By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Former Kansas governor Republican Dr. Jeff Colyer wants his old job back and his focus is on the economic recovery that needs to happen coming out of the pandemic.
"We want to help Kansas get jobs," Colyer said. "We want to make sure they have good, stronger jobs of the 2020 economy, the 2030 economy, not of yesterday's economy."
Dr. Colyer knows others will be trying to get the Republican nomination in 2022 as well, including Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, but he's ready for that challenge.
"You just have to be yourself," Colyer said. "I'm a fifth-generation Kansan from Hays. This is in my blood. Here's the thing: Where are we going to be in Kansas ten years from now? You've got to make sure that we have great schools, a budget that's under control, that the economy is improving."
Colyer believes the next governor can make a long-term positive impact on the state.
"If we would play our cards right and do this and do it well, then we can make a huge difference for the next 25 years," Colyer said. "If we have another four years of stagnation, if we have four years of turning backwards and having more government and less private sector, that's going to hurt us for decades."
Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has said she will be running for re-election in 2022.