Former Kansas Governor Mike Hayden took time out of his day Tuesday to visit with the Great Bend Tribune by phone. The former Republican governor has been on the road in recent days, visiting with individuals and groups about his unique decision to endorse Democrat Laura Kelly in her run for governor. 

Hayden was elected to serve in the state Legislature in 1972. He was serving as Speaker of the House when he won the GOP gubernatorial nomination in 1986. In the subsequent general election, Hayden defeated Lieutenant Governor Tom Docking, the son and grandson of former Kansas governors. He has also served in the state Legislature under three other governors, he said. 

Denied a second term in 1990, Hayden accepted a position in the U.S. Department of the Interior. He later returned to Kansas and served as secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks from 2002 to 2011. He has had the opportunity to work with Kelly over the years in these capacities.

“I’ve always been impressed by her knowledge and her willingness to work with those across the aisle to get things done for the people of Kansas,” he said. “But, I came to my decision to support her after careful analysis of the issues.”

This is the first time he’s ever endorsed a Democrat, and he’s rarely ever voted for one. The third candidate, Independent Greg Orman, has some good ideas, but in Hayden’s opinion, is not garnering enough support to be a frontrunner. This leaves two choices, Kobach or Kelly.

Looking at the issues each candidate has spoken out on during the campaign, Hayden sees that Kobach’s attention is focused on issues like abortion, gun control and immigration.

“These are important issues, but they are going to be decided by the Congress, not by the governor of Kansas,” he said. 

The person that sits in that seat needs to be familiar with the state budget, our rural hospitals, our public schools, the highway system and the obligation the state has to firefighters, police officers, teachers and other state workers through its retirement system, Hayden said. 

“Kobach doesn’t speak out on these issues,” he added. “Talking about tax cuts is easy, but what are you actually going to cut?”

In analyzing all the different choices, Hayden has concluded that Kelly has a better grip on how all of these factors affect the others. 

“Kobach hasn’t demonstrated any real understanding or understanding of the underpinnings of the state governor,”he said. “There are certain responsibilities to the school kids, the mentally ill and the differently-abled, for prisons to ensure the public safety.”

For 52 years, Hayden has been a registered Republican, and has served the public for many of those years. As he’s been campaigning for Kelly, many have been surprised by his decision. But, he said, he too has been surprised at their receptivity when he explains his analysis that led to his position.

“It’s easy for voters’ attention to be diverted by what has been happening in the national media in recent weeks,” he said. “This race is not about national issues, however; it is about who will govern the state of Kansas.” 

He feels Laura Kelly is the best fit for that job description at this time. 

“There have been very few women or Democrats elected to the office from rural areas in that time,” he said. “I want everyone to know that she is qualified to sit in the big chair and will do a good job.”