Get to know: Kevin Latz, Democratic candidate running for U.S. Senate in Kansas
KANSAS (KQTV) -- Kevin Latz is a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Kansas. He has never held elected office before, but he is a pediatric surgeon and scientist.
"I think this is a natural extension of what I've been doing for the last 30-plus years, advocating for Kansas kids and young adults and families," Latz said. "I kept waiting for somebody to step up and propose solutions to problems that I was seeing. I heard a lot of grievance, but I really didn't see anybody proposing specific action plans. So I thought I would step in and fill what I saw as a void."
Latz said the top three issues facing Kansans are affordability, rural healthcare and the future of kids and young adults.
He said that Kansans are struggling to raise families due to rising costs.
"Affordability, it's not just the price of food and gas, although that's clearly an issue," Latz said. "It's affordability of raising a family, affordability of health care even if you have insurance, affordability of child care. I've got a nurse I work with who's leaving the nursing labor force because she can't afford to pay for childcare."
He cites rising costs as detrimental to Kansas farmers and rural healthcare.
"Kansas is an ag-heavy state, and we need to support the agricultural economy," Latz said. "A big part of that is rural health care. That's been a big focus of our campaign—how to solve for rural health care."
As a pediatric surgeon, Latz said the future of Kansas's children is a top priority for him as well.
"The final area for me personally is the future of our kids," Latz said. "We've had a sacred trust that if you worked hard and did the right things, you'd get access to the American dream. Frankly, that is no longer available for most young people. That includes the ability to buy a house at some point. Getting our economic house in order also includes regulation of social media. I've got kiddos that are 17, 19 and 20, and that's a significant concern."
Latz said his background as a surgeon and scientist makes him uniquely qualified for the role.
"I'm the only scientist in the race," Latz said. "I understand climate science. I can talk about science issues in a way that the other candidates frankly can't. I'm also a doer. When I'm on call, I see an injury, I evaluate it, I take in data, I visit with family, I make decisions, and I carry out that plan. That's very similar to what a legislator would do, faced with a problem, gather data, reach consensus, and act. That skill set as a surgeon and scientist is very applicable to what an effective legislator needs to do."
On gun violence, Latz speaks from direct experience in the operating room.
"I've been in the operating room dozens, maybe hundreds of times with broken kids and adolescents from gun violence," Latz said. "I've had enough. I'm not willing to stand idly by and not talk about responsible gun ownership. Nobody else has taken a kid out of the middle of the night to the operating room and tried to put them back together after a gun injury. Yes, I'm passionate about that. Yes, I bring a unique vantage point. And yes, it's a big part of my campaign."
Latz points to his character and judgment as a reason for Kansans to give him their vote.
"It comes down to character and judgment," Latz said. "I've been in this community for 30 years taking care of families, taking care of kids. I have a long track record of interacting with people. I'm a known commodity. I'm part of this community. I've served this community, and I'm going to continue to be a part of this community whether or not I win. The most important thing when looking at a candidate is their character. The second most important thing is their judgment. I think I've got that in spades."
