Lance Neely

Neelly, the incumbent, did not provide responses to the Journal-World’s questionnaire. According to his Facebook page, he was recently endorsed by the Kansas State Rifle Association, the Kansas Farm Bureau’s Political Action Committee and the Kansans for Life Political Action Committee.

Neelly recently posted a video on his page that said he would continue to fight for lower taxes and to place restraints on how much property taxes could be raised.

Mike Stieben

Stieben, who is currently a commissioner for Leavenworth County, worked for BNSF railroad for over 3 years as a locomotive engineer before he retired this year.

Stieben said he has testified in front of the Kansas Legislature several times to set a cap on property taxes and supports those caps as a first step to reforming the current property tax system. He also supports a freeze on property taxes for seniors who are 65 and older.

Stieben said to help reduce inflationary costs, the state must work to improve the business climate in Kansas through a reform of the overall tax structure. He said “systemic tax systems” that make it impossible for businesses to plan on a five-year cycle should be eliminated as well. Those moves can bring in “real industries and long-term high pay jobs.”

Stieben said he is against giving data center developments tax incentives. In the case of a recent plan to build a data center in Tonganoxie, Stieben said he was against that development, but he believes each community should be able to decide whether or not they want to build a project.

Stieben said he believes off-cycle redistricting is inappropriate “under most circumstances.” Stieben also noted he wants to fully fund special education in public schools, and the state should prioritize making Kansas public schools “the best in the nation.” He also said he would work to preserve the state’s agricultural economy, especially small farming communities.