Joe Humerickhouse

Jim Irey

Rep. Joe Humerickhouse, R-Osage City, says he believes rural Kansas faces critical energy, economic and growth issues.

If he wants to continue addressing them with a seventh term in the 59th Kansas House District, the independent fee appraiser must defeat retired school superintendent Jim Irey, a Democrat from Melvern, in the Nov. 7 election.

“I don’t know of any accomplishments in 12 years or what (Humerickhouse) has done. I’m hearing people say it’s time for change,” Irey said.

Humerickhouse responded with an emphasis on his experience.

“I think that feeling’s out there, and we find that with any political office, but what a lot of people don’t realize is the amount of time it takes, not only to get up to speed with the process, but also to generate and cultivate friendships in association with people you have to work with,” he said.

The incumbent said his experience would benefit constituents in the district that includes Osage County, a portion of Franklin County and the Willow Springs Township in south-central Douglas County.

Humerickhouse said he hoped legislators could address – possibly through a bond issue – the deferred maintenance on buildings at regent universities. He also would favor providing more tax advantages for use of alternative energy and freezing property tax valuations for senior citizens.

The only possible tax increase he would accept to fund the third year of the state’s new school finance plan would be a sales tax, he said.

“We will have to decide where we are going to get the money, without hurting other programs,” he said.

But Irey, who was a superintendent at four Kansas school districts, including 10 years at Melvern schools, said the state could accomplish more on K-12 and higher education, state highways and providing more health insurance to uninsured Kansans.

“If we can afford those kind of (health care) programs, it would help our younger people in the district,” he said.

Irey ran unsuccessfully for the Osage County Commission two years ago.