The views and opinions expressed in this editorial article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Post or Eagle Media. The editorial is intended to stimulate critical thinking and debate on issues of public interest and should be read with an open mind. Readers are encouraged to consider multiple sources of information and to form their own informed opinions.
By: JULIE ROLLER-WEEKS
Insurance is one of those things most of us probably don't think about until we need it. But whether it's protecting a home, running a small business, paying for health care or making sure a family is financially secure after a tragedy, insurance touches nearly every Kansan.
And when you need it, it really matters.
That's why the person Kansans choose to lead the Kansas Insurance Department matters, too.
When I think about who should serve as Insurance Commissioner, one thing stands out: experience matters.
This is a complicated job overseeing a complicated industry. It's not a position where someone should take the oath and then start learning the subject. The decisions made by the Insurance Department affect Kansas families, businesses and consumers every day.
Dan Hawkins didn't suddenly become interested in insurance because there was an office to run for. Throughout his years of public service, he has spent considerable time working on insurance issues and complicated policy questions.
As a longtime legislator and former Speaker of the Kansas House, Dan also brings something you can't learn from a campaign brochure: experience governing.
He knows how legislation is written. He understands how regulations and state law work together. He knows complicated policy questions rarely fit neatly into a campaign slogan. And, perhaps most importantly, he knows which questions to ask.
That's an asset in an office like this.
The Insurance Commissioner has to protect Kansas consumers while also making sure Kansas has a regulatory environment where companies can continue doing business and offering products. That requires balance, judgment and an understanding of how decisions made in Topeka ultimately affect the people paying the premiums.
Dan's record also gives Kansans something important when evaluating him: evidence. We don't have to guess how he will approach complicated issues. There are years of public service, policy discussions, legislative decisions and leadership to look at.
And I think there's another important point that sometimes gets lost: experience and independence aren't mutually exclusive.
In fact, knowing the subject can make someone more independent.
When you understand an issue yourself, you don't have to rely entirely on a lobbyist, consultant, bureaucrat or outside organization to tell you what something means. You can ask better questions. You can spot unintended consequences. And you can recognize when something simply doesn't add up.
Kansans shouldn't have to choose between someone who understands the insurance industry and someone who will protect consumers. We should expect our Insurance Commissioner to do both.
We should want someone who understands the difference between responsible regulation and unnecessary government interference. We should want someone who understands how decisions made in Topeka ultimately affect the families paying the premiums, the small businesses trying to provide benefits and the Kansans filing a claim when something has gone wrong.
Experience alone should never entitle anyone to public office. Character, judgment, independence and a commitment to serving Kansans matter, too.
Dan has spent 30 years helping people navigate the insurance industry. As Insurance Commissioner, he wants to bring that experience to the Kansas Department of Insurance, with a commitment to making it the most taxpayer-friendly state agency in Kansas.
When the job is complicated and the decisions affect nearly every Kansas family and business, there is no substitute for knowing the issues, understanding the consequences and being ready to lead on day one.
Dan Hawkins is ready.