The QBS Express

QBS_Ep032_Blasi
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Scott Heidner: [00:00:00] Welcome listeners to the QBS express, the ACEC Kansas podcast. I'm your host, Scott Heidner, along with my colleague, Travis Grauerholz. And we are honored today to have as our guest Senate majority leader, Chase Blasi. Chase represents the 26th district down in West Sedgwick County, and we are always interested in bringing folks in House and Senate leadership positions in early in their tenure to help our, our clients and friends get to know them on a more personal level in addition to all the hard policy work you guys do.

So, Senator, very much appreciate you being here.

Chase Blasi: Yeah. Thank you both for having me on.

Scott Heidner: You bet. Been looking forward to it. Well, as we normally do, we want to take you all the way back to the beginning. I [00:01:00] mentioned that this podcast really is more about getting to know Senator Blasi, the person, than what it is you're trying to accomplish on any given day policy wise over in the legislature.

So, take us back to the very beginning. What did childhood look like? Where'd you grow up? Where'd you go to school? What filled your hours? What were your passions? Et cetera, et cetera.

Chase Blasi: I grew up in a small town called Colwich, which is in northwest Sedgwick County. I'm sure many people are familiar with it because we have Avangoa.

I guess the plant name has changed, but a big ethanol plant there. We also had a big power plant at Evergy now I guess owns. And so, town about 1400 people. And so I spent my childhood outside predominantly my entire life in terms of riding bikes around town, playing with all the neighbors and had a great childhood.

I went to college grade school, which was a K through eight building. And then I went over to Andale high school, which is where about five towns communities kind of merge into for one high school. So people really are familiar with Andale high school. It's really dominant in state three, a [00:02:00] football and sports in general, wrestling track, you name it.

So, strong community. It's a very German Catholic community. So everyone has a lot of connection to the heritage there. My wife actually is from Andale. So I'm from Colwich, which is just six miles to the east of Andale. And I always compare it to people who live around Topeka. It's kind of like the Rossville Silver Lake connection.

And there's small communities that are. Somewhat similar in terms of distance and size. I mean, Colwell should be more like Silver Lake and Andale would be more like Rossville. A little more rural vibe to it. But yeah, so that's, that's where I grew up and I'm very blessed. I'm very blessed to live in a small town.

There's, you know, if you've been raised in a small town, you really just don't understand the value of it until you've raised it. And so we're trying to get our kids back there. You know, hopefully we can get back there one day. Right now we live in West Wichita, far, far West Wichita. So, We try to encourage our kids to ride their bikes freely without us worried about it, but it's not the same experience as a small town college where, you know, I remember growing up.

I was riding my bike around town and I can't remember. I did something [00:03:00] wasn't supposed to. And more or less, I got home and my dad knew about it for, I even got home and one, some lady saw me and report called my father and said, I think your son's over here. And Oh my god, the joys of a small town,

Scott Heidner: people say it must be rough, they'll reflect, oh I'm glad I'm not growing up today with the cell phones and everything, you can't get away with anything, and what I often think is if you grew up in a small town, you never could.

Chase Blasi: Oh, that's absolutely true, I think the saying goes. If you don't know what you're doing, someone else always will, in a small town.

Scott Heidner: Well, amongst you know, small town, obviously it was a great experience for you, but it does come with challenges too. Do I have my data right? Isn't Colwich the home of that rapscallion Gavin Kreidler? Didn't he, didn't he come from Colwich as well?

Chase Blasi: You know, I'm always amazed how many people work in the state house that came from my neck of the woods.

Yes, that Gavin Kreidler, his mother actually taught me kindergarten.

Scott Heidner: How funny.

Chase Blasi: So we can thank mrs. Kreidler for teaching me my alphabet and you know, anything else I failed to do, you know, we can blame her if I can't read, [00:04:00] right. But yeah, no, I, that is funny. Yup.

Scott Heidner: Well, for listeners, we took a moment of personal privilege.

Gavin Kreidler is a friend of, of all of ours also from the great town of Colwich and West Wichita. I'm going to take one more point of personal privilege. You'd be pleased to know, I'm guessing this might be in your district. I leave an embarrassing amount of sales tax behind regularly at the humidor West 21st and whatever that is.

21st and Tyler. There you go. Yep. That is my go to. And I'm in town.

Chase Blasi: I thought you were going to say the keg. You know, everyone knows the keg in Colwich, Kansas. So that thing, my grandparents met there in the early fifties, late forties, and infamous dances.

Scott Heidner: If the keg will let you smoke cigars inside,

Chase Blasi: Well, unfortunately they didn't get an exemption with the old statute books, but.

Scott Heidner: Well, enough about that. before we move on from childhood, tell me a little bit more. So, I certainly know what you mean when you talk about parents shooing you out the door at the beginning of the day and being outside all day. But having said [00:05:00] that, what'd you do in sports bikes?

Chase Blasi: Yeah, we, we did it all.

I mean, my buddy, Gavin, my neighbor best friend growing up, he had a trampoline. So we spent a lot of time on the trampoline. We always played cops and robbers. We ride our bikes or ride around the neighborhood. And fortunately where I grew up, there was probably, I'm not exaggerating, 40 kids in our block.

I mean, there were so many kids. Where I grew up, it was not uncommon to have five kids per family. Today we're probably still above average in terms of family size. Most families probably have three to four minimum. I was going back to the old. German Catholic heritage, you know, so yeah, so we had a lot of people to play with and so it was very Common for the neighborhood to get together and just play pickup football or maybe play pickup basketball And we'd play till it got dark as they say when the streetlight came on, you know that's a real thing growing up and you just don't see that today especially we're raising our kids now in West Wichita.

I'm just amazed and our little court there's ten houses on our court, and I think there's probably ten kids who are about my kid's age, about, you [00:06:00] know, zero to 10 and you'd never see them outside. I mean, our kids are always outside like yesterday. It was beautiful outside. So we have our kids out all day, riding their bikes, shooting hoops and having fun.

