BY JOE ARCE AND COREY CRABLE
Juan Luengo is worried about the kind of state his children will inherit as they age. Every time he goes to the grocery store, pays a utility bill, or fills his car with gas, the potential for that bleak future stares at him.
So, Luengo decided to do something about it – by running to become the next Kansas State Treasurer.
“You look at the American dream. It’s a great job, a house, two cars, a family, and an apple pie. And when I look at my apple pie shrinking because the price of goods and services are extremely expensive, that’s a problem,” says Luengo, a Johnson County Democrat. “And I’m not the only one experiencing that. People are living paycheck to paycheck, and that’s not good.”
Luengo says the economy is just one reason he’s running for the position. As school districts everywhere see their budgets slashed and small businesses struggle, he says the need for new leadership and a fresh perspective are clear.
Luengo says both words and actions by the Trump administration have had a trickle-down effect and are harming Kansas. There’s too much at stake, he says, to not take action. He uses the state’s airline industry as an example.
“You have jobs at stake. You have innovation at stake. You have small business that provide parts to Bombardier at stake, and it’s going to hurt the tax base in Kansas. In my opinion, that’s reckless. I understand that there’s disputes, but you don’t put thousands of people at risk,” he says.
The state’s beef industry is another industry that has taken a recent financial hit, Luengo adds.
“There were 700 farms that filed for bankruptcy and closed last year. The treasurer’s office has a pool of $55 million through the linked deposits program to provide financing through banks. There’s about 10 to 12 banks in that program that are registered to farmers,” he says. “That’s money that was appropriated by the legislature, and yet zero loans have been underwritten to use that program. Why? It baffles me. You’re talking about farms, 700 farms that are part of our supply chain that are gone, and most likely we’ll never get those back again.”
And then there are Hispanic-owned businesses, which have had to endure the loss of revenue as Hispanic customers avoid being in public places where they might be targeted by immigration officials.
“This whole immigration issue has been kicked the can down the road for 20, 30 years. And we are where we’re at now. (Trump) hasn’t made it better. You look at Central Avenue in Wyandotte County, and that’s the alley of the American dream, which is small business.
“These bad policies have hurt small businesses across Kansas,” Luengo says. “The fact that a lot of (local small business owners) are like a lot of our Hispanic population who are afraid to go out makes it even worse because if people are not spending, the state is not growing.”
Luengo says that a shortage in revenue, as well as a shortage of Hispanic employees, who serve as the foundation of industries like construction and hospitality, will be evident sometime in the coming year. Until then, he says he wants to do his part to welcome more small businesses to the state. It’s going to be an uphill battle, he predicts.
“I see Kansas having a lot of potential to grow and being a mecca for small business,” Luengo says. “But these backward policies are hurting the opportunity to gain and grow businesses.”
Luengo’s qualifications, meanwhile, speak for themselves. As someone with advanced degrees, one of them in strategies and business management, Luengo says his education coupled with real-world experience make him the ideal candidate. Luengo has worked in risk management for 20 years, five of those as the CEO of a local insurance brokerage firm.
“(The treasurer’s office) does have tools that I’m familiar with to help not only small businesses, but also homeowners. There’s a bucket for another $60 million that can be deferred to first-time homebuyers, so they can live for a younger generation and can start living the American Dream,” he says. “And then most importantly is education.
The cost of education is out of control, so there’s an alternative to student loans, and that’s parents and grandparents invest in the 529 college plan. It’s called Quest 529, and from day one, we’re going to partner with as many school districts at the elementary and middle school level to help bring financial education to parents so that student loans are a supplement rather than the first thing that they do to be able to pay for college.”
As he travels the state and meets its voters, Luengo says he makes clear to them that his will be an office that effects positive action on the Kansas economy.
“People see that there’s an opportunity for somebody to come in who understands the office and help, who is not going to sit idle,” he says. “I’m running because i want to leave a legacy not only to my kids but those generations that come after.”
Luengo says that regardless of party affiliation, he plans to reach across the aisle and work with legislators to do what’s right for Kansans.
“As the first Latino to ever run for state office, this is an opportunity to elect someone who has the experience, who has the motivation to bring change to Kansas and elect them,” he says.
He also has a direct message for the state’s Hispanic voters.
“Come to our events and ask questions. If you can donate, it will be greatly appreciated,” Luengo says. “And even more, volunteer for our campaign.”
For more information, visit https://jcfortreasurer.com/.
