2024 Election Guide by the active age

Your 2024 Local Election Guide

Welcome to Your 2024 Local Election Guide. Here you will find information about candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, Sedgwick County Commission, Kansas State Board of Education and Kansas State Legislature.

Thanks to our partners in the Wichita Journalism Collaborative — including KMUW, the Wichita Eagle and the Beacon — for making these articles available. We hope you find them useful in this election.

Locate your Election Day polling place and view your sample ballot by clicking here: https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/voterview

How to vote early, by mail, and on Election Day

Sedgwick County will operate a total of 20 early voting centers from Tuesday, Oct. 29 through Saturday, Nov. 2. These will operate daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 1 and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2. Click here for a complete list.

“We are thrilled by the record turnout we’ve seen at the early voting centers so far, but some people have had to wait up to an hour or more to cast a ballot,” said Laura Rainwater, the county election commissioner. “With a total of 20 polling sites open, lines should move much quicker, but we ask voters to be patient.”

Three early voting sites were already open as of Friday, Oct. 25. They are:

• Sedgwick County Extension Office, 7001 W. 21st N.

- Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. until Nov. 1, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2.

• Reformation Lutheran Church, 7601 E. 13th N.

- Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. until Nov. 1, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2.

• Sedgwick County Election Office

- Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. until Nov. 1, 8 a.m.-Noon on Nov. 4.

Registered voters can also request an advance by mail ballot. Applications are available at the Election Office, by calling (316) 660-7100 or downloading it here. Voters who want the ballot mailed to them must request it by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29.

Voters who want to cast a ballot in person on Election Day, Nov. 5, must go to their assigned polling place. They can check that information and view a sample ballot at Kansas Secretary of State | VoterView

For other election information, visit Election Office | Sedgwick County, Kansas

Esau Freeman challenges incumbent Ron Estes in race for Congressional 4th District

By Mia Hennen KMUW

Next month, voters in District 4 will have the chance to keep or change their current representative in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The 4th District stretches from Greensburg to Sedan, and includes Sedgwick, Butler, Harvey and Cowley counties.

Ron Estes, a Republican, has represented the 4th District since 2017. He was initially appointed to replace Mike Pompeo, who joined the Trump administration. He has since won re-election three times.

Democrat Esau Freeman is challenging Estes for the seat. He is a business representative for Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 513. He is president and co-founder of Kansas for Change, which advocates for reform of marijuana laws in the state.

Representatives serve two-year terms. Their primary duties include introducing bills and resolutions, serving on committees and working for the interests of their community.

Members elected on Tuesday, Nov. 5, will take office in January.

Candidate responses were edited for length and clarity.

What are your top two priorities if elected to District 4 of the U.S. House?

Ron Estes: Families across the 4th District are suffering under exploding inflation as they try to stretch their family budgets to absorb rising costs of food, fuel, housing, child care and other necessities. We need to quit pumping out massive amounts of federal dollars that are causing this inflationary environment, reduce the ever-increasing national debt and lower taxes so they can keep more of their hard-earned money. We also need to secure our border and stop the tide of massive illegal immigration that is enriching the drug cartels, exploding the flow of illegal drugs and human trafficking and increasing violent crime. We need to focus on national security and public safety by investing in and rebuilding our military, law enforcement and border patrol.

Esau Freeman: My top two priorities if elected to Congress are abortion access and cannabis reform. I believe every woman in America deserves the freedom to make her own health care decisions, particularly those involving reproductive health, without government intervention. I also believe that cannabis reform through the legalization of cannabis offers numerous benefits, including economic growth, criminal justice reform and improved public health. I support the responsible legalization of adult-use cannabis.

Immigration continues to be an issue for many states, including Kansas. What role would you like to see Congress play in dealing with immigration?