So yeah.

Scott Heidner: Isn't that crazy that It's changed so much and why,

Chase Blasi: I don't know if it's technology or what, but but yeah, we had a great childhood, a lot of games playing on the spot,

Scott Heidner: Be home by supper,

Chase Blasi: Be home by supper and supper. I was aware of it. He used it. I said supper one time up here, actually last session and some of it to me, like I was crazy.

What is supper? You know? And I said, do you want a dinner at lunch? Right. And I think I'm crazy.

Scott Heidner: Yeah. No.

What is supper? Supper is when you need to be home if you didn't want to get in trouble. That's what supper is. Yep. No doubt. Well, let me ask you this to segue into the next question, because what I want to get into next is what gave birth to your interest in public policy and elected office and did or did or did not that interest to start in your childhood, high school years, et cetera, et cetera.

Or was it something [00:07:00] after? So I guess combine those two questions and talk to us a little bit about what piqued your interest initially and your passion. And then maybe as that transfers into your young adult years before you ran for office.

Chase Blasi: You know, I grew up every morning. My dad would get us up, me and my twin sister, and we would be up early and he'd always have the news on every morning.

He'd cook us eggs and toast and we have the news on. And so we had always watched the morning news. And I think somewhere around the when I was fifth grade, I just really got interested in current events. And fifth grade would melt, you know, Iraq war was raging. Hurricane Katrina was about that time. Obviously I grew up in the childhood of, post nine 11.

That's my childhood. I don't really remember or know anything pre nine 11. I was in second grade when nine 11 happened. And so that event was probably one of the biggest influences on my life or my childhood in terms of politics. When I was about fifth grade, I really got involved in current events and what was happening on the news, but it wasn't until about eighth grade, believe it or not, I was 13 when I really kind of started asking a lot of [00:08:00] hard questions and I had a great social studies teacher who really walked through all the issues at the time Oh, eight recession was when I was in eighth grade.

It was the Oh, eight recession. So I was obviously big news at the time. And so I had a lot of questions and asked, you know, why. Certain policies were happening certain ways and I mean my first election that I can really remember was I think Bush's oh for victory, so I've been fourth grade then but Really just got fascinated watching all of it going forward from about that time period But you know, my parents were both Democrats.

My dad was Union. My grandpa was Union my brother's Union Catholic, you know, farming, rural communities, both my family just going back one generation real farmers. So we were a Democrat household growing up. And so when I was in eighth grade, I started asking a lot of questions and you know, I started asking these questions.

I mean, I think I'm a Republican. And I'm a 13 year old, right? What do I know? But I went home and mom and dad her asking them questions and they're like, we're Democrats and this is why we're Democrats. You know, and my grandma had John F. Kennedy on the wall in the living room. Right. It's just a thing that we grew up with and those are the influences.

[00:09:00] So it's just fascinating kind of the journey of how I got here knowing that I grew up in a Democrat household. My parents both voted for Obama, I believe, is what they've told me, and in 2008. But today, they're, they don't align with that at all. I mean, it was by 12, they were registered Republicans and, and things.

Scott Heidner: But you were ahead of the Blasi family curve, you were first.

Chase Blasi: I influenced them. You know, I remember begging my grandma to switch parties to sign, sign her name in 2012 on the old voter registration to become a Republican. And she really struggled with it. And she said, you know, her parents would be turning over in their grave if they knew she was becoming Republican because by God, we are Democrats.

And I said, grandpa, I don't think you even vote Democrat. You vote off this pro life voter card. And they're all Republican on this thing. So she finally switched, but ultimately it was very hard. I think that identity politics is still a big thing. We still see in America today, especially in the rust belt, they call it the blue wall States, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan.

I think there's a lot of similarity there. There's a lot of [00:10:00] blue collar, Catholic union rural interest, and they all historically voted Democrat. And you're seeing Trump really changed ~ ~that narrative.

Scott Heidner: It it is a. An atypical family Christmas for most people probably when they come to you know, 13 year old Chase Blasi and say, what do you, what do you want for Christmas this year?

Grandma, I want you to change your voter registration. That's what I want for Christmas.

Chase Blasi: That's all I want grandma for Christmas.

Scott Heidner: Well, let me say this too, before we move on. We are huge believers on this podcast taking every opportunity to let our guests recognize people that have had a great influence on you.

What was the name of your social studies teacher?

Chase Blasi: Mrs. Orth.

Scott Heidner: You know, Mrs. Orth or anybody from her family may or may not ever hear the podcast, but just in case word gets around, never miss a chance to show your appreciation for the folks that had an impact on you.

Chase Blasi: She truly had an influence and I'm grateful.

Scott Heidner: That is awesome.

Well, okay. So, the passion was born in the preteen and teen years. Take us out of high school. What'd you do then?

Chase Blasi: You know, my junior year, I believe it [00:11:00] was I volunteered in my first campaign and that was a gentleman named Mike Pompeo. He was running for Congress.

It was 2010. And this was right as the red wave was beginning to take off and swarm. So in 2010, I had decided I'm gonna get involved in politics. Somebody will make a difference. And at this time, I was 16 years old and I looked at all the candidates running for office at the time and I thought, you know, Mike Pompeo, I admired his West Point record and just his business background.

And he aligned with some of, I thought, my views at the time. So I'm like, I'm going to volunteer to go work for this guy. So I was a volunteer. I walked many parades, walked many doors, put together a lot of packets, made tons of phone calls and by God, you know, a 16 year old who thought was changing the world.

And fortunately Mike Pompeo did win that election. That was his first campaign for Congress. And obviously he looked where he went today. I mean, served as secretary of state of the United States. I mean, quite a remarkable achievement for him. So that's, that's my first campaign. That was kind of my first jump into politics was when I was 16

and you know, after that campaign, I decided to get a [00:12:00] real job and make money. So not to volunteer all my time. And so I got a, my first job was working at target. And so I was pushing carts and cashier and stuff. So I kind of left politics after that in terms of not being involved as much. I was focused on high school.

