Dale Helwig

Dale Helwig's career experience includes working as a cattle rancher. He has also worked in construction and in the HVAC industry. Helwig earned an associate degree from Coffeyville Community College in 1993 and a bachelor's degree from Kansas State University in 1995.[1]

Dale Helwig has not yet completed [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Send a message to Dale Helwig asking him to fill out the survey.

If you are Dale Helwig, click here to fill out [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out the candidate survey?

Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete [the profile publisher]'s Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's [the profile publisher] profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for.  More than 32,000 candidates have taken [the profile publisher]'s candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.

You can ask Dale Helwig to fill out this survey by using the button below or emailing dale@dalehelwigforkansas.com.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My wife and I have been married for 28 years and have 3 wonderful children. We live on our family farm that was established in 1912, where we raise cattle. Besides working on the farm, I have worked 10 years in the construction industry building and repairing homes, 7 years installing heating and air units, and 10 years with Kansas State University Research and Extension as the Cherokee County Agricultural Agent. As a KSU employee I worked with agricultural producers, local businesses, home owners, and schools. I continue that effort as the current Cherokee County Economic Development Director.

I have no agenda, but am guided by my faith in the Lord and only wish to do the right thing. I am pro-life, pro-business, and support the 2nd amendment. I believe that your money is not for the government to take or give. Taxes have long been a burden in Kansas and the government should be fiscally responsible.

It is my desire to serve the people of this district for their betterment and the betterment of this great state.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Protecting the Right to Life:

Every individual is entitled to the right to life, and that right begins at the moment of conception. Each life is a precious gift, and it is deeply troubling what has been allowed to happen in Kansas. The Supreme Court of Kansas has opened the door for Kansas to become a destination for abortions, a situation that goes against the value of life that God instilled in us.

As Jeremiah 1:5 states, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you." No baby is a mistake—each one is a unique creation, a blessing from God. Life is sacred and must be protected at all stages. It is our responsibility to ensure that every child is given the chance to live and be treated as the precious gift they are.The Second Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees the right to bear arms, is a fundamental protection for the citizens of the United States. This right was established to ensure that people can defend themselves—not only from those who wish to do them harm, but also from any potential overreach by the government.

For over 200 years, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to own and carry firearms, and this is a right that must be preserved for future generations. Restricting this right through gun control measures often ends up empowering criminals, while infringing upon the rights of law-abiding citizens who simply want to protect themselves and their families.Property taxes have been a significant burden for Kansas residents, particularly when compared to our neighboring states, where property taxes are much lower. Here in the southeast corner of Kansas, we frequently see the impact of this disparity as people choose to live in nearby states while commuting to work in Kansas, avoiding the higher tax rates.

The reliance on property taxes to fund schools and county services creates an imbalance. Property owners are shouldering the entire burden, even though everyone benefits from the schools, roads, and public services these taxes support. This system is inherently unfair.

Addressing and reducing the property tax burden should be a top priority for both state and local elected officials.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Welfare reform is essential at both the federal and state levels. Too often, the success of government programs is measured by the number of people who rely on them. However, true success should be defined by how many individuals are able to transition off assistance because they've been empowered with the tools and opportunities to thrive independently.

I believe in providing a hand up, not a handout. The goal of welfare programs should be to help people achieve self-sufficiency, not to keep them dependent on assistance. Equality should focus on providing equal opportunities for everyone, not guaranteeing equal outcomes.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

President Reagan. I always admired his wit and ability to communicate with all audiences, whether they agreed with his position or not. He was firm in his convictions and put America first.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

I believe honesty is extremely important even if the truth may not be popular.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have had several different occupations in my life that have given me a wide range of experiences. Those experiences have allowed me to meet people from different backgrounds and schools of thought. I have been able to communicate and thrive in those environments, which I believe is essential in working with people with different political views. Those experiences have also allowed me to see how policy and laws affect people lives. Therefore, I want to be careful about the legislation that is passed, because there can be unintended consequences.

I am firm in my faith in the Lord, which is the foundation of my moral belief. I believe being honest and trustworthy is of utmost importance. My goal is to be an example that my kids and others can look at and say, "That is the type of person I want to be."

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To uphold the oath of office. That the representative work for the betterment of the people and not personal gain.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

As a child I remember President Reagan being shot. I was 8 when President Reagan was shot.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Besides working on our family farm, my first job was cultivating soybeans for a farmer with a six row cultivator. The tractor did have an umbrella, so I was pretty high-tech. That job was the beginning of a lot of similar jobs that help me develop a strong work ethic and an appreciation of how our food is grown.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

It should be a working relationship, where ideas and thoughts are shared. From there rational discussions occur to find the best course of action that are beneficial to the citizens of the state. Playing politics needs to be put to the side and make decisions based on facts not ideology.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

It seems a lot of the problems for the states trickles down from the federal government. Healthcare is a major issue along with immigration. Federal overreach and the decisions made in Washington effects everyone, even down to the county level. As a state, we need to try and limit some of the damage done by the federal government.

Education spending for Kansas will continue to be a top priority. Enrollment in public schools is down, yet spending is up. Apparently spending more money is not working. We need to see what is wrong with the system and fix it. The money is not making it to the teachers on the front-line. I believe a quality teacher should be given a quality salary, but somewhere we are missing the mark.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

No, I believe the best person is someone who has private business experience. A person who understands how decisions made in Topeka or Washington affect the businesses and citizens of the state.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes. One person does not know everything. Talking and learning from each other, I believe will make better policy. Legislators may not always agree with each other, and that is fine. That is an opportunity to see things from a different perspective and look at the problem from multiple angles. This gives a chance to see unintended consequences of a policy and in the end make better laws and policies.

Just because legislators don't agree does not mean they can't have a conversation and work the issues out.

Building relationships in and across party lines is imperative to develop good policy and laws.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Yes. There should always be a balance of power. That is why there are three branches of government. However, I would be very cautious of ever granting anyone emergency power. I believe there are safeties in place to prevent the need for that ever happening.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Kansans for Life

Kansas Farm Bureau

Kansas Chamber of Commerce

Kansas Bankers Association

What committees interest you?

Agricultural committees as I have spent my entire life working in the agricultural industry.

I would also like to work on the welfare reform committee. I have worked with many organizations and individuals that work with and in that realm. I believe the current system makes people dependent on the government instead of helping them out of the situation they may find themselves. I believe in a hand up and not a handout. I want to see people succeed and live the American dream. I believe it needs to be a more progressive system that incentivizes individuals to improve their situation but doesn't penalize them as they move forward.