Running for Kansas commissioner of insurance in Tuesday’s general election are Nathaniel McLaughlin, Democrat, from Kansas City, Kansas, and Vicki Schmidt, Republican, from Topeka.
Both candidates appeared at a candidate forum Oct. 17 at the Faith Deliverance Family Worship Center, 3043 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.
Both candidates support Medicaid expansion in Kansas. McLaughlin said first, there would have to be a prudent review of its financial impact.
“I am against any program that adds a tax burden to the Kansas citizens,” McLaughlin said.
Work, faith in God, respect for his neighbor and his country are his values, he said.
McLaughlin said he had the business qualifications and academic credentials to serve as insurance commissioner.
He has a bachelor’s degree from Winston-Salem State University. He worked 37 years for Sodexho, including management positions, and is now retired. While at Sodexho, he was responsible for the company’s health care operations in an eight-state area.
“I want to advocate for the 350,000 adult Kansans who do not have any type of health insurance,” McLaughlin said.
A state senator for 14 years, Schmidt said she grew up in Wichita and has been a pharmacist for more than 40 years. She worked briefly at a pharmacy in Wyandotte County.
She said she became a pharmacist to help people, and helping people is also why she wants to be insurance commissioner.
As a state senator, she said she has protected Medicare for seniors and has made sure children with autism have the insurance coverage they need. She said she would continue fighting for Kansans if elected.
She added she originally ran for the Senate when she found some errors being made in the Kansas medical assistance program, and developed a plan to correct the errors resulting in a savings of $391 million.
“I deal with health insurance every day when I am practicing my trade as a pharmacist, so I am familiar with that world,” she said.
More information about the candidates and their positions on the issues can be found at Vote411, offered by the League of Women Voters at https://www.vote411.org/.