Republicans Endorse Steven Johnson for State Treasurer

Republicans in the Kansas Legislature have a favorite for the party nominee for State Treasurer. Representative Steven Johnson (R-Assaria) has released endorsements from 44 Republican legislators.

Members of the House and Senate had glowing praise for their Republican colleague. Johnson pushed hard for balanced budgets and reducing government spending as a member of the House of Representatives since 2011.

"Steven Johnson is a fiscal hawk in the legislature," said Representative Stephen Owens (R-Hesston). "He's the guy I'd put in charge of my money, so I definitely trust him with the keys to the safe."

Johnson is known for rescuing the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System from the brink of bankruptcy, saving taxpayers billions.

"The public employee retirement system is recovering from decades of mismanagement," said Senator Rick Wilborn (R-McPherson). "Steven Johnson is the reason we have gone from 53 percent funded to 74 percent funded in 10 short years. That's an amazing feat."

Johnson served on key financial committees during his tenure in the Kansas House of Representatives, including as Chairman of the House Taxation Committee and the House Insurance and Pensions Committee.

Johnson is running for the Republican nomination for State Treasurer. His endorsements come from across the state:

Senator Alicia Straub (Ellinwood)
Representative John Barker (Abilene)
Representative Stephen Owens (Hesston)
Representative Kristey Williams (Augusta)
Representative Megan Lynn (Olathe)
Representative Troy Waymaster (Bunker Hill)
Representative Kyle Hoffman (Coldwater)
Representative Les Mason (McPherson)
Representative Will Carpenter (El Dorado)
Representative Adam Thomas (Olathe)
Representative Tatum Lee-Hahn (Ness City)
Representative Steven Howe (Salina)
Representative Joe Newland (Neodesha)
Representative Marty Long (Ulysses)
Representative Leo Delperdang (Wichita)
Representative Doug Blex (Independence)
Senator J.R. Claeys (Salina)
Representative Brian Bergkamp (Wichita)
Representative Carl Turner (Leawood)
Representative Cheryl Helmer (Mulvane)
Representative Joe Seiwert (Pretty Prairie)
Representative John Resman (Olathe)
Representative Sean Tarwater (Stilwell)
Senator Rick Wilborn (McPherson)
Representative Richard Proehl (Parsons)
Representative Jim Kelly (Independence)
Representative John Eplee (Atchison)
Representative Susan Concannon (Beloit)
Representative Ken Rahjes (Agra)
Representative Nick Hoheisel (Wichita)
Representative Shannon Francis (Liberal)
Representative Suzi Carlson (Clay Center)
Representative John Wheeler (Garden City)
Representative Dave Baker (Council Grove)
Senator Rob Olson (Olathe)
Representative Russ Jennings (Lakin)
Representative Clarke Sanders (Salina)
Representative Jim Minnix (Scott City)
Representative Mike Dodson (Manhattan)
Representative Lonnie Clark (Junction City)
Representative Kent Thompson (Iola)
Representative Brad Ralph (Dodge City)
Representative Fred Patton (Topeka)
Representative Tory Marie Arnberger (Great Bend)

Steven Johnson was born and raised on a cattle and grain farm near Assaria, served by the DS&O Cooperative. Interested by rural electric cooperatives, he attended the NRECA Youth Tour in Washington, DC and was elected to serve both as Kansas' representative on the Youth Consulting Board and President of the NRECA Youth Consulting Board.

After graduating from Southeast of Saline High School, Johnson went on to study Ag Economics at Kansas State University where he was elected Student Body President and graduated with honors.

After college Johnson continued to work on the family farm while working for Ameriprise, a financial services firm. During this time he received his Master's in Business Administration from the University of Chicago with an emphasis in finance and business policy.

While at Ameriprise, Johnson was awarded the firm's highest individual and team awards for his lead in creating a software program calculating the highest return of investment for a particular need. He continues to use this expertise in his daily farming and in the State Legislature.

Johnson ran for the Legislature and was elected in 2010. His financial and agriculture background have earned him valuable committee appointments including Chairman of the Tax Committee, Chairman of Insurance and Pension Committee, and membership on Appropriations and the Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee. These committees allow him to find solutions to the critical issues facing Kansas.

Johnson has put his investment expertise to work for several non-profit entities, including serving on the investment committee of his church, the K-State Foundation and the Kansas 4-H Foundation.

(Information courtesy Steven Johnson for State Treasurer.)