High school candidates for governor not shy around controversial issues

LAWRENCE — Four Kansas high school students campaigning for governor spoke directly to peers Thursday in an issue-saturated forum of possible instructional value to some of the experienced adult politicians campaigning to be elected the state’s chief executive.

Republicans Tyler Ruzich and Dominic Scavuzzo and Ethan Randleas and Democrat Jack Bergeson outlined for more than 200 students at Free State High School their views on education, gun control, taxes, state budgets, energy, health care, highways, crime, gay rights, water, minimum wage, abortion, gubernatorial pardons, police shootings, campaign finance and illegal drugs.

They made no effort in stump speeches or while answering questions to mimic candidates who employ expensive consults to help them avoid talking about controversial issues potentially alienating to voters.

The high school forum exposed differences among the four candidates on abortion and gun control, but the foursome coalesced around a belief Kansas voters should resist the instinct to dismiss their unconventional campaigns. In Kansas, there is no age requirements to run in statewide elections.

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