REMINDER:
If you've already read the JoCo and/or Eastern KS editions, the first part through US Senate is the same - skip the first half.
Greetings from your friendly neighborhood politico. I don’t think I’ve ever had this out before mail ballots landed (or before most of you asked for it). While I am not involved in the day-to-day of 2020 campaigns, you know I can’t help myself but to pay attention and report to you what I’ve learned.
The following is my bias. If you're looking for unbiased candidate info, please visit KanVote.org/learn.
Districts are hyperlinked to their maps.
I divvied up the emails geographically to make them more digestible. Johnson County, Eastern KS, and Western KS.
This is NOT every primary. I skipped some because they aren’t close.
Sidenote: Taking this year to focus on my renewable energy project and expand my app has been fruitful:
The KS Community Coalition has nearly 11,000 likes, and
VoteSharp has added three new states for a total of 13: CA UT KS MO IA OK IL OH PA MD CT NC GA.
VoteSharp helps candidate track their relationship with voters, and it has grown primarily due to word-of-mouth. If you know a candidate for legislative or local office, send them my way and I’ll send you a referral bonus if they subscribe.
Mail Ballots
YOU ROCK! If I recall, Kansas had about 60K mail ballots sent in 2018. As of today, it’s nearly 250K!! There’s still plenty of time to request a ballot:
Everywhere else: Fill this out, take a picture, and call your election office for the email to send it to. Phone #s also on this page: http://www.kssos.org/forms/elections/AV1.pdf
Pro-Tip: The sooner everyone in your household votes, the sooner you are taken off campaign advertising lists – no more mail, social media, online ads!
US Senate Democrat Primary (yes, there is one): Barbara Bollier has this one locked up. Republican Primary: I suppose I’ll be voting for Roger Marshall or David Lindstrom. I’m not happy with either of their “China Flu” crap.
Bob Hamilton made an absolute fool of himself, the unfortunate souls who bought his business, and his dozens of grand/kids whose inheritance was frittered away by his ego.
Knowing what I do about our Republican Primaries, Kris Kobach will likely win.
US Congress 1st District:Dr. Bill Clifford – Of course I’d go with the GCK guy! He’s a brilliant doctor who has helped thousands of Kansans see clearly which Washington DC certainly needs. Insert rimshot.
Kansas Senate Republican Primary:
District 33: Sen. Mary Jo Taylor – If Goddard is the favorite grandpa, Taylor is the cool grandma. A longtime educator and superintendent, she has the teacher’s patience – and resolve. She’s a tiny thing but has a backbone of steel and stands tall to the Boys’ Club pressure of the Senate.
Her opponent was appointed in 2019 following the death of beloved Rep. Greg Lewis, eclipsing the qualified person supported by the Lewises and now running for the seat (House 113). She started attacking Mary Jo from the get-go in legislative forums, opposes school funding and Medicaid Expansion. I’m not sure how many critical access hospitals are in SD33, but I’m guessing a handful, and they’re some of the best jobs around – and need Medicaid Expansion to make it.
District 34: Sen. Ed Berger – Ed is smart, pragmatic, and works hard. Again, he is part of the 2016 team which helped resurrect the state from the depths of debt (and despair). If you want a steady hand on the wheel, he’s the guy.
I know nothing about his opponent, but running against a guy as qualified, responsive, and hard-working as Ed Berger, is folly. All I need to know!
District 39: Toss Up – Ah, smells like home! (No, that’s just manure…) Here’s the deal. Sen. John Doll has represented GCK well in the House and now the Senate. He changed parties to run as Greg Orman’s Lieutenant Governor in 2018, got his hopes unrealistically high, did not bear the loss well, and seems angry, frustrated, and burned out.
His opponent, Lon Pishny is a financial planner who has held about every local elected position GCK has to offer, sat on every influential board, etc. He’s more socially conservative than I like, but he’s not running to represent me. Considering the small amount of social issue bills (though a disproportionate amount of time), he would do a good job.
Both of these guys are natural public servants and have served the community well – not every Kansan can say that about their options!
Kansas House of Representatives
District 113: Donna Hoener-Queal – anyone who served on a school board is part saint in my book. She’s on the Pratt board, is a retired court employee, and she owns a small business. Three strikes, you’re in!
District 114: Rep. Boyd Orr – again, a solid, pragmatic legislator. They breed those in western Kansas, you know.
District 124: Rep. Marty Long – This description fits Marty as well. Plus, John Wayne but a little taller.
I love hearing from voters and hope this information has been helpful!
Stephanie Sharp
Chief Political Translator
Sharp Connections, LLC
913-579-4376