I was involved in sports. I was a track athlete sprinter. I was really fast. God gifted me with speed. And so that's why I was really focusing my high school time on was just being a high schooler. But then when I graduated high school, I went to Newman University in Wichita, which is a private Catholic school.

I got a business degree there. That's where I really kind of grew in my own personal faith. I am Catholic, was raised Catholic, but didn't really grow into it until I was in college. Which is certainly something that really influences me today and a lot of things I do and certainly guides me on my votes.

My Catholic district is probably the most Catholic district in Kansas, to be honest. I represent a very Catholic district. I was in college, business was my background, but I was very involved in student government. I was involved in various activities, campus ministry, et cetera.

I did service trips. I've worked in a homeless shelter in Atlanta, Georgia for a week, serving among the homeless. That was an experience for another time. I can tell you [00:13:00] stories I've never experienced. I worked for Habitat for Humanity in the south, in some most impoverished counties in the country.

worked on the southern border with a bunch of sisters who were taken in a bunch of migrants, which as you know, today's immigration is a big conversation. And just to see a lot of these people coming over their journey from Africa. I mean, I just appalled people took the long journey to America. And I think it tells you how special America really is to people to risk everything to come this far to America.

And so, had a lot of great experiences, life experiences. And throughout my life during college, which certainly shapes my viewpoints on a lot of things as well. But I was a student body president and my junior year and I graduated a semester early in my senior year. So I graduated in December of 15.

So a semester early and decided, you know, what I want to do with my life. I had a few opportunities to. Pursue business management down in Texas, but I ultimately decided I'm a Kansas boy. I grew up on dirt roads It's hard for me to go to the big city, you know, and I liked politics. I had been involved in campaigns I guess I kind of skipped around but I've been involved in campaigns throughout [00:14:00]

Scott Heidner: I was gonna say who else Well two things one boy you started at the very top.

If you, you know, the first guy you campaigned for wound up running the CIA and being secretary of state. But who, who else, what other races did you,

Chase Blasi: so yeah, so 2012, so 2010 was Pompeo's first race. 2012, I wasn't involved. That was my senior year of high school. I was focused on sports and just the high school

experience and about 2014 I got involved again and that was, I worked for Mike, or Sam Brownback's re election campaign. Was involved there in the 4th district, oversaw his field operations. So I did that in 14 and then And then 16, I graduated, or I guess December 15, I graduated and decided what to do next with my life.

And I love politics and I knew a gentleman named Mark Dugan from the Brownback world and grew up and lived in my neck of the woods and the Dugan family connections and with my family connections. And so more or less connected with him and I said, you know, is there any opportunity to come work in Topeka?

I don't know. Low level entry level job, but I said I'll do anything. I just I think I want to pursue this instead of [00:15:00] going to Texas just pursue some business opportunity and management But I enjoyed politics too much really wanted to make a difference.

So I thought to go to Topeka so that's where I went. So I my first session was 10 sessions ago In the session of 2016 and my goodness how the world has changed even since then, you know, just the backlash of the I call it the we call it jeez whiplash whiplash going back and forth just the party changes and dem Political changes wins of the state government.

Scott Heidner: What was that first post when you said, I'll do anything? What can I come up here to do? Where did you land?

Chase Blasi: Well, you know, Scott, I'm sure you have a few of those in your firm. We it was just note taker, you know, I don't have a title per se, but I was just, I attended meetings that were the big ones, right?

Appropriations, et cetera. And it was really recording taking notes every night. And I don't know if Mark ever read my notes, but he made me take notes. And I did, I kind of work in a little bit of policy, but really I just learned the process. It takes one session to learn how that building works.

I mean, if you go think of back in your, your senior government class days, they probably showed you the video of I'm a bill. How do I become a bill? The old school [00:16:00] rock, hard rock. And that's not really how it works. I mean, sure. That's the premise, but that is not how you can skin a cat thousand different ways.
~ ~

We're just taking notes, learning the process, and I learned a lot then, and, in this 2016 election, I really took a heavier role in campaigns, and I worked on a lot of senators and representatives, their campaigns in the Wichita region, South Central part of Kansas, we were largely successful, but if you recall, that was the election where a lot of incumbents lost their election due to the Brownback tax cuts, a lot of people lost office that year, More moderate swing came into the legislature and and so it was just, it's just amazing to, you get spent one whole year learning the process, learning all these people, these faces, these names, and eventually actually they lost.

And so it's just like, man, you start over trying to meet all these new people. But after one year running those those campaigns, I decided to see if there's other opportunities to be more involved, heavy handed in policy. I knew a guy named Sam Williams who was Secretary of Revenue at the time.

He was a guy from Wichita. I knew him from my home area, and asked him Hey, I heard you're the Secretary of [00:17:00] Revenue. And I heard him, I have an opening in your legislative director role. He ultimately said, I do and actually come work for me. So I started in January of 2017 as a legislative director for Department of Revenue.

And that was an extremely busy session, as many recall. That was the year Brownback tax cuts were repealed by the legislature. And so I think we calculated over 300 tax plans. Just over legislators requesting a tax plan. So it was a very busy session for me and I think that session went to mid June if I recall maybe June 14th Which if we're here in June wearing suits, it's not fun.

I will tell you that

Scott Heidner: If you're here on June 14th It's not fun. No matter what you're wearing Because it means 100 however many days.

Chase Blasi: It should be somewhere warmer or somewhere not warm, but somewhere fun, right? Statehouse is not the best place to be in June.

Scott Heidner: Well, that is pretty impressive, group of exposure, I guess, for a very young person to get to work, not only on Pompeo, but those other campaigns and cutting your teeth as a young person working for Mark Dugan.

I will say the first [00:18:00] time I really remember spending time with you and crossing paths was in the Senate Majority Leader's office, which ironically is, the post that you hold now. Bring us up to that point in your career, I guess.

