Juan C. Luengo seeks Kansas treasurer post in 2026 race

Juan C. Luengo, a Democrat from Olathe, is running for Kansas treasurer in the Nov. 3 general election.

Asked why he is seeking the office, Luengo said in our questionnaire that "finance is his love language; he has been working in risk management for 20 years." He added that he "wants to bring meaningful change to better the life of every Kansan."

He faces incumbent Republican Steven Johnson and Libertarian Eric Lund.

Candidate information

Residence: Olathe, Kansas

Family: "Juan is a single father," he said in our questionnaire.

Education: "Juan has a Bachelor's degree in Communication from Pennsylvania State University; while there, he was an Honors recipient of The National Society of Collegiate Scholars," Luengo said in our questionnaire.

He added, "I have also graduated from several certificate courses, including the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, the Strategy and Business Development Certificate from Dartmouth College, and a certification in Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Development Strategies from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania."

Party affiliation: "While Juan is registered and running as a Democrat, this office will fundamentally remain non-partisan under Juan's leadership," Luengo said in our questionnaire. "Small businesses don't ask about party affiliation before serving customers, and the same principle applies here."

Previous elected or appointed office: "I have not previously served in any elected or appointed office," he said in our questionnaire.

Experience and public service

Luengo has served as chief executive officer at Engage Insurance Group since January 2021, according to BallotReady. He was president and CEO of J. Luengo Insurance Agency from 2012 to 2020. He has not held elected office.

Asked what accomplishments show he can handle the job, Luengo said in our questionnaire, "Juan was named CEO of Engage Insurance Group in January 2021, he led the company through a transformation of one carrier to over 140 carriers. Through his leadership, he doubled the size of the client base and increased client-facing employees by 40%."

He added, "He's expanded the Engage brand in California, Colorado, Kentucky, and Missouri and has invested in technology to streamline processes and bring efficiencies for clients."

Luengo also said he serves on the board of Mental Health America of the Heartland and on the board of The Builders' Association, a chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America, according to his campaign website.

On the issues

Unclaimed property: Asked what he would do to return unclaimed property faster, Luengo said in our questionnaire, "The website needs a revamp, and the office needs new technology to make things easier for consumers, especially staff. Receiving a 10-page letter that someone needs to fill out, then mail, and wait at least 60-90 days to get a check is too long." He said, "Instead of manually using spreadsheets, we will use technology to track every unclaimed property request and check efficiently."

Local investment: Asked about directing state investments through Kansas banks, Luengo said in our questionnaire, "Juan would promote the linked deposits programs to as many chambers of commerce, Small Business Development Centers, and other business organizations to make sure that business owners and farmers are getting the information, but most of all, the ability to apply with the banks that are enrolled in the program."

ESG and state investments: Asked whether politics or social goals should play a role in how Kansas invests public money, Luengo said in our questionnaire, "ESG is a form of revenue generator for the state, and it is supplementary to the other investments made in other energy sources. I am for businesses scaling as well as innovating because it will put Kansas on a path to more growth and job creation."

Key differences from other candidates: Luengo said in our questionnaire, "Juan wants this office to use the authority it already has. It is not underpowered. It is underused." He said he would, among other steps, "deploy capital to its limits, work with school districts to bring financial education and an alternative to student loans - Quest529."