Office of Speaker Neufeld: SPEAKER NAMES APPOINTMENTS TO RURAL POLICY COMMISSION

FROM THE OFFICE OF SPEAKER NEUFELD

August 19, 2008

For more information, contact:
Sherriene Jones-Sontag
Office of Speaker Melvin Neufeld
785/296-2302


Topeka – Kansas House of Representative Speaker Melvin Neufeld (R-Ingalls) announced today he has appointed Rep. Bill Light (R-Rolla) and Dr. Robert Moser of Tribune to the Kansas Commission on Rural Policy.   

“Rep. Light has served 124th House District and the state for nearly ten years.  His legislative experience and vast knowledge of what is needed to develop sound economic development policy for rural areas of our state will serve the commission well,” Speaker Neufeld said.

  The 124th House District includes the cities of Ulysses, Hugoton and Elkhart and spans parts of six counties in southeast Kansas.  Rep. Light sits on the House committees for Energy and Utilities; Veterans, Military and Homeland Security; and Agriculture and Natural Resources.  

Speaker Neufeld said Dr. Moser is a strong leader in rural development in western Kansas, pointing out he built a health care system in the Greeley-Wallace County area that serves as a model for other health care communities.

  “Dr. Moser has literally transformed the health care system in Greeley and Wallace Counties.  Under his leadership, the Greeley County Hospital went from the brink of closing to one of the area’s largest employers and continues to provide top-notch care.  He truly understands the important connection between rural economic development and the availability of healthcare,” Speaker Neufeld said.  

Dr. Moser is a graduate of the University of Kansas’ School of Pharmacy and School of Medicine, as well as the Smoky Hill Family Residency Program.  He has served as the Greeley County Hospital Medical Chief of Staff and Director since 1991.  Among his many awards and honors, Dr. Moser was named the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians’ 2006 Family Physician and received the Kansas Emergency Medical Technicians Association’s 2007 Medical Director Award.

  The 2008 Kansas Legislature created the nine-member commission with the passage of Senate Bill 453.  It is tasked with developing recommendations for rural economic development that will foster leadership; improve youth retention; promote and finance rural entrepreneurship through the coordination of existing programs; and increase wealth retention and generation.