Chase Blasi: So after five months at department of revenue, I was sitting, I remember distinctly, I was sitting in a tax committee conference committee, which was again, the legislature was still battling the Brownback tax repeal.

How much do we need to raise revenues to get the budget in alignment? And I was sitting there and my phone rang with a Wichita number on my phone. And, you know, we all get a lot of spam. So of course I ignored it about two seconds later, the number's calling again. And I'm like, what in the world? And so I answer it and hang up on it while the voicemail came through after that, and the voicemail was Susan Wiggle, who was president of the Senate.

Scott Heidner: You hung up on the Senate president.

Chase Blasi: I did twice ignored her the first time and hung up the second. Yeah. So, she called me and said, I want to talk to you about coming to work for me. And I said, oh boy okay. And you know, I was intimidated. Susan Wiggle. [00:19:00] Everybody knows Susan Wiggle.

She had a reputation. I mean, she is, she is tough as nails.

Scott Heidner: She is by the way, I need to interject. I apologize. I just said Senate majority leader. She was Senate president.

Chase Blasi: Oh yeah.

Scott Heidner: I misstated the office.

Chase Blasi: Oh no. All good. All good. And so, so I went and met with Susan and she said, I want you to come be my legislative director.

And I, I said, Oh my gosh, I'm going to think about this because at the time, you know, I had worked for Brownback's campaign in 2014 and by 20, I guess, 17, her and Brownback were at archenemies. I mean, they were fighting all the time, publicly, privately, and it's like, if I go work for her, my gosh, where are they going to, people who close to the Brownback world are going to think of.

So ultimately I thought about it and I decided I would go work for her, but after session, so I could finish my duties, the department of revenue. And I did make that switch over in June of 2017. And that's where I got to meet Travis for the first time, who was working, I believe, for the majority leader.

Travis Grauerholz: I was in the Majority Leader's office at that time. Yep, yep. That's the first time that I got to, I saw you, I mean, in committees all the time. Taxes was a big [00:20:00] thing for the leadership offices. But yeah, first time that I truly got to sit down and talk with now majority leader or Blasi

Chase Blasi: It's come full circle. And so I worked for her for, I guess I finished out her, her whole term. I was her policy director for. 18, 19 session. And then in the fall of 19, she asked me to be her chief of staff. And so I was her chief of staff her last year as president. And as you, we all know, 2020 was a wild year.

So I could write a book probably just about that experience with COVID and getting, you know, called, you know, having that first meeting in early February and the governor's office about this thing called the coronavirus and what is this thing? And You know, we had, I mean, we had no idea what it was and at the time, I think Europe was starting to finally get hit by it and we were like, you know, if you get it, you're likely to die.

Bodies are piling up and, and we don't know how it's transmitted and, you know, where it came, originated and, and so it was just a fascinating time. And so I was Chief of Staff for that year and that was, as we all know, a very bizarre year. Legislature breaking in the middle of March for a long time. But then she departed [00:21:00] after her term in 2020 and Ty Masterson became president and he asked me to stay on as his chief.

And so I worked for him for two sessions. And then after those two sessions, 2022, my family and I, we moved back to Wichita. So we, my wife and I had been living in Lawrence and we had a, I'm trying to think. Yes, we adopted one kid at the time by that time, so we wanted to be closer to family.

Both of our parents and all of our siblings live in Wichita area, so we wanted to move back and so we moved back in the summer, or sorry, the summer of 21. So I did one session commute in 22 with Ty, and after that my wife's like, I think it's time to get outta politics and let's let's go work in the business world, you know, a little more closer to home and outta this. cycle of elections and all that stuff. So I did leave the president's office in the summer of 2022 and only to get. Put into office a few months later as a senator.

Scott Heidner: Which is the perfect segue because the next thing I was going to ask you is that's a very rich history from both the campaign and a staffing side obviously [00:22:00] great experience for you Take us into the decision to run for office You know, was that done mostly independently of your own accord or, you know, often somebody has somebody approached them and say, we'd like you to consider this, like you to run for it.

Were you more recruited as opposed to what have you and you know, was the campaign experience that first time, what you thought it would be, what did you learn? Take us through that journey.

Chase Blasi: So I left in July from the president's office, and I started working for Evergy, which is who I still work for today.

I manage our large industrial commercial accounts division in Wichita. And I was, You know, filling in the new role, learning the ropes when Senator Solentrop who was the incumbent senator at the time who represented Northwest Wichita and parts of West Central County called me and this was, I think around I want to say Halloween and said, Hey, I'm probably going to be resigning.

After the end of the year, and I just think I'm going to give it up. I don't know when I'll announce my publicly when I'll resign, but probably around [00:23:00] Thanksgiving. And I said, Oh wow, good for you. You know, he has a place in Florida and has tons of grandkids want to spend more time with. And I said, good for you going to go, you know, live your life.

And he was in the seventies and wanted to spend, you know, while he was healthy sometime with family and, and vacation. So he ultimately did resign early January, but he announced. The day before Thanksgiving, but when I got off the phone with him around October around Halloween, I didn't think anything about it.

I just hung up and thought, good, you know, good for him right now at the sunset. And it was just after some thought he had told me who he thought might be running for that seat to replace him, you know, who lived in the district. And I thought, you know, I've always thought maybe I'd run for office one day, public office.

And I should actually. Take a stop right there for a second to say I did run for office and I did get elected I was elected to the Coleridge City Council at age 18. I Completely I should completely skipped over that period of my life, but it was two years I was on the City Council was a two year term and I was in the still your two year terms But I served my senior [00:24:00] year of high school still senior in high school when I was on the ballot Well, I got elected to the with the Coleridge City Council at age 18 youngest I think and maybe say history, I don't know but Served there for two years when that's when I decided not to run for re election instead run for student body president So I kind of missed that whole part.

Sorry about that.

