John Hauer
LibertarianQ1 How would you weigh scientific evidence alongside economic, ethical, and policy preferences when making decisions?
“I would weigh scientific evidence very strongly when making policy decisions. I believe that science, not mysticism or faith, is the key to discovering truth. Unfortunately, human interest narratives and hot button moral issues are what get people fired up about voting. I prefer math. It’s boring but it’s true and it works.”
KEYWORDS: Cut spending, reduce government, increase freedom
Q2 Federal grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) fund a substantial share of the scientific research conducted at Kansas universities, hospitals, and research institutions (approximately $195 million per year). What policies, if any, do you support regarding federal funding for scientific research agencies like the NIH and NSF?
“While I am very much for cutting government and spending as much as possible, research grants would not be at the top of my list. Much higher on my list of cuts would be military contracts, genocide funding, giving money to governments of other countries, bailing out corporations, and money laundering for politicians and their rich friends through other government contracts. I think that eventually, funding for science could be private and that this would be more effective and efficient. This will take some time to develop and until that day, science grants are an acceptable substitute.”
KEYWORDS: Keep research grants, work towards private funding
Q3 What role do you believe science, research, and innovation should play in Kansas’s economy, state revenues, and accountable investments in infrastructure and services?
“I believe that the government should stay out of the economy. Innovation and research are naturally occurring phenomenon. With less government involvement, science and research would be free to flourish in Kansas and everywhere else. But by all means, before we make any significant investments or improvements, research should be conducted in the most scientific way possible. Making smart choices reduces waste.”
KEYWORDS: Smart choices, less waste
Q4 Kansas, as well as other states, experiences severe weather and natural disasters in many forms including tornados, flooding, fires, and winter storms, all of which can impact lives, property, and the environment. In what ways, if any, will you consult with scientists and experts to prevent/ mitigate the risk and damage from natural disasters and in the response to natural disasters?
“If there is any way of reducing the impact of natural disasters and severe weather I will definitely consult with scientists. As far as the response to natural disasters, I encourage people to take a hands-on approach instead of waiting on the government. Let’s do a better job of helping each other out. People helping people is how communities are built back stronger. In most cases, all the government does is throw money at the problem, which reduces personal responsibility and increases our dependance on it.”
KEYWORDS: Personal responsibility, building community, reduce government depenance
Q5 Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are becoming increasingly prevalent in Kansas waters. At high levels, these can pose public health risks, contribute to algae blooms, and have other off-target consequences. What do you think the balance between limiting chemical exposure and maintaining necessary uses should be, and what policies do you support to accomplish this?
“This is a tough one for me. I love nature and think that we need to take much better care of our Mother Earth before we destroy her. On the other hand, I don’t think that the government should be involved in regulating what people do on their own land or in regulating agriculture. But as modern farming is done these days, I don’t have an easy answer to fix the problem of runoff and pollution without regulations. The long term solution would be scrapping our entire system of factory farming and going to much smaller farms and direct to consumer sales but this would require a re-shaping of our entire system. Joel Salatin has some very good ideas in this regard.”
KEYWORDS: Small farms, direct to consumer, save the Earth
Q6 In 2025, Kansas experienced its largest measles outbreak in over 30 years, with 91 total cases reported that year by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). What policies, if any, would you implement to prevent and/or control a measles outbreak in the future?
“I think that if people don’t want to get measles, they could vaccinate themselves and their kids. If they want to risk it, that’s also a choice. I don’t believe in making that choice for anyone other than myself. People should be free to choose their own path when it comes to health care. I would not implement policies that interfere or push anyone in a particular direction when it comes to health care decisions. The best way to avoid any sort of disease is a healthy lifestyle, eating right, avoiding stress, and exercising.”
KEYWORDS: Healthy lifestyle, no government mandates, individual choices
Q7 Rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and large-scale data centers are increasing electricity demand and placing new pressures on energy and water infrastructure. Kansas has recently decided to use tariffs on large energy consumers to address the economic aspect of increased energy needs (Chilson, 2025), although this is just one of the issues associated with data center development. What policies, if any, would you support to balance technological growth with infrastructure reliability and environmental sustainability?
“Data centers are going to be built no matter what. I think opposing their construction is futile. However, no discounts, tax breaks, or any sort of unfair advantage should be given to them. And the government should under no conditions be given access to any of the data. I would like to see some bright scientific ideas on how the increased costs of utilities can be offset. Tariffs are fine for now but smart people will come up with other ideas that should be considered in the future.”
KEYWORDS: No tax breaks, no discounts, no sharing of data with government or law enforcement
Q8 America has a growing artificial intelligence (AI) industry, supporting cutting edge innovation and reshaping businesses, but raising concerns about education, ownership, and security. What are your policy positions in regards to data centers and AI? What are your reasons for supporting these policies?
“I think that AI is a tool that can be used for good or evil. I fully support private businesses and individuals using it however they see fit. My main interest with AI and government lies in keeping the government so small and powerless that it can’t use AI to track or surveil anyone or anything. Not for law enforcement, not for data, nothing. The government should find it extremely difficult to know what it’s citizens are up to, even if that involves breaking the law.”
KEYWORDS: Keep the government blind, no government surveillance, no government data tracking