Which word in the following sentence should be capitalized: "In the eastern part of Kansas, after the tornado last summer, governor Stevens declared a state of emergency."

In the sentence, "In the eastern part of Kansas, after the tornado last summer, governor Stevens declared a state of emergency," the word that should be capitalized is "governor" when it is used as part of a title before a person's name. In this context, "Governor Stevens" refers to a specific individual holding that official title, which warrants capitalization. Titles like "governor," "president," or "senator" are capitalized when they precede the name they describe but are typically not capitalized when they stand alone or are used generically without a name. Hence, when referencing "governor" in connection with "Stevens," it must be capitalized to reflect the proper title.