By STEVEN HOWE
State Representative (R-71st District)
The United States of America is a land full of second chances. It is a land of refuge and opportunity, a land of redemption. We have a constitution that helps secure the rights of the people, and among those precious rights is freedom of speech - which means even criticizing elected officials like myself or former President Trump. The checks and balances that our founders framed for us are beautifully made for freedom loving people.
Earlier this year I wrote an Op-Ed very critical of former President Trump and the events that led up to January 6, 2021. In my column I took the former President to task for his repeated and false claims that the 2020 election was “stolen” and the events leading up to January 6. Also in the op-ed, in light of this year’s Kansas presidential preference primary I stated, “.....I will not vote for him a third time in 2024.”
When the op-ed was published in January there were approximately 10 Republicans up for the nomination. I was hopeful that a potentially younger conservative candidate would help the Republican Party move forward.
By the time the Kansas presidential preference primary rolled around on March 19th, everyone had dropped out or suspended their campaigns, and President Trump became the presumptive Republican nominee on March 12.
For the past seven months I have observed, and have contemplated deeply about the choices before us. To say a lot has changed in that time is an understatement. Yesterday I got in line to advance vote, and I cast my vote for Donald J. Trump for President. Although I have my own personal reservations, I believe he has the superior executive leadership experience to lead our country for the next four years.
I do not consider my vote to be a blank check for anyone. I will continue to engage and be a civil voice within the Republican Party, and work to bring people together to get things done.
Whether it is eliminating the state income tax on social security benefits or eliminating the state sales tax on food, there is common ground that has been achieved because Republicans and Democrats were willing to work together. Let’s hope Kansas can be a model for what is possible at the national level - Ad Astra Per Aspera- To the Stars Through Difficulties.
Steven K. Howe currently serves as the State Representative for District 71 in Salina and Saline County, and is the Republican nominee for State Representative for Kansas’ District 71.
The views and opinions expressed in this editorial article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Salina Post or Eagle Communications. 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.