Kansas Helen Podcast

Mark Schaukowitch is running for Kansas House District 110. Meet Mark: https://www.markforkshd110.com

In this portion of the conversation, Schaukowitch discusses rising property taxes and the impact on rural communities. He points to significant recent increases and explains how both local mill levies and state-level formulas influence property tax burdens. The conversation also touches on outside factors like housing market changes and population shifts that can affect valuations.

He also discusses past policies like the Local Ad Valorem Tax Relief program, which helped offset local tax burdens, and raises questions about how state policy decisions shape affordability in rural areas.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas House District 110, 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

Mark Schaukowitch is running for Kansas House District 110. Meet Mark: https://www.markforkshd110.com

In this portion of the conversation, Schaukowitch discusses his motivation for running and his focus on strengthening rural communities like Plainville. He talks about the need for rural areas to have more influence at the state and federal level, along with the importance of prioritizing core community needs over projects that may not deliver long-term value. The conversation also highlights local examples, including public projects, downtown vacancies, and efforts by individuals to reinvest in the community.

He also reflects on the economic shifts that have impacted local businesses and employment, along with how community connections and local engagement shape both economic activity and political organizing in rural areas.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas House District 110, 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

Mark Schaukowitch is running for Kansas House District 110. Meet Mark: https://www.markforkshd110.com

In this portion of the conversation, Schaukowitch discusses his professional background in grant writing and technical writing, where he worked with organizations to secure funding. He explains how changes in funding availability disrupted that work, as clients were no longer able to access or receive funds needed to pay for services. The conversation also highlights the challenges small businesses and organizations face when trying to build stability without consistent financial support.

He also shares how he adapted by taking on local work while considering next steps, including potential future paths like returning to school.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas House District 110, 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

Mark Schaukowitch is running for Kansas House District 110. Meet Mark: https://www.markforkshd110.com

In this portion of the conversation, Schaukowitch discusses the gap between government programs and public awareness, emphasizing how many available resources go unused because people simply do not know they exist. He talks about the lack of communication between local governments, state representatives, and residents, and how that creates barriers to accessing funding and development opportunities. The conversation also highlights how organizations designed to support communities are often unknown to the public until someone is already inside the system.

He also reflects on how complexity in government processes can discourage civic participation, along with broader economic pressures that make it difficult for people to relocate or improve their situation, reinforcing cycles of financial strain.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas House District 110, 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

Mark Schaukowitch is running for Kansas House District 110. Meet Mark: https://www.markforkshd110.com

In this portion of the conversation, Schaukowitch discusses housing challenges in rural communities, including the gap between construction costs and what local incomes can support. He talks about programs like moderate income housing (MIH), tax credits, and loan programs aimed at encouraging development, while also questioning why those efforts are not expanded. The conversation also explores how state funding priorities impact housing availability, with a focus on whether resources are being directed toward essential needs.

He also highlights the practical barriers to rural living, including limited job opportunities, rising construction costs, and lack of reliable infrastructure like internet, along with the unique housing mix found in smaller towns.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas House District 110, 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

Mark Schaukowitch is running for Kansas House District 110. Meet Mark: https://www.markforkshd110.com

In this portion of the conversation, Schaukowitch discusses the challenges rural communities face in accessing funding for basic infrastructure and development. He explains how programs like Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) require specific income studies to qualify, and how inaccurate census data in rural areas can prevent communities from meeting those requirements. He also talks about how administrative decisions and changing federal rules impacted their ability to use completed studies, creating frustration at the local level.

The discussion highlights broader issues with bureaucracy and access to resources, including how smaller communities may lack the capacity to navigate complex requirements even when clear needs exist.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas House District 110, 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

Mark Schaukowitch is running for Kansas House District 110. Meet Mark: https://www.markforkshd110.com

In this portion of the conversation, Schaukowitch discusses the long-term challenges facing rural communities, including declining infrastructure, population loss, and limited economic opportunity. He talks about how communities struggle when roads, hospitals, and schools are not maintained, and how that contributes to younger generations leaving. The conversation also explores how local economies are often concentrated among a small number of families, shaping access to resources and decision-making.

He also reflects on broader economic systems, including how wealth concentration can impact community stability and the need to balance resources so that basic needs are met across communities.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas House District 110, 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

Mark Schaukowitch is running for Kansas House District 110. Meet Mark: https://www.markforkshd110.com

In this portion of the conversation, Schaukowitch discusses energy issues in rural Kansas, including the impact of wind energy development and concerns raised by residents about maintenance and environmental effects. He talks about how rural communities experience these projects differently and how those concerns are often overlooked. The discussion also touches on broader energy policy, including different energy sources and the trade-offs involved in decisions about future energy development.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas House District 110, 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

Mark Schaukowitch is running for Kansas House District 110. Meet Mark: https://www.markforkshd110.com

In this portion of the conversation, Schaukowitch discusses his efforts to advocate for rural priorities, including Medicaid expansion and support for local hospitals. He describes organizing community discussions, bringing in experts and organizations to present data, and contrasts that with outside groups presenting conflicting information in rural areas. He also explains how these experiences shaped his views on representation, party dynamics, and the need to better support public infrastructure such as roads and healthcare systems in rural communities.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas House District 110, 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

Mark Schaukowitch is running for Kansas House District 110. Meet Mark: https://www.markforkshd110.com

In this portion of the conversation, Schaukowitch discusses what government priorities should be, expanding on the idea of focusing on core areas like infrastructure, healthcare, education, food access, and public safety. He explains how these needs connect to broader community systems, including population trends, access to resources, and the challenges rural areas face with declining populations and aging residents. The conversation also includes discussion of local healthcare models and the difficulty of securing funding and support for essential services in rural communities.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas House District 110, 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