By RYAN CHRISTNER

rchristner@dailynews.net

As part of a two-month-long tour of Kansas chambers of commerce, local city and county development officials met Friday with J.R. Claeys, a Salina native seeking the Republican nomination for Kansas Secretary of State in 2010.

Having started his tour just last week, Claeys has visited 14 cities so far in his attempt to better understand the challenges facing Kansas businesses.

On Friday, Claeys met with Ericka Gillespie-Weintz, executive director of the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce, and Mike Michaelis, executive director of the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development.

Before diving into the problems specifically facing Ellis County, Claeys outlined some general issues he said he would like to take on as secretary of state.

In order to eliminate some of the "red tape" business owners endure, Claeys said he hoped to be able to simplify the process of registering and filing a business with the state.

Business owners must go through many different state agencies, such as the Department of Revenue, Department of Labor and the Kansas Business Center, during that process, he said, and the result is a confusing system.

"What we need to do is convince (those agencies) that we need to make this system comprehensive," he said, "take a lot of the burden off of small businesses out there. I think any business owner will tell you they end up filling out the same information time and again."

Claeys also said he was an advocate of mandating voter identification.

"I think it's important that we maintain free, fair elections," he said. "I think a program that's implemented responsibly can ... ensure that our vote is fair and also assure that everyone gets to vote."

Although he said he had not seen any proof of voting fraud in the past, Claeys said voter confidence in elections is important.

"If you don't have confidence in your elections, you're not going to vote," he said.

According to Michaelis and Gillespie-Wientz, the largest problem pertaining to Hays and Ellis County is with the workforce.

"That's an issue that truly is a hurdle for us," Gillespie-Wientz said.

While there are jobs available in the area, skilled workers are in short supply, they said.

"Part of our issue is just sheer number," Michaelis said, "not having enough people of any skill," including doctors, nurses and skilled laborers like plumbers and electricians.

"Everybody needs a wide variety of things," Michaelis said. "There's just a lot of openings for many things."

That situation has been consistent with what he has seen in other cities during his travels, Claeys said.

One solution the community has identified, Gillespie-Wientz said, is to find ways of retaining the youth who either leave the area after graduation or do not pursue those technical occupations if they choose not to attend a college or university.

"We think it's great if you want to go to a four-year college," she said. "But don't think that if you don't have to stay home and run the family farm. If you want to go through a welding program or an electrician program, we are beginning to offer that now, too."

But there are positive economic signs as well.

Michaelis told Claeys of the area's strong sales this year, booming early in the year, but becoming "a little slower and a little softer" during the holidays.

"We're out here and kind of insulated," Michaelis said.

Having never run for office before, Claeys is seeking the seat to be vacated by current Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh, who already has announced plans to run for governor.

"It really fits some of the things that I've done in the past and some of the things I really care about," he said of the position. "This is a job that I'd love to do."

Claeys grew up in Salina before moving to Washington, where he worked for the National Small Business Association and the National Association of Government Contractors, where he served as president and chief executive officer.

Since returning to Kansas in 2005, Claeys most recently has been involved with Kids Voting Kansas and works for a company that does marketing, advertising and administration for nonprofit organizations.

"I've learned a lot about your community," Claeys told the local officials. "It's great to hear what's going on and kind of think through how we can help."