Scott Heidner: No, it's all right

Chase Blasi: I have sort of local government and I will tell you a local government is truly one of the hardest to serve in and you have to have a true passion for it because in small towns it is everything is very personal every every Policy decision you make and you know from dogs barking to potholes to you know, community events.

Everything is so personal So I admire anybody who serves in local government because those are those are truly a tough job So sorry about that going back.

Scott Heidner: That's all right You brought it up. I was today years old when I learned you were a city council person.

Chase Blasi: Well, you know, it's funny I shouldn't say this but I was my senior year of high school and it was the last week of school Before we were out and I got in trouble, you know, kids are, there's a teacher, he was mad at our class or something and got in trouble.

And I said, [00:25:00] I shouldn't have said this, but I said, you know, I won't say his name, but I said, I should have ran for ~ ~school board instead of city council, apparently, you know, but we had a good laugh about it, but yeah, even though I got elected to the city council, I still.

I still was in high school. So that was an experience, but going back to the Senate, I decided that I would be interested in, I talked to my wife and she was very supportive about it. And I had talked to my employer because, you know, most people in the legislature are obviously retired or they're independently wealthy, or maybe they have a business or some job where they're allowed to take a break.

Because we are in session 90 days of the year. And it's hard for many employers like, all right, we'll see ya. So I have a great partnership able to work it out with my employer

but so I still work full time with them. And but anyway. My, so my wife, my employer both signed off and I just thought, you know what? I'm going to do this. I'm going to jump in. So I ultimately decided to run and then when Gene announced around the day before Thanksgiving he was running, I'd kind of already had the groundwork laid that I was going to do this.

And so there was 68 precinct people ultimately deciding this. And so when a senator resigns midterm, you know, there's not a special [00:26:00] election by the people. The precinct people who are elected by the party who held that seat, which in this case was Republican, they get to select the new senator. So a majority of the Precinct people.

So I needed a majority of 68. So I ran on this path to call 68. I meant to their personal home, sat in their living room, sat in their personal businesses, met at coffee shops. I mean, you name it to have literally 68 job interviews is what it was. It was trying to convince

Scott Heidner: you literally got to all 68 of them.

Chase Blasi: Yep. Or at least gave him the opportunity to meet in person. Some of them were like, Hey, I'm busy. I'll just talk on the phone. Right. And so, but they were able to grill me and he can, every question you would, you know, it's a true job interview of 68 people. I mean, why should you be the Senator? ~ ~And so there was another gentleman running for the seat as well.

His name was Carl Peter, John County commissioner in Cedric County. And he, so he was also running ultimately when the election happened in mid December. I had won 51 or 52 of the 68 votes so about three fourths of the vote and that was an experience that I learned a lot and you know [00:27:00] I almost want to say that was harder in some sense than running an election with the people

Yeah,

and I don't know why it just felt like it was so much more intense But there was a tight window you only had two three weeks

Scott Heidner: You don't want to diminish the importance of any voter and that's not what we're intending to do with this comment, but it is a difference between 68 people that have one of 68 votes Versus you know senate district has however many thousands and thousands and thousands of people if 73 000 is 73 000 If you lose one of them You're fine.

If you lose 50 of them, you're fine. But with, you know, with only 68, pretty good. And this is yet another good segue. Pretty good conditioning for what it takes to run for a leadership spot. You're really focusing on that smaller number of voters with a smaller number margin of error. And on that note, let's, let's talk about that because I've got a couple of other I've, I've promised your, your staff and team here that we'd have you at the door by a certain hour.

And I want to stick to that. And I've got a couple of the things I [00:28:00] want to get to. So, tell me briefly though. So you have been put in office by precinct folks. You have been put in office by the voters for your district the next time when you ran in the traditional forum, and you have also been put in a leadership position by a vote of your peers in the Senate.

Share any reflections you would like to on the difference between what it means to run for a Senate seat and what it means to run for a spot in Senate leadership where the voters are your peers in the Senate.

Chase Blasi: Yeah, well, Scott, I'll tell you running for that precinct election the first time gave me all the experience I needed to run for leadership because that was very similar.

I mean, since I had to call, there was 31 Republicans elected to the Senate after this last election in 2024. And so I had to go call 31, or I guess 30, including myself. And go sit down in their living rooms and hear them out, right, and have them grill me on why I should be the new leader of the caucus.

And so, having that experience with the precinct [00:29:00] people, that really was able to kind of get me ready for this, this run for majority leader. It is certainly, different to ask your peers to elect you as their leader. And there's a lot of dynamics that go into those kind of decisions, right? I mean, geography is a big one in this state.

You know, I'm from the Wichita region. And Wichita has a lot of spots in the leadership, both the House and Senate currently. So that's, that's, that's an issue to some people. You know, Kansas City historically has kind of ran the show in the Senate. But with the Dynamics changing there politically with more and more Democrats taking office, there's less Republicans.

And so, with the political culture changing, it's naturally Wichita is kind of where it's very conservative, very Republican is, it's kind of becoming the new leader of, in terms of legislative leadership races. And then obviously we have the rural dynamics. We have Western Kansas, you have Southeast Kansas, and they're all different.

And so geography plays a role into it. In terms of how conservative really are you plays into it, just not for some people, obviously personality plays into it and experience. And so, yeah, I mean, I was very fortunate [00:30:00] to go through that experience with the precinct people because it did help equip me to run for leadership.

I truly believe. I credit that a lot to my success there. And then obviously in this last election, I was on the ballot for the first time. And so that was another unique experience. I did have a primary challenge and I had a general three way challenge. So I had a big election this last election and that was an experience, but I would rather go through those than these one on ones.

Any day of the week, let me tell you

Scott Heidner: You have had the entire gamut of experience in terms of how you get elected, you know, the precinct, the full senate district, and then the leadership race for sure. Last question about that, and you don't, if nobody comes to mind, that's okay, we don't have to have an answer, and you can come back to it later if you want to.

