Awerkamp running for Kansas House

Francis Awerkamp

St. Marys mayor and businessman Republican Francis Awerkamp, 35, is seeking election to the District 61st seat in the Kansas House of Representatives. 

Awerkamp faces Republican Dan Brenner in the primary election, which has been set for Aug. 2. The district includes most of Jackson and Pottawatomie counties.

“There is a need for people to run for office who want to truly understand the issues, work with the people involved and be honest with their decisions,” Awerkamp said. “I have tried to apply these points in my job and also on the St. Marys City Commission, and I am very encouraged by the results. I wish to offer my time and effort to the people of the 61st District in order to help make our state government work harder for the people of Kansas so that all of us and our children have a great state in which to live.” 

A lifelong native of northeast Kansas, Awerkamp graduated from St. Marys Academy High School, a Catholic school, and studied at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Minnesota. He is part owner of The Onyx Collection of Belvue. 

The Onyx Collection manufactures custom shower bases, tub replacers, shower wall panels, vanity tops and a variety of other items.

Awerkamp worked at The Onyx Collection growing up and has been there in a full-time position for 17 years. 

He is on the St. Marys City Commission and is currently serving as mayor. 

“During my years on the St. Marys City Commission, we have successfully organized all of our government departments, eliminated old and burdensome regulations, continued to make improvements to our infrastructure and services, developed 10-year plans for all of our departments, lowered our property tax mill levy three years in a row, lowered sewer and electric rates, lowered late fees, paid off debts and have placed our city in excellent financial condition,” he said.

He and his wife, Shannon, have four young children.

Would you vote to eliminate the LLC income tax exemption? 

“Small businesses are very, very important to Kansas, especially in small rural communities,” he said. “We have all seen smaller towns lose businesses and slowly lose population. I know many businesses that are starting up and growing. In the St. Marys area, we are blessed with many small businesses that are growing and creating enough jobs in the area that wages are increasing and people are driving to our area for employment from the surrounding larger cities. The effects are very good. The business environment is great and continues to improve. Rather than increase taxes, I believe that we need to help out smaller communities by making sure small businesses have a great environment in which to start and grow.”

Do you think we have a state spending problem or a state tax problem? 

“There is always room for improvement. If we elect honest people who are willing to work hard to help government work better for the people, I do believe that we can improve our spending habits,” he said. “Regarding taxes, if we can start working together to organize government operations, I think the first tax change should be to lower the sales tax on food, and I will work for that.”

Would you vote to implement a flat state income tax on all state citizens? 

“I would have to see the details to be able to answer this,” he said.

Would you vote to expand Medicaid? 

“We must think about whether or not we want to grow government control of our health care,” he said. “Is this the direction we want our state and country to move towards? The cost of health insurance continues to increase with more government involvement over the past several years. Is there a better way? I think that we should move towards reducing the regulations on health providers so that they can run their businesses in a way that reflects the needs of the market. The expansion of Medicaid will bring more government control, red tape, and, as many other states have found, most costs. There must be a better option. I think the expansion of Medicaid is another inefficient expansion of government, which will result in more regulations and cost and, therefore, I will seek to find a better option.”

Would you favor using KDOT funds to solely build safer roads and create jobs rather than to prop up the state general fund? 

“The KDOT fund has been used by many governors as a ‘slush fund’ to help cover shortfalls in the general fund,” he said. “There must be a better way to budget. I think KDOT needs to have an isolated budget, which is based on what it needs in order to maintain the roads and bridges that it is responsible for.”

Awerkamp said, if elected, he wants to focus on social and fiscal issues.

“We must rebuild a culture that respects and protects life and the family. These social issues are very important to the future of our state and our country,” he said. “Regarding fiscal issues, we must become more organized and clear with our numbers so that people can understand what is going on in the state government. As we have seen over the past several years, so many groups are spinning the numbers to advance a specific political agenda. This causes a great deal of finger pointing and does not help anyone. I will not get involved in the political games and will focus on providing real numbers and real solutions to the problems we are facing in Kansas.”

He said that he also thinks that school boards should have more control regarding decisions to educate students in their district.

 “This next year, a new funding formula will be developed. It must be simple and clear so that the schools, the legislators and the people can understand it because right now everyone is saying different numbers and few people, including many who are making the decisions, know the truth,” he said. “After simplifying the formula, I believe that more control must be given to our local elected school boards. It is important that more decisions be made on a local level as that is where the voters have the greatest influence and also where the needs of the community are best understood.”

Awerkamp said he served as a volunteer coach for seven years and has helped out at numerous church functions and organized a volunteer sidewalk replacement group in St. Marys.

 “I have strong family values and am endorsed by Kansans for Life and the Kansas Rifle Association,” he said. “In my family's business, we continue to grow each year and have built our business on customer service and quality products that reflect the market's needs. If elected, I will use my experience and conservative principles to make decisions that will help our state improve.”

He served on the city’s planning commission for five years. He currently serves on the board for the Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival and is the treasurer for the Pottawatomie County Republican Party. 

“My wife, Shannon, and I are very thankful to be able to live in such a wonderful area of our state. We have enjoyed meeting many great people in the 61st District over the past few months,” he said. “If elected, I promise to represent our district with honesty and respect.”

The Holton Recorder

109 W. Fourth St.
Holton, KS 66436
Phone: 785-364-3141
 

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