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 his work organizing rural counties and the challenges of political engagement in those areas. He talks about serving as a county chair, the social and cultural barriers faced by Democrats in rural communities, and the need to approach organizing in a more community-focused and nonpartisan way. He also explains his involvement with rural organizing groups and how he has worked to build and activate county-level party infrastructure across multiple counties.

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 influence of Koch Industries on rural communities in his district, which includes multiple counties with significant agricultural land. He explains how farmers often rely on Koch or its subsidiaries for inputs like feed, fertilizer, and seed, and how that concentration of control can impact pricing and competition. The conversation expands into broader concerns about resource management, development decisions, and how economic and political influence can shape outcomes at both the local and state level.

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 explains why he is running for office, focusing on his goal of building rural power and changing how representation works in the legislature. He discusses concerns about elected officials trading votes to achieve policy goals, and his belief that representatives should instead be accountable to their constituents and willing to challenge that system. The conversation also includes discussion of upcoming constitutional amendments and how those issues connect to his decision to run.

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 political activism and involvement after moving back to the region in 2020. He talks about his work in technical writing and economic development, including efforts to support local projects and improve access to resources like grant funding. He also explains how his participation in local Democratic Party activities developed, his alignment with more progressive positions within the party, and his interest in addressing structural and organizational challenges at the local level.

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 background and ties to District 110, including family connections in the area and his time living in Hays. He talks about growing up between different parts of Kansas and the East Coast, his family’s involvement in the community, and how those experiences shape his understanding of rural communities. The discussion also touches on the dynamics of small-town life, including both the strong support systems and the challenges of living in closely connected 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 the political landscape of his district and rural Kansas more broadly. He talks about voter turnout, party registration, and the challenges of running in a heavily Republican district, including the need to appeal to voters across party lines. The discussion also explores how historical influences, local political dynamics, and systems like primary elections shape outcomes in rural areas, along with broader conversations about libertarian influences and alternative voting approaches.

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 educational background, including degrees in political science and communication studies from KU, a master’s from Syracuse in rhetoric and communication studies, and doctoral work at the University of South Carolina where he reached ABD status in rhetoric and critical theory. His academic focus included political theology, examining how religion and political systems influence each other.

He also talks about how language, communication, and institutional structures shape politics over time, emphasizing that meaning evolves and cannot be fixed to a single interpretation. The conversation highlights how his academic training informs the way he analyzes systems, institutions, and political dynamics.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack. You can now also watch on Kansas Helen YouTube or listen on the Kansas Helen Podcast on Apple and Spotify

Mark Schaukowitch is running for Kansas House District 110. Meet Mark: https://www.markforkshd110.comIn this portion of the conversation, Schaukowitch discusses the historical foundations of the U.S. political system, describing it as infrastructure inherited from the 18th century. He focuses on the Constitution and the Second Amendment, explaining his perspective on their original intent and how those interpretations have evolved over time. He also discusses how narratives around gun rights have changed, particularly in relation to the role of militias, and raises the concept of laws becoming inoperative while still remaining in place.See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas House District 110 You can now also watch on Kansas Helen YouTube or listen on the Kansas Helen Podcast on Apple and Spotify

Mark Schaukowitch is running for Kansas House District 110.

In this opening portion of the conversation, Schaukowitch introduces himself and begins discussing his perspective on how people enter politics. He challenges the traditional idea of working up through a hierarchy of offices, suggesting that this model may reflect party and establishment expectations more than what is actually effective today. The discussion also highlights the importance of everyday people running for office and engaging in state-level issues, with a focus on addressing problems locally before shifting attention to the federal level.

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

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

This was one of the most interesting interviews I’ve done so far, and we never even got to my list of questions. However, he did cover them all. Most of these interviews usually break down into about 17 to 20 segments, but this one came out to 28 parts, including the full conversation. There was too much important information to condense without losing key context, so I wanted to make sure it was all highlighted properly.

Mark Schaukowitch discusses his decision to run for Kansas House District 110 by grounding it in his personal background, community ties, and a desire to approach governance with a long-term perspective rather than short-term political thinking. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the lived experiences of constituents and views representation as an active, ongoing responsibility that requires accessibility, responsiveness, and a willingness to engage directly with people in the district. Throughout the conversation, he frames his candidacy around building rural power, focusing on how systems are structured, who controls them, and how those dynamics shape outcomes for communities over time.

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the Constitution, where he demonstrates a deep, developed understanding of its history, structure, and intent. He connects historical context to modern governance in a way that explains not just what the Constitution says, but why systems were designed the way they were and how those choices continue to shape current policy and political dynamics. The conversation moves beyond surface-level interpretation and into how constitutional frameworks influence real-world decision-making today. This portion of the discussion stands out as particularly engaging, with detailed explanations that connect foundational principles to present-day outcomes and clarify how the system operates.

The conversation also addresses how policy decisions are made and the gap he sees between constituents and elected officials. He talks about the need for better communication between lawmakers and the public, arguing that many decisions are made without sufficient input from the people most affected. This connects to his broader concern about political incentives, particularly the tendency for elected officials to prioritize reelection over effective governance. He contrasts this with his approach, which centers on accountability, transparency, and building long-term structural power rather than focusing on short-term political wins.

Schaukowitch further discusses issue areas that shape his perspective, particularly in the context of rural communities. He highlights the importance of supporting systems that impact everyday life, such as schools, local services, and economic stability in rural areas, and stresses that policy should be evaluated based on how it affects working families and community well-being. He also reflects on broader political dynamics, including partisanship and legislative structure, and returns consistently to the idea that effective leadership requires understanding how systems are created, applied, and maintained, and using that knowledge to build stronger outcomes for rural constituents.You can now also watch on Kansas Helen YouTube or listen on the Kansas Helen Podcast on Apple and Spotify