Ron Estes: Our country is a nation of immigrants, but the current system is broken. As a starting point, we must enforce the immigration laws, increase the number of border patrol officers and streamline the immigration process for those who desire to enter the country legally. Individuals who attempt to apply legally have difficulty navigating and completing the process, and in some cases have to wait for years while others cross our borders illegally and stay for years. We need a revised process that prioritizes our national security and free market needs of our country and secures our border while allowing immigrants to complete the legal requirements of residency and citizenship in a timely, accountable manner.

Esau Freeman: I believe that increasing funding to the border would solve a lot of issues we see individuals and families who are safely trying to enter the United States face. Fully staffing and allocating more resources to institutions that deal with immigration is an immediate priority in order to have a safe and welcoming environment for those wanting to live the American dream.

In Kansas, residents overwhelmingly voted to maintain abortion access two years ago. Where do you stand on reproductive rights, and how will that impact your potential decisions as a lawmaker?

Esau Freeman and Ron Estes

U.S House

Ron Estes: I believe that life begins at conception; life is sacred and should be protected. Polls repeatedly confirm that Americans want common sense abortion regulations like an end to late-term abortions and no taxpayer-funded abortions. While extreme voices receive the most attention, I believe Congress should enact laws that protect innocent life and reflect the majority of Americans. The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling has placed the question of rights and restrictions related to abortion back in the hands of the people through their elected state legislatures. No federal funding should be used to encourage or pay for abortions. Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds.

Esau Freeman:I stand with the Kansans that voted overwhelmingly in favor of keeping abortion law in our state constitution. I believe reproductive health care decisions should be made between the person and their doctor with no government interference, and should I be elected, I intend to legislate with those same values.

Different states have different rules regarding medical and recreational marijuana. Should Congress enact consistent federal legislation dealing with marijuana?

Ron Estes: Generally, government closest to the people best reflects the will of the people. Several states have addressed both medical and recreational use of marijuana. As a result, data has shown that there is a social and public safety impact associated with legalization of marijuana. I think evaluating that impact is best left to the individual states.

Esau Freeman: Yes. I am in favor of the passage of the legalization of adult-use cannabis on the federal level. Many people lack access to health care coverage. And for those who have coverage, rising costs continue to be a problem. What would you do to address those two issues?

Ron Estes: We need free market solutions that increase competition including greater access to Health Savings Accounts, expand telehealth and more affordable options, while providing a safety net for those who are vulnerable. We need to encourage pathways to increase the number of employees in the health care professions and reduce the bureaucratic burdens placed on health care providers that only serve to increase the cost of health care. I have led the effort to eliminate surprise medical bills, lower prescription drug prices and ensure that air ambulance service is available for rural Kansans.

Esau Freeman: I believe in expanding the Affordable Healthcare Act (formerly Obamacare). While private health care may be good for people with more money, the vast majority of Kansans who cannot afford that luxury fall through the cracks and go untreated for ailments. I am fully in favor of expanding the ACA.

Sedgwick County Commision

Sarah Lopez and Jeff Blubaugh in showdown for District 2 seat

By Kylie Cameron KMUW

Incumbent County Commissioner Sarah Lopez will face former Wichita City Council member Jeff Blubaugh for the county’s District 2 seat this November.

District 2 covers southwest Wichita, Haysville, Clearwater and other parts of south Sedgwick County.

Candidate responses were edited for length and clarity.

Jeff Blubaugh, a Republican, is the owner of a real estate company. He has previously served on the Wichita City Council and Goddard school board.

Sarah Lopez, a Democrat, was elected to the County Commission in 2020 in her first run for public office. Before that, she worked in information technology in the health care field.

What are your top two priorities if elected to the Sedgwick County Commission?

Jeff Blubaugh: Property tax relief and public safety are my top two priorities. On day one I will be addressing real property tax relief and a fair property tax assessment process. The property tax assessment process is broken and needs to be overhauled so the system is both equitable as well as affordable for both residential and commercial property. If you own a Commercial Property and you appeal your tax assessment value at the municipal court or Board of Tax Appeals you have a less than one percent chance to get your value reduced. County Commissioners took a similar approach as it approved a $563 million budget for next year a 6% increase in spending over the current budget. They did lower the mill levy by about one-third of a mill but to give you context that’s $4.14 a year on a $100,000 home. Total spending is still UP 6% including a 3% pay raise for County Commissioners making over $100,000 a year already.

