Welcome to the office of Representative Charlie Roth!

You have reached the new online home of Kansas State Representative Charlie Roth! This website will be a resource for you -- both to learn about what is going on in Topeka, as well as how to help the campaign.

Listen to Charlie and his opponent debate the issues

Recorded Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at KSAL radio (a Salina Media Group station), Salina, KS, you can listen to Charlie Roth debate his opponent on Friendly Fire.

Charlie Roth Answers Salina Journal Questionnaire

Recently, Charlie Roth answered a questionnaire from the Salina Journal. You can now view his answers on the Issues page of this website.

George Bernard Shaw — A Splendid Torch

This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.

I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no "brief candle" for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.

— George Bernard Shaw

A note from Charlie...

Hi, I am Charlie Roth and I am running for re-election to the Kansas House of Representatives in the 71st District. The 71st district is mostly east Salina, from 9th street east to the city limits. It has been my honor and pleasure to represent you in the House for the last four years.

I have lived in Salina all my life. While this does not qualify me to serve in the legislature, it does qualify me as an expert on the bounties that our city has to offer. I have raised a family, had a terrific job, and grown up spiritually and emotionally in the best city in Kansas. I will continue to give back to the Salina community what has so freely been given to me. Let me tell you a little about my background: I served on the Salina City Commission and the Salina Airport Authority, and had a term as mayor of our city. During that time, I helped keep taxes low, and brought new business to Salina.

For 36 years I owned a small business. As many of you know, owning your own business requires weekly if not daily decisions on changing conditions and how best to meet those changes and stay competitive, decisions that effected the lives of our employees and our customers. I made a twice monthly payroll for some twenty employees for all of those years. I have had the privilege of and felt the yoke of collecting and paying taxes. I have paid payroll taxes, state and federal withholding taxes, sales taxes, unemployment taxes and corporate taxes, to name just a few. In short my business experience has helped me make decisions in the Legislature that will help our citizens lead more prosperous lives.

I believe strongly in limited government and a strict adherence to the Constitution. I don’t believe in the redistribution of wealth, and therefore I am reluctant to raise taxes, and will lower them whenever possible. I voted to reduce taxes three times and helped businesses and employees by reducing the burden of the State Unemployment tax while securing additional benefits for unemployed workers. I believe that our citizens prosper when our economy and businesses are expanding. I voted for the expansion of Wichita’s Cessna Aircraft and the National Bio and Agro Defense facility proposed for Manhattan. Both projects would create thousands of new jobs, millions in new construction, and increase tax revenues for our state.

I don’t believe that throwing money at a problem is a solution. I believe that the people’s money is better spent by the people rather than the government. I believe that government runs more efficiently when its citizens are spending their own money, rather than their legislators. I believe in the strength of the free market, and that the government should not constrain it with rules and regulations, especially regulations made on the fly with no basis in law. I strongly believe in the value of property rights.

If re-elected I intend to support:

1. A comprehensive energy policy that includes the expansion of renewable energy as well as the development of clean coal and nuclear. We must leave all of our energy options open.
2. Working within our revenues and holding down taxes that will leave more money in the pockets of citizens.
3. A strong education system for our children, including early childhood programs.
4. Development of economic policies that encourage the growth of business in Kansas.

I am a family man, with a new found humility and respect for God. I admit I don’t know the answers to all the state’s problems but I have and will base my decisions on my past business and civic experience, my strong beliefs in the importance of a free market, lower taxes, limited government, and the traditional values I grew up with in Saline County. I appreciate your support and would ask for your vote in November.

Sincerely,

Charlie Roth