MANHATTAN — Larned’s Mason Schartz (Federalist Party) won his election for Commissioner of Insurance at the 2016 American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy (ALBSKLA) Tuesday.
Great Bend’s Eric Vasquez (Federalist Party) lost his bid for Attorney General.
Wichita’s Grant Daily from Andover Central High School, was elected governor of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas. Daily delivered his inaugural address Wednesday at the Boys State Assembly Area.
Candidates debated Tuesday in McCain Auditorium, followed by the general election.
Five hundred Kansans are participating in the 2016 session of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy. The 79th event started Sunday and concludes Friday at Kansas State University.
The ALBSKLA provides a relevant, interactive, problem-solving experience in leadership and teamwork that develops self-identity, promotes mutual respect and instills civic responsibility. Boys State is a “learning by doing” political exercise that simulates elections, political parties and government at the state, county and local levels, providing opportunities to lead under pressure, showcasing character and working effectively within a team. It’s also an opportunity to gain pride and respect for government and the price paid by members of the military to preserve democracy.
The American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy is an interactive simulation that teaches high school seniors-to-be the value of democracy and civic duty. Participants form mock governments and campaign for positions at the city, county and state levels.
Participants find out firsthand the difficult decisions made daily by those in government through a series of challenging simulations. Delegates, nominated to attend by their high school counselors and other influential people in their lives, are sponsored by American Legion posts and various civic organizations from across the state. All delegates demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities in student government, athletics and/or other activities.
The Boys State program was founded by Legionnaires Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card in Illinois in 1935, and was first held in Kansas two years later in Wichita. The Kansas program has been held in Manhattan since 1992. For information, visit http://kansasboysstate.com/ or http://ksbstate.org/.
GOVERNOR—Grant Daily, Andover; Lt. Governor Evan Haas, Bucyrus (Federalist Party) def. Patrick Bircher, Lansing; Lt. Governor Carson Tappan, Louisburg (Nationalist); and Matt LaMunyon, Hutchinson; Lt. Governor Obioma Nwakpuda, Topeka (Independent)
SECRETARY OF STATE—Aarmer Uddin, Olathe (Nationalist) def. Colin Lucas, Leavenworth (Federalist) and Lucas Merawi, Wichita, (Independent)
ATTORNEY GENERAL— Hunter Eisler, Olathe North (Nationalist) def. Eric Vasquez, Great Bend (Federalist) and Michael Mast, Tonganoxie (Independent)
STATE TREASURER— Nick Siscoe, Blue Valley North (Nationalist) def. Kyle Tollefson, Hiawatha (Federalist) and Colin Dike, Lansing (Independent)
COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE—Mason Schartz, Larned (Federalist) def. Adam Kropf, Westphalia (Nationalist), and Max Erickson, Lansing (Independent)