Kansas GOP gubernatorial candidate Arlyn Briggs, who calls himself a “strong Christian”, is not letting a recent arrest on felony charges be an obstacle in his quest to become the next Republican governor of Kansas.
According to local news outlet The Kansas Reflector, Briggs decided to “plunge ahead” with his campaign, recording a radio spot outlining his vision of conservative government in Kansas. However, the prominent Christian radio network he contacted refused to air his advertisement.
Briggs, 64 said “an employee at Bott Radio Network in Overland Park explained the campaign spot couldn’t be used on the network after learning of Briggs’ arrest in Allen County on a charge of criminal threat against a law enforcement officer,” according to the report.
The Republican candidate then claimed the arrest was a misunderstanding that ought to be resolved in his favor. But the radio network’s rebuff was a setback in his primary campaign against GOP frontrunner Derek Schmidt, who is the state’s attorney general.
“I’m a strong Christian,” Briggs said. “My job is to be a strong reflection of Jesus Christ.”
Briggs’s legal trouble stemmed from allowing a man being sought by law enforcement to stay with him in early June, the report states. “Briggs noticed a sheriff’s department vehicle driving slowly past his home, so he called the department to remind authorities of the “castle doctrine,” the stand-your-ground right of individuals in Kansas to take reasonable action, including deadly force, in defense of a home.
He warned law enforcement officers not to try anything, he said, and pointedly added “I may shoot you.”
Officers later served an Anderson County warrant on him for criminal threat.
Briggs’ lieutenant governor running mate is Abilene resident Lance Berland, who Briggs said recently performed community service in Colorado to deal with his own legal troubles.
If he wins the GOP primary, Briggs would likely face Democratic frontrunner Gov. Laura Kelly in November.
