Rep. Jerry Moran should be nominated by Kansas Republicans for the U.S. Senate over Rep. Todd Tiarht. While both have campaigned for the nomination by appealing to the far, far right fringe of the party, Moran is more comfortable with people in the middle than Tiarht, more likely to serve the interests of a majority of Kansans a majority of the time.
Moran was born in Great Bend, grew up in Plainville and has represented the First District — which covers all of western Kansas — in Congress since 1996. He not only understands Kansas agriculture but is deeply, personally committed to the prosperity of rural Kansas. As the U.S. rural population continues to shrink it is critically important for agricultural states to keep strong advocates for farmers and the farm economy in Congress.
Sen. Pat Roberts fits that description. He would find Jerry Moran a hard-working partner.
Moran also understands state government. He served in the Kansas Senate from 1988 to 1996 and was elected by his fellow Republican senators to majority leader in 1995. That experience warned him against burdening states with federal mandates.
His interest in politics goes way back. He was an intern for the late Rep. Keith Sebelius in 1974, when he was just 20 and had yet to complete his degree in political science at Fort Hays State University in Hays. Moran went on to win a law degree from the University of Kansas and then worked in law, banking and teaching — he was an adjunct professor of political science at Fort Hays — before being elected to Congress in 1996.
Each of those steps made him more qualified to serve in Congress. He deserves the support of Kansans across the state on Aug. 3.
— Emerson Lynn, jr.
