The Kansas secretary of state deals with business filings and elections. And J.R. Claeys said he has experience in both areas.
The candidate for secretary of state visited Leavenworth last week. The Salina man will face two other candidates in the Aug. 3 Republican primary.
Claeys, 32, said he has worked for the National Small Business Association and Small Business Administration. He served as chief executive officer of the National Association of Government Contractors.
He also has served as an international elections observer in Bolivia and El Salvador.
Claeys said he hasn’t been elected to public office before.
“I’m not a politician,” he said. “I’m not a lawyer.”
But Claeys said he is interested in public service.
Claeys said he observed international elections that had voter identification requirements.
He said Kansas probably will adopt a voter ID program in the future that will require people to present identification when they vote.
“I think it’s pretty reasonable to have some form of voter ID,” he said.
With the implementation of such a program, it would be important to educate people in order to ensure a smooth process and reduce the chance of long lines, he said.
Claeys said there are things the secretary of state can do to make it easier for business to file required forms.
He said great strides have been made to place things online, but many of the entry requirements are repetitive.
Leavenworth, Kan. —