But I mentioned earlier, we always love to give guests a chance to, to say nice things about people that had a good impact on their lives. We talked about your social studies teacher earlier. Are there some other folks when you showed up here, you know, you had so much exposure in your staff [00:31:00] role and your, your time before, but when you got here as a legislator, were there one or two or three?

Other legislators here that we haven't mentioned yet that you learned a lot from whether they actively tried to mentor you or you just watched the way they did it and thought that's really, that's a professional policymaker. And I see a lot I can learn from there. And if not, Senator, that's okay, but would love to give you a chance to to name drop some folks that really had a positive impact on you.

Chase Blasi: Well, you know, Senator Bowers gave me a quote when I was on staff that I still keep with me and firmly believe and that it's, it's not, when you're up here in Topeka, it's not what you've done that people remember you by, it's how you treated them. And I firmly believe that in every sense because when I first came into the legislature working for Dugan Consulting Group and then as a legislative director and senior Legislative staffer, how people treated you is what I remember.

And so now that I'm in this role It's funny tables [00:32:00] turn right on some people, but I'll never forget the people who were extremely kind right the lobbyists the senators just the people who work in that building who were once young and really wanted to show and teach the ropes and wanted to say, hey, look, you know, here's some advice.

And I always admire people giving advice because some people have walked this, these doors decades longer than I have. And they have so much experience and it's fun to hear those stories. And so, you know, there's a lot of people I could be here all day. Giving accolades to people who've been extremely helpful for me in this journey, but there are people I think it's important remember never forget how you treat people.

Yeah, his kindness goes a long way

Scott Heidner: I applaud your pick as I I will shamelessly say I think senator Bowers is one of the good ones for sure And a kind soul not surprised that she shared that with you and not surprised. It still has an impact on you today That's awesome

appreciate that. Well, the next topic I will just tell you up front and our listeners are smart. They're not going to be fooled. This is almost a selfish question, but we spend so much of our [00:33:00] time as BHL talking to our clients and our friends and constituents about the importance of being involved, you know, be active, have relationships, take the time to know your legislators.

You can make a difference, et cetera, et cetera. So, it is a loaded question, Senator, but I know, I know you share that belief in participatory democracy and the impact that it can have. You know, the impact some of your constituents have on you with the relationships you've built and the trust that's been built with them over the time.

So with that long introduction, I would love for you to talk to us about your perspective on the importance of getting involved and then what are the best ways to do that? If you're a listener to this podcast and you're thinking, well, it's not that I don't believe in that. I just wouldn't have a clue how to start.

What would you say to those folks?

Chase Blasi: You know, I always say relationships matter in this line of work. I mean, that goes with a lot of things in life, right? Business, you just name it. But [00:34:00] relationships matter and Scott, you and your whole firm, Travis, do a great job staying in constant contact with, with the legislators and keep them up to date on the numerous clients you represent.

But it's so important for folks who are listening, you know, develop those one on one relationships with their own legislator. I mean, there's, there's nothing like grabbing lunch or coffee with your senator throughout the year. Just to stay in touch on an issue that's important to them because when there's an issue that appears before them at the legislature It's easier for you to call them and say hey Senator I saw this issue.

You know, I have concerns about it or hey, I really want to support this cause and this issue I think you should I really encourage you to support it that call and that relationship will matter more than more than people I think give credit to And I always have to preface do it throughout the year.

Chase Blasi: Don't do it January through March you need you know, maybe maybe come September, call them up and say, I want to grab lunch and maybe just talk about family and you know, what's going on in their life. I mean, that stuff matters to people more matters to all of us, right? People just want to know that you care.

And so those relationships are crucial. [00:35:00] So I'd encourage people, you know, people always intimidated to reach out to their senator and state representative, but they're just like the rest of us. We're all the same. I just happen to be currently sitting in the seat. But the reality is, I shop at the same grocery store you shop at.

Our kids go to school together, or grandkids, and go to church together, and we go to the same activities, Chiefs games, except, you know, we're all human. And so just finding the human connection is so important. So I'd encourage you, reach out, maybe as hard as an email, but reach out and really try to make an effort to.

Grab lunch or coffee or just connect because everyone knows you can connect over over even a drink. Yeah, I'll take I'll take a beer You know, it's just that's the way connect

Scott Heidner: And I think one other comment i'll make and you can speak to it if you want to senator, but you don't have to but Some of our listeners Already know this but it is when you are a legislator, how many bills is the Senate going to see this year?

Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds will get introduced over a range of topics, you know, ten miles wide and the truth is nobody has [00:36:00] expertise in every one of those issues. So how is a legislator do you inform yourself on what's best for Kansas on that particular public policy? You know, every legislator requires outside sources to bring in good data, good information.

You need people you can trust, et cetera, et cetera. And what easier way than if you are the constituent to somebody to go to them and say, hey, Senator, I would love to be a help to you. It's not just what you can do for me, but Hey, I'm a licensed professional engineer and if you see legislation that involves these things, you know, would let me know, I'd love to be a trusted source of information for you if I can help.

Chase Blasi: Well, that's where I think you, Scott and Travis, the whole team comes in. We, like you said, you represent thousands of Kansans, I think lobbyists has a negative connotation sometimes attached to it in this world But reality is you do represent Kansans all across all kinds of industry and in every corner of this state And so while maybe not a Pacific constituent of mine's reaching out on Pacific issue There's a [00:37:00] good chance you're representing a constituent in my district on this issue And so that's where I think it's so crucial And it's good that we have these relationships that you guys can come over We can sit down and talk about some of these challenges and issues that are before the legislature, but you're right We're gonna see probably Three, four hundred bills introduced in the Kansas Senate this year.

That doesn't include the number that are being introduced in the House. They get sent over to the Senate to look at and review. And so, we do need folks to help explain their side of the issue. Because we don't have time to research every issue.

Scott Heidner: And when you have a constituent that's made time to reach out to you ahead of time, develop some trust and some comfort, and wants to make themselves available, it can be really impactful.

