A cynic would say that David Toland’s meteoric rise in state leadership only means he’s left Iola and Allen County in the dust.
His speech at Monday’s swearing-in ceremony as Lieutenant Governor says otherwise:
“Every Kansan should have the opportunity to live and thrive in a strong and supportive community. Without question, I am the beneficiary of living in one of those places, and of being raised by parents who saw the value of living in Kansas generally, and small town Kansas specifically.”
Growing up in Iola, in the 1980s and ’90s, “provided me with a rich childhood and grounding in what it meant to be a member of a community,” Toland said.
A CYNIC would say now that Toland is in Johnson and Sedgwick counties more often than Allen County, he’ll start denying he’s from a rural backwater like Iola.
That’s not how he sounded as Gov. Laura Kelly’s second in command:
“My parents, Clyde and Nancy Toland, chose to stay in Kansas and raise their family in Iola because of the quality of the people — the supportive, nurturing people who for generations have made investments in education. In economic development. In parks, libraries and museums. Investments by people, in people.
“I’m grateful to have parents who saw the value in raising their children in Kansas, while also exposing us to the broader world.
“The incredible opportunities Kansas provides are why my wife Beth and I are raising our children here. We’ve seen the world, and we know there’s no better place than Kansas.”
A CYNIC would say that even though Toland is landing the state some big-time business deals in his dual role as Commerce Secretary, we’ll never reap the benefits down here.
But his promise Monday said otherwise:
“We will continue to pursue policies and programs that make life better for all Kansans.
“We are fighting to make sure that your zip code doesn’t predict your health outcome, or your economic outcome or the quality of your education.
“And we are fighting for those who haven’t had the same opportunities to grow and prosper. We can, and we will, move forward together.”
AS A product of Southeast Kansas and his recent 11-year tenure as CEO of Thrive Allen County, Toland knows the pervasiveness of poverty and the toll it takes on families and communities.
He knows how many this way live paycheck to paycheck; and how fragile life feels when the slightest thing — a sick child or a car that won’t start — can put your livelihood in jeopardy.
He knows this pandemic has hit rural families hard because of their lack of adequate internet service, preventing their children from keeping up with their studies.
