Growing up, I never aspired to politics or government. I never wanted any power or control. I would much rather be the guy setting up chairs and tables or cleaning up afterwards than the guy running the meeting or giving the keynote speech.
My feelings haven’t changed.
I would rather be fixing fence, working cattle, putting up hay, or on the tractor than sitting in a legislative committee meeting all day.
So how did I get here?!?
Quite simply, I’ve always thought you shouldn’t point out a problem unless you’re willing to be a part of the solution.
If I see something important that needs attention, I’ve never shirked away from taking responsibility, rolling up my sleeves, working through the blood, sweat, and dirt for however long it took to get the job done.
When I first ran for the legislature, Kansas was in a tax code crisis and an education funding crisis. Well-intentioned tax relief policy had been passed, but legislators lacked the fortitude to parallel tax cuts with spending cuts. That quickly put the state in a deficit and legislators began raiding every fund they could to keep state government afloat. They took money from education, from the highway fund, the pooled money investment board, and others in an attempt to balance the budget. It was not sustainable, the Republican legislature had to raise sales taxes eventually. I watched all this happen and decided enough was enough. I honestly didn’t think a farm kid from a tiny country town had much of a chance at being elected to the legislature… but if I was going to voice my opinion about the problem I had to be willing to be part of the solution!
My first term in the legislature I was appointed to both the Taxation committee and the K12 Education Budget committee. We spent many night working late when the meetings ran long. After the meeting was over, I would go back to my office and stay there until 2 or 3 in the morning reading the testimony and materials from the meeting more thoroughly, noting additional questions I might have. I worked until I felt the task was finished.
Little did I know my years of working late nights in the harvest fields, early mornings putting up hay, and the long hours working at the local grain elevator in high school during wheat harvest would help prepare me for the time commitment of working in the legislature!
I may change my outfit from my work boots to business suits when I’m at the Capitol, but I bring the same no-nonsense tenacity and work ethic no matter where I am.
~ Adam Smith