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

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