Reinecker visits Salina Saturday

Removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, preventing party hypocrisy along with upholding the values of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence are key issues for candidate Nick Reinecker.

Reinecker, 40, of Inman, is running against Rep. Roger Marshall in the Aug. 7 primary for the Republication nomination for the U.S. House in the 1st District.

Despite unsuccessful campaigns at state representative, senator and city council, Reinecker said “persistence is a good thing, when it comes to most anything.”

Reinecker, who has worked for the Inman Police Department, said he thinks arresting people who use or possess cannabis “is not a responsible use of law enforcement resources.”

“For the past five years, I have been going to Topeka advocating for the elimination of criminal penalties when it comes to natural occurring substances,” he said. “As a former police officer, firefighter and EMT, I have a heart for service and understand what it takes to respond to certain crises. Although President Trump is doing a good job of making American great again, there are still several crisis I feel need remedy.”

Reinecker said there is no reason cannabis should be a part of the Controlled Substances Act while alcohol and tobacco remain exempt.

He said alcohol causes thousands of overdose deaths in the U.S. every year and that cigarettes contain many harmful ingredients.

Broken promises

Reinecker said Marshall has fallen short on campaign promises.

“My opponent was elected on the premise that he would make agriculture a priority and I feel like in the past two years, he has not kept those promises,” he said. “He’s had two years to work on campaign promises such as getting the debt down, but our national debt is almost $22 trillion.”

Reinecker said he thinks voters in the district, which is about 60 percent agricultural, should vote for him because he is “authentic, compassionate, and resolute.”

Constitutional focus

While his primary goal is to defend the constitution, Reinecker said he will do so with “compassion.”

“I don’t beat around the bush on what I want to do,” he said. “I hit things head on and I believe in the rule of law, but I believe in compassion and using those tools handily, with honesty, to resolved pressing issues whether it be trade issues, legal immigration or anything else. We need someone who will fight for the Big 1st values.”

If successful in the primary, Reinecker will face Alan LaPolice, D-Clyde, in the Nov. 6 general election.