By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A free-market economist who worked for two Republican governors in Kansas is seeking the Republican nomination for State Treasurer. Michael Austin announced his candidacy Monday afternoon.
"We're looking at three main policy points," Austin said. "Expanding educational freedom to all Kansans, expanding financial freedoms to future generations and then empowering Kansans by limiting government."
Prior to running for office, Austin was an economist for the Sandlian Center for Entrepreneurial Government at the Kansas Policy Institute.
"One of the things the State Treasurer can most certainly do, is expand access to the tax-advantaged education savings accounts," Austin said. "Thanks to President Trump, Kansans can use these education savings accounts for K-12 education as well as higher education. By expanding the amount of families that can use that, we give families the resources and freedom to leave if they don't like what their schools are doing."
Austin wants to see Kansans remain self-sufficient, rather than counting on government to solve their problems.
"As State Treasurer, which is an office directly accountable to Kansans, I will do what I have always done and that's be a taxpayer advocate," Austin said. "Working with me, we can find ways to empower Kansans by limiting government and putting the focus on taxpayers first."
Austin graduated from Topeka High and Washburn University before getting his master's in economics at the University of Kansas.