LENEXA — Three local legislative hopefuls recently earned the endorsement of a business group that promotes higher education.

Citizens for Higher Education has endorsed John Coen, R-Wellsville, for the state Senate District 12 seat and Caleb Correll, D-Ottawa, and Blaine Finch, R-Ottawa, for the state House District 59 seat.

LENEXA — Three local legislative hopefuls recently earned the endorsement of a business group that promotes higher education.

Citizens for Higher Education has endorsed John Coen, R-Wellsville, for the state Senate District 12 seat and Caleb Correll, D-Ottawa, and Blaine Finch, R-Ottawa, for the state House District 59 seat.

The Lenexa-based business group that promotes higher education announced it had endorsed a bipartisan group of 43 candidates for the Kansas Senate and 120 candidates for the Kansas House of Representatives.

Coen, who is running against Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, in the Aug. 7 primary, received the group’s GOP endorsement. The group also endorsed Denise Cassells, D-Mound City, who is running unopposed on the Democratic ticket for the District 12 seat.

In House District 59, Correll and Finch received the group’s endorsement over their Aug. 7 primary opponents, Stanley Wiles, D-Ottawa, and TerriLois Gregory, R-Ottawa, respectively.

“We strongly endorse the election of these Kansas leaders from both political parties who understand that there is an undisputed link between quality higher education and the long-term economic well-being of our state,” Bill Hall, Chairman of Citizens for Higher Education, said in a news release. “Kansans who receive a quality post-secondary education from one of our fine Regents institutions earn more, pay more taxes, rely less on government programs and contribute more to their communities over their lifetimes.  

“Plus, they are more likely to create jobs by starting and growing their own businesses,” Hall said. “That’s why pro-higher education legislators deserve our endorsement and support in this year’s elections.”

Citizens for High Education touts itself as promoting quality higher education as “the engine that creates well-paying jobs and economic prosperity in Kansas.”

Candidates were endorsed based on recommendations from higher education and legislative leaders, and the candidates’ positions on issues of importance to the state’s public universities and community colleges, according to a news release.

Redistricting, primary races and other factors prompted the group to endorse more than one “pro-higher education” candidate in some districts, the release said.