioned “we the individuals” had been engaged in a struggle towards Republican and Democrat “warmongers,” the “most bloated, wasteful paperwork in human historical past” and “corrupt crony capitalists.” He claimed businessman George Soros, Microsoft co-founder Invoice Gates, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett had been concerned in demise of U.S. freedom.

“We’ve been performed, and Individuals killed, by our personal authorities and the ultra-wealthy non-citizens who dominate our nation from Davos, Geneva, and Brussels,” he mentioned. “These individuals have perpetuated and delivered the world solely racism, eugenics, conflict, toxicity, illness and pointless deaths by the a whole bunch of thousands and thousands. These individuals serve solely themselves and the satan.”

He additionally expressed disappointment Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden had been satisfied by the “world well being mafia” to suggest Individuals be vaccinated towards COVID-19.