Zach Maier

Zach Maier earned a high school diploma from Central Heights High School. Maier earned a bachelor's degree from Kansas State University in 2009. Maier's career experience includes working as a founder and CEO.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm Zach. A proud dad, Kansas farm kid, K-State engineer, and small business owner. I founded two companies and built parts of Google Maps that you use every day. I'm running for the Kansas House to build a stronger future for my two little girls, and for every family in Shawnee and Lake Quivira. I'm not a career politician and I don't want to become one, but as an engineer, I don't mind stepping up to fix what's broken.

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?

I'm a public school kid. I thrived in special ed programs, and they launched me into K-State engineering and every success since. Now my kids are part of the Shawnee Mission schools, and I want to ensure every student in USD 512 and USD 232 gets that same head start. My top education commitments are to increase funding for K-12 classrooms, fully fund special education, keep public dollars in public schools, and preserve our public university budgets. Every tax dollar spent on public education pays itself back multiple times in economic value, and it's time for Kansas to do the right thing and invest in our kids' futures.I know the benefits, risks, and tradeoffs of technology, and I'm ready to help Kansas navigate whatever the future brings. New technology is fundamentally changing how we learn and work, and it's time to get Kansas prepared to build on that opportunity. My top innovation commitments are to help schools adapt, accelerate startups and small business, invest in local R&D, and attract more modern manufacturing. That's also the answer to the affordability crisis and putting more money in your wallet. I'll also commit to grow better paying jobs here at home, to keep property tax control local, and to legalize and tax recreational marijuana.I believe privacy is a fundamental human right. The government has no business dictating what you do in the privacy of your own home, your doctor's office, or your place of worship. I will fight to defend your freedom to live your life the way you choose. My top privacy commitments are to protect your private medical decisions, defend LGBTQ+ freedoms and equality, pass robust data protection laws, and promote a privacy-first digital economy. Your private life and relationships do not belong to the government or big business. Kansas was born the free state, and it's time for us to lead the way in personal and digital liberty.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Making government work again. Topeka currently runs on one-party supermajority politics. Political games include overridden vetoes, bills gutted and swapped with no public hearing, and constitutional amendments scheduled for low-turnout ballots. I'm passionate about fixing the process. We need to restore a working check in the statehouse, transparently engage voters, keep big money out of our courts, and end backdoor constitutional amendments. Your government should promise a better future for your family, and your politicians should lead with honestly, optimism, and integrity.