Chase Blasi: Oh, absolutely.

Scott Heidner: Well, that was completely a plug, hoping some of our listeners will take that to heart. And many of them do. I shouldn't insinuate that they don't. A lot of them do, but we're always looking for more folks to grab that mantle and to get involved. We're about to wrap up with what we call the lightning round, where we ask you a handful of seemingly random [00:38:00] questions about you and your tastes and your flavors and your hobbies, et cetera.

But I might yield the floor to you one last time before we do. We've talked about your career your childhood, the whole nine yards. Is there anything else you would want to share with our folks before we Close down with our Rorschach test questions, whether it be about your experience or you know, word of encouragement to them to get involved, whatever it might be, the floor is yours if you want to.

And if you don't, that's fine too.

Chase Blasi: You know, Scott, This 2024 election, we saw so much, so much history, right? In one election, presidential election, it's down all the way down to the local level. I'm so excited by the number of young people who got elected to the legislature this last election. I am the youngest member of the Senate and we all come from different generations and different corners of the state.

We all have different perspectives and I think every perspective is important. I'm just encourage anybody listening who has some up and rising employee in their organization or their company, you know, take them under your [00:39:00] wing and let them, you know, really mentor them, but let them fly. You know, really encourage them to, 'cause it's important we get the next generation of leadership, right?

Whether it's in government or business or association, work, nonprofit, whatever it may be. And 'cause we, we do have a bright future ahead of us. This last election we had two people on the ballot originally who were 81 And I think in 79 and obviously President Biden stepped down and Kamala Harris but I think age was a major factor in this election and for a lot of reasons.

And certainly I have so much respect for our more senior members of the legislature. And I enjoy, in fact, probably some of my closest relationships are with some of the senators who are 50 years older than me. And we have some good times, good laughs, and it's so fun hearing their stories and their experiences.

But I would just encourage anybody who's listening if you see someone in your realm of the world that, you think you can mentor and let them fly and spread their wings, I would really encourage it.

Scott Heidner: Well, I think that is outstanding advice all. Share a couple of thoughts or a couple of anecdotes.

I [00:40:00] guess I had the chance to spend time just late last week With a young man who had interned here at our firm for a few years And he's just killing it his career is off to a rocket ship start I won't say his name or give him a big head cough Reagan McLeod But it was so awesome to listen to him talk about how the time here was impactful to him and so fulfilling to think that that could have been the base for somebody's passion and success.

And so I applaud your comment very much. And I'll say this, our ACC Kansas president, a wonderful person, Agnes Otto is her name, and I hope I get this right, but she is all about doing what you just said, and she calls it opting the men. Opt them in, you know, make the time, make the effort, reach out, opt that person in.

It is. It's really cool. Well, we are about out of time. So let me close down with a few Rorschach type questions for you here. And you can take a pass on any of these if you want to, and we'll [00:41:00] come up with something else. Favorite book or books,

Chase Blasi: You know, I believe it, I hate to say this, but I do a lot more podcasting than I do reading.

Just because of not enough time in the day. So I live about two hours, 15 minutes from the state Capitol. And so I get to do a lot of podcasts while I travel. And one book I fell on upon a few, Oh, maybe two years ago that I absolutely loved. It's called the gatekeepers and it's a story, or it's actually just written by all the chiefs of I think there's maybe 13 of them.

I'm going back to Watergate. And it's just fascinating to realize it takes so much behind the scenes that keep the train running. And I have to say, I have phenomenal staff at the stay house because it's the staff that really keep the institution and the building running. And I think they're always the ones that are overlooked because they're not, there's not the one that the camera on them or, or even in this case, sitting in this seat and getting a talk to you, Scott and Travis.

So I think the staff play a crucial role. In our success as a country as a state. And that book goes into detail about a lot of the decisions that were made going back to, the Watergate [00:42:00] days all the way to, I think I can't remember if it was Bush one that I think is bookstops that. So, it's just fascinating, I'm currently everybody who loves history and just loves just the political dynamics and all the hard decisions have to be made and what goes into a decision making to read that book.

Scott Heidner: Is it like a chapter for each administration? Correct. How do they bring it up? They do. So it's chronological right through there.

Chase Blasi: That's all fascinating.

Scott Heidner: And by the way, we don't object at all to you spending most of your time on podcasts as opposed to books. We approve this message. Well, how about this?

Favorite favorite food. And you can take this one or two ways. If you want, you can talk about your favorite food or give you a chance to put in a shameless plug for a constituent restaurant. If you have a favorite place.

Chase Blasi: Well, you know, I will say I love all food. I'm not a. Picky eater by any sense, at least from what I've experienced.

I should say, maybe there's something I've not experienced, but you know, I love Italian food and, you know, Blasi's the last name. Maybe there's a connection there. I don't know, but I love Italian food, but we just had my community, the big German dinner yesterday, actually. And so we had beer rocks and sauerkraut and German [00:43:00] sausage.

I mean, all the nine, all the fixings and pie, of course, just, I love food and I think food again is something. You can connect with anybody on, you know, you can connect so many times. We have big, important meetings in the state house. It's usually surrounded around. Food and it's important because I think food goes is the place that everyone's heart.

But you know, I Pizza is one of my favorite things and that's probably a bad habit And and there's a few good places that I have a nice juicy Cheeseburger here in town, actually in Topeka. If anyone is traveling, you should go to the shack. It's right off the path. Travis, I'm sure you and I've been there.

Maybe a few too many times.

Travis Grauerholz: They may know our order when we left,

Chase Blasi: but it has the best burgers in the state. I mean that they're so very good. I

Scott Heidner: was born and raised about two miles from the shack. Oh, really? Little town of Barrington, Kansas, just south of there.

Chase Blasi: What's a hidden gym. Isn't it? I don't tell everybody people will come to see how it's where it's at.

Because you know, then everyone will start going there. You don't want that.

