Kansas Helen Podcast

Robert Thomas is running for Kansas House District 61, representing parts of Jackson, Pottawatomie, and Riley counties, including Holton, Delia, Westmoreland, St. Marys, Onaga, and parts of Manhattan.

In this portion of the conversation, Thomas and Reicher discuss the importance of civic education and understanding how different levels of government function. They highlight how many people direct concerns to the wrong level of government, such as bringing local issues to state officials, and how gaps in civics education contribute to that confusion.

The conversation also focuses on the role of elected officials in communicating with constituents. Reicher emphasizes the responsibility of representatives to provide clear, factual updates and create opportunities for engagement, while Thomas outlines his intention to be more active in meeting with community members, attending local events, and maintaining communication throughout the year. They discuss how consistent outreach and education can help voters better understand the process and hold officials accountable.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas House District 61, including the most recent campaign finance analysis here: https://kansashelen.substack.com/s/kansas-house

You can now also watch on Kansas Helen Youtube or listen on the Kansas Helen Podcast on Apple and Spotify

#kansas #republican #vote #2026elections #kansashouse

Ryan Gilbert is running in a packed Democrat primary in August to determine who will run against Estes in November.

He compares grassroots campaigns with establishment-backed candidates.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas’ 4th Congressional District, including the most recent campaign finance analysis here: https://kansashelen.substack.com

You can now also watch on Kansas Helen YouTube or listen on the Kansas Helen Podcast on Apple and Spotify

#kansas #vote #2026elections #congress #grassroots

Robert Thomas is running for Kansas House District 61, representing parts of Jackson, Pottawatomie, and Riley counties, including Holton, Delia, Westmoreland, St. Marys, Onaga, and parts of Manhattan.

In this portion of the conversation, Thomas and Reicher discuss the use of STAR bonds and public funding for large development projects, including concerns about how those decisions are made. They talk about the scale of recent projects and the role of public input, questioning whether communities should have more direct say when large developments could significantly change their areas.

The discussion also explores how these investments are evaluated, including whether they provide a return for taxpayers and how benefits are distributed. They highlight concerns about transparency, decision-making processes, and long-term accountability, noting that outcomes of these projects may not be clear until years later, often after the officials involved are no longer in office.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas House District 61, including the most recent campaign finance analysis here: https://kansashelen.substack.com/s/kansas-house

You can now also watch on Kansas Helen Youtube or listen on the Kansas Helen Podcast on Apple and Spotify

#kansas #ksleg #vote #2026elections #kansashouse

Ryan Gilbert is running in a packed Democrat primary in August to determine who will run against Estes in November.

He explains financial barriers tied to running for office.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas’ 4th Congressional District, including the most recent campaign finance analysis here: https://kansashelen.substack.com

You can now also watch on Kansas Helen YouTube or listen on the Kansas Helen Podcast on Apple and Spotify

#kansas #vote #2026elections #congress #grassroots

Robert Thomas is running for Kansas House District 61, representing parts of Jackson, Pottawatomie, and Riley counties, including Holton, Delia, Westmoreland, St. Marys, Onaga, and parts of Manhattan.In this portion of the conversation, Thomas discusses healthcare access, including his support for expanding Medicaid, particularly to ensure coverage for children. He reflects on his own experience transitioning out of the military and struggling to afford health insurance for his family, explaining how gaps in coverage can impact working families.The conversation also explores the challenges healthcare costs create for small business owners, who must balance covering their own families and potentially providing insurance for employees. Thomas notes that many aspects of healthcare policy are controlled at the federal level, limiting what states can do, and acknowledges the difficulty in finding clear solutions. Both emphasize that access to healthcare, especially for children, seniors, and veterans, is a shared priority regardless of political affiliation.See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas House District 61, including the most recent campaign finance analysis here: https://kansashelen.substack.com/s/kansas-houseYou can now also watch on Kansas Helen Youtube or listen on the Kansas Helen Podcast on Apple and Spotify#kansas #ksleg #vote #2026elections #kansashouse

Ryan Gilbert is running in a packed Democrat primary in August to determine who will run against Estes in November.

He addresses the influence of money in elections and political access.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas’ 4th Congressional District, including the most recent campaign finance analysis here: https://kansashelen.substack.com

You can now also watch on Kansas Helen YouTube or listen on the Kansas Helen Podcast on Apple and Spotify

#kansas #vote #2026elections #congress #grassroots

Robert Thomas is running for Kansas House District 61, representing parts of Jackson, Pottawatomie, and Riley counties, including Holton, Delia, Westmoreland, St. Marys, Onaga, and parts of Manhattan.

In this portion of the conversation, Thomas discusses the role of extracurricular activities within schools and suggests the possibility of restructuring how those programs are organized. He describes how schools currently host a wide range of activities beyond academics and raises the idea of moving some of those programs, such as sports and activities, into community-based systems like parks and recreation.

The discussion explores how this approach could potentially expand access to students outside of the traditional public school system, including those in private or homeschool settings, while also creating more flexibility and efficiency. Both consider how maintaining accessibility and affordability would be critical, and how shifting these programs could impact how schools, students, and communities interact.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas House District 61, including the most recent campaign finance analysis here: https://kansashelen.substack.com/s/kansas-house

You can now also watch on Kansas Helen Youtube or listen on the Kansas Helen Podcast on Apple and Spotify

#kansas #ksleg #vote #2026elections #kansashouse

Ryan Gilbert is running in a packed Democrat primary in August to determine who will run against Estes in November.

He talks about class differences and how systems impact people differently.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas’ 4th Congressional District, including the most recent campaign finance analysis here: https://kansashelen.substack.com

You can now also watch on Kansas Helen YouTube or listen on the Kansas Helen Podcast on Apple and Spotify

#kansas #vote #2026elections #congress #grassroots

Robert Thomas is running for Kansas House District 61, representing parts of Jackson, Pottawatomie, and Riley counties, including Holton, Delia, Westmoreland, St. Marys, Onaga, and parts of Manhattan.

In this portion of the conversation, Thomas discusses property taxes and how they connect to education funding, emphasizing that much of property tax revenue is collected and spent at the local level, primarily for schools. He explains his focus on reducing income taxes at the state level while acknowledging that property taxes remain a significant concern for many Kansans.

The discussion explores potential approaches to education funding, including school choice options, charter schools, and the role of public versus private funding. Thomas raises concerns about using public money for private institutions while also recognizing the need to evaluate different education models. Both discuss the complexity of balancing costs, quality education, and local control, highlighting that different school districts have different needs and that statewide policies may not work uniformly across all communities.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas House District 61, including the most recent campaign finance analysis here: https://kansashelen.substack.com/s/kansas-house

You can now also watch on Kansas Helen Youtube or listen on the Kansas Helen Podcast on Apple and Spotify

#kansas #ksleg #vote #2026elections #kansashouse

Ryan Gilbert is running in a packed Democrat primary in August to determine who will run against Estes in November.

He discusses financial instability and how economic pressure impacts daily life.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas’ 4th Congressional District, including the most recent campaign finance analysis here: https://kansashelen.substack.com

You can now also watch on Kansas Helen YouTube or listen on the Kansas Helen Podcast on Apple and Spotify

#kansas #ksleg #vote #2026elections #kansas4