By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas State Treasurer candidate Republican Steven Johnson believes his service in both the private sector and in government has prepared him well for this position.
"It's defined as the CFO for the state's bank," Johnson said. "It handles the cash flow that goes through and the public monies that are paid into the treasury."
The mission of the state treasurer is to manage public funds to ensure sound financial practices. Johnson's background would seem to give him strong skills, particularly his work in the Kansas Legislature on the Pensions and Benefits Committee.
"KPERS, specifically, that's the state employee pension," Johnson said. "That's a big liability. We currently have about $23 billion in that fund and we need $6 billion more to have fully funded it. While we've made huge progress and we have changed that by a factor of billions, we still have a ways to go. The Treasurer is one of the members of the KPERS board."
Also, he sees the role of that department head as advising the legislature on areas where it can afford to use funds differently when conditions warrant and where things need to be left alone.
"I think the treasurer really needs to help look long-term, because that KPERS piece is a long-term portfolio," Johnson said. "The other funds that we handle like the Health Care Stabilization Fund, and there are several others that flow through the treasurer's office, I think that perspective is one that you can greatly add to in helping with the planning process."
Current State Treasurer Lynn Rogers was appointed to the post by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly when Republican Jake LaTurner was elected to Congress.