Republican Vicki Schmidt, the insurance commissioner in Kansas, filed for re-election to a second four-year term. The former state senator would stand for election in 2022 for insurance commissioner. (Submitted to Kansas Reflector)
TOPEKA — Republican Vicki Schmidt jumped ahead of the competition by filing to seek re-election as Kansas insurance commissioner in 2022.
Schmidt, a Topeka pharmacist who represented Shawnee and Wabaunsee counties in the Kansas Senate, won election as insurance commissioner two years ago with the largest vote total of a statewide candidate.
“I have said from day one, Kansans deserve someone on their side to help navigate the difficult situations that come with insurance,” she said in a statement Tuesday. “Consumer assistance is not just a priority for me, it is about doing right by the person behind the policy.”
Schmidt said the insurance department under her leadership had returned nearly $12 million to consumers. She issued $1 million in fines to people in the insurance industry to deter misconduct and protect consumers.
Within the department, the commissioner said she streamlined services and modernized licensing. In the 2021 legislative session, Schmidt plans to introduce a bill to reduce business costs of local insurance agencies and agents.
“COVID has taught us there is more than one way to do things. I’ve used the opportunity to find new ways to eliminate government waste and bureaucratic red tape,” Schmidt said.
She graduated from pharmacy school at the University of Kansas and has worked as a local pharmacist for 40 years. She represented the 20th District in the Kansas Senate from 2005 until resigning to become insurance commissioner.
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