Candidates’ forum State Representative 80th District — Bill Rhiley unopposed
Bill Rhiley (R)
by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The following features Bill Rhiley running for House District #80 unopposed.
1. Briefly, tell us about yourself, your background, and how you became a candidate for the Kansas House/Senate in 2018?
Rhiley — I’m married to Diana with three grown boys. I’m a retired special education teacher. I’m the owner with my wife of a Bed and Breakfast in Wellington and a newspaper publisher. I represent the 80th District, which is the south part of Cowley County and the south part of Sumner County.
2. The pandemic became political especially in the state of Kansas with the legislature and Governor Laura Kelly butting heads on how much authority she had with quarantining and mask mandating. Did you feel the Kelly handled the situation well? What mistakes were made?
Rhiley — I feel that the Governor over-managed the situation.
3. When a COVID-19 vaccine (may) eventually becomes available, do you feel the state of Kansas should place some kind of incentives or mandates to encourage citizens to become immunized to the virus?
Rhiley — No.
4. Will you support Medicaid expansion?
Rhiley — No, currently there are 7,000 to 8,000 Kansans on the waiting list to be approved, putting the desires of others that can get low-cost insurance from health cost-sharing groups like Medi-share and others would be better.
5. Sumner Regional Medical Center recently closed. Where do you feel the state of rural medicine is headed?
Rhiley — We need more innovation such as telemedicine. Advanced practical registered nurses to provide services, and less regulation.
6. Would you be in favor of prison reform or the privatization of the state penal system?
Rhiley — Yes, I have been working with groups on this. Privatization of the state penal system? Maybe
7. What is the No. 1 economic development issue for Sumner County and the state of Kansas?
Rhiley — Leadership thinking for both the State of Kansas and Sumner County.
8. Obviously, no one knows when the pandemic will end. Do you anticipate budgetary shortfalls in the coming legislative session? And what should the state do to address these potential shortfalls?
Rhiley — Yes, approximately 1.2 Billion budgetary shortfalls. The State of Kansas should cut back a percentage of all line items regardless of mandates.
9. What is your opinion on the expansion of renewal wind energy farms?
Rhiley — It is a good supplement to a base of natural gas power plants and clean nuclear energy.
10. Obviously, the pandemic will change how we work in many ways. Do you anticipate that the state of Kansas will change significantly in how we work from home or in remote locations and will this help the rural part of the state?
Rhiley — Yes, as we move forward with 5G and high speed Internet to allow more people to work at home.
11. What is your No. 1 pet peeve at the moment when it comes to Kansas state politics?
Rhiley — No real pet peeve, but a concern, that the toll that is paid by our families as we put in long hours and time away, that the media and the public do not respect.
Kansas representatives and senators get paid very little while working many hours and days outside of the paid session for constituents. Many think we are getting working and getting paid every day all year.
12. Do you have anything else to add?
Rhiley — These last two years have been both invigorating and hard. I have loved continuing to learn, continuing to serving people and enjoy meeting new people with new views.