Scott Heidner: You might, you might lose an axle in the driveway on the way down to [00:44:00] it. But

Chase Blasi: there is a risk of you pulling in thinking you're in the wrong spot.

Scott Heidner: Yeah,

Chase Blasi: it's a great place.

Scott Heidner: Divots in the driveway, the size of a Volvo, but if you can avoid those, it is the best food.

Amen. Oh, that tickles me to death. That's what you pick. That is awesome. Yeah. And just. Right down the road from my house growing up. Too cool. Alright, last one and we'll let you get out of here. I think we may actually make our, our promised deadline. What about travel? If you've got the rare free time where do you like to go?

Chase Blasi: You know, travel is one of my favorite things to do. And I had a goal. It was lofty, but, and I didn't make it. But my goal was in all 50 states by 30. I'm 31 now. Just turned 31. And I've only hit 42 of the 50 states. But, there are so many remarkable places to see in this country. And there's some states that I've been to a few times that I just can't get enough of.

And I, now I will say, I think Kansas is the best state in the union. There's no question about that, but there's always, there's some good places to visit. So I encourage anybody who's listening to to hit the road, just jump on the, jump in the car and hit the road. Now, [00:45:00] fortunately living in Kansas, we can go any direction North, South, East, or West.

And we're going to see something fascinating. But I just love to travel. I really have a soft spot for Maine Northeast part of the U S I don't know if it's the weather in the summer, the people remind me of Kansas, just blue collar down to earth, kind, great people. Also have a strong passion for Tennessee.

If you guys like hiking, my family, my boys, I have three sons and a beautiful wife and respecting them, baby number four in June. We love to hike boys, have a lot of energy. So anything we can do to get them outside is what we try to do. And so we love hiking. And so we try to go to Colorado and, you know, we've been to Scottsdale and they love.

Spend time there in the winter, but ultimately we just have a fashion or passion for Tennessee, Nashville area. I've been to Gatlinburg and all that, but there's just something about Tennessee that's special. And of course Wyoming, Montana, love those states, beautiful, lots to do there, the great outdoors.

So, there's so much to see in America now. I've been to Europe and I, but I've not been to Mexico or Canada, but they're on my bucket list to get to [00:46:00] eventually. But, you know, if people are always wanting to get to these big, cool, far away destinations and yes, we should do those, but I really encourage people to hit all 50 states if they can, because there's so much to see and the people in the United States

very diverse and obviously a lot of great cuisine.

Scott Heidner: That is awesome.

Travis Grauerholz: Follow up question to that one then out of the eight states you haven't been with what's the next one on the list? And you know, do you have it planned already or

Chase Blasi: you know? I don't have a plan the baby coming really kind of throw a kinker in my even my summer plans They'd be coming in June, but I've not been in New York City, New York City is one of the last I would say big cities in America that I have not been to.

And I know I can spend a week there at least. And so I would like to go there. Talked about maybe going there in December with my wife when the Christmas season and, but you had probably really cold. So it probably wouldn't be very fun. So no, I don't have a plan on the books, but you know, Alaska and Hawaii, I've not gotten to yet.

And those would be good ones. We were supposed to go to Alaska in 2020, had the whole trip planned. Everything was purchased and then COVID hit obviously. So we can't speak, couldn't make our trip. And we unfortunately lost a lot of our money. Those Alaskans did not want to give us the money back, [00:47:00] but I come and get it, you 48ers.

But yeah, so those are the two big ones that probably the hardest to get to, but yeah,

Scott Heidner: That's impressive though. 42 states. By the time you're 31, I'm 53, I haven't been to 42 states. That's commitment. I will say too, I applaud you for this. One thing we have in common, both very, very proud native born Kansans.

I tell people every chance I get, there's probably more to do in this state that you would enjoy as a vacation than you would think before you need to look out of state for vacation. And then to ramp that up a level, there is so much to do in this country before you would need to go international, you would never run out of things to see and do.

I applaud your intellectual curiosity and all of that, and your enjoyment at it. That's awesome.

Chase Blasi: Yeah, we could probably do a whole podcast on Kansas travel. There's a lot of great places to see here.

Scott Heidner: Challenge accepted. Yeah, absolutely.

Chase Blasi: Get the kids in the car and go take a weekend get away.

Scott Heidner: Do you ever, do you have a copy of the book, The Explorer's Guide to Kansas?

Chase Blasi: I don't know if I do.

Scott Heidner: [00:48:00] Oh, it's sensational. It's, it's been around a while now. It was a woman named Marcy Penner, I think was her name, put it together, just went to every community in Kansas. And when I say every community, Town of 20 people. It's all in there and it gives the history of the town and museums and eateries and sites to see.

And she's done it chronologically as opposed to like alphabetically. So as you drive, you just turn the page and the next city ahead of you, you choose where, yeah shameless plug.

Chase Blasi: I should start counting how many counties I've been to, because I'm going to bet I've been to gosh, probably 70 80 percent of the counties

Scott Heidner: Because if nothing else because your campaign work.

Chase Blasi: Yeah,

Scott Heidner: I bet you have

Chase Blasi: part of it

Scott Heidner: well, listen, I need to get you going now. I did talk too long. I missed the deadline, I promised your team by three minutes here But I am so appreciative of you making time to come over and join our podcast senator and I'll say thanks You know for your service in general and thanks for the fact that your door is always open and we enjoy working with you Thanks Thank you for [00:49:00] making time to be with us today.

Chase Blasi: Yeah, I appreciate it. Both Scott and Travis. Thank you for all you guys do. And thank you for staying in regular contact with me and all of the Senate on the numerous issues that we face as a state. I know together we'll be able to work through them all and, and it won't always be easy, but I know we can do it.

And I appreciate the time to get out of the state house and come over here and do this. So, so thank

you very much. Very good. Well, listeners, thank you for being with us. We'll look forward to having you on the next edition of the QBS Express, the ACEC Kansas podcast.