Sarah Lopez: Taxpayers need major tax relief. To do that responsibly, functional consolidation of county and city services would reduce the cost of the public safety and infrastructure services we count on while maintaining their effectiveness. It can’t be business as usual in government. Eliminating duplication and streamlining processes lowers costs, improves the quality of services and simplifies customer service. No more figuring out who to call with an issue.

We’ve talked about the need for a regional mental health hospital for years, with Kansas ranking last nationally for mental health. I took the lead on this project and we break ground on this desperately needed Regional Mental Health Hospital next year. I’ll see this project through and build on this momentum to meet this great need.

Sedgwick County commissioners have discussed passing a sales tax that would a) offset property tax revenue, and b) fund cultural arts, recreation and cultural services. Do you support this idea? If so, why?

Jeff Blubaugh: I am not in favor of an additional sales tax as we already have a 1 cent county sales tax. We need to focus on spending tax dollars like a business and look at direct ROI (return on investment) vs overall economic impact to the entire area. Right now, you don’t see many non-government subsidized recreational businesses increasing their spending. So, maybe it’s not the best time to be taking on so much new tax dollar spending. Quality of life spending within Sedgwick County has grown significantly within the last 4 years with the addition of new projects and increased tax dollar contributions to nonprofit entities. With the high cost of inflation and interest rates this isn’t the time to increase discretionary spending of taxpayer dollars.

Sarah Lopez: Functional consolidation will lead to a dramatically lower cost of government and significant, sustainable tax relief. I’m open to options that lower the overall tax burden on our families and businesses but worry a sales tax shifts the burden without lowering our total tax bill.

Smart investments in arts and recreation benefit our families and make us competitive with comparable cities in attracting new businesses and retaining those currently here. Sedgwick County is investing $2.5 million in the Exploration

Sarah Lopez and Jeff Blubaugh

Sedgwick County Commision

Place EP2 Project that’ll increase annual attendance from 400,000 to 1 million, economic impact from $21 million to $66 million, and local tax revenues from $1.1 million to $3.5 million. It’ll create 300 new jobs and the county will return its investment in about one year.

Expenditures, such as wages, continue to increase for the county. But some residents say they are struggling with rising property taxes, which fund county government. How would you address and balance these two issues moving forward, and would it require any more cuts to county government?

Jeff Blubaugh: We have to run the County more like a business and partner more with the cities, schools and nonprofits. I think consolidation should start first with the city of Wichita and then look on to opportunities with the other 19 cities in Sedgwick County. I think HR, Parks, maybe even more Fire Consolidation should be looked at more. I don’t believe in privatization efforts that benefit the 3rd party more than the County or the City should be done. I voted against the Parking plan for Downtown Wichita because I believed this was more of a “Cash grab” for the third party then a benefit to the city.

Sarah Lopez: When I started 4 years ago, the county faced a serious staffing shortage (65% staffing levels across the board) negatively impacting public services. County services are only as good as the people who provide them, so I worked to raise pay and improve benefits for all employees, raising staffing to 90% on average today.

I’ve also expected efficiency and financial accountability to cut the mill levy property tax rate two years in a row to the lowest rate in nearly 30 years. The county budget is strong and no cuts are necessary. I have a track record of improving services while cutting taxes. I have professional experience in health care IT finding innovative solutions to improve systems and cut costs, like functional consolidation for Sedgwick County.

How can the county support the mental health workforce and address staffing shortages as the new mental health hospital becomes a reality?

Jeff Blubaugh: Several concerns were brought up about building the new Mental Health hospital so close to some of our lowest income neighborhoods in the District as well as not having the extra workforce in the area. The Southside needs more drop-in mental health resources over taking on the entire state’s mental health population. I do believe staffing will be an issue and should have been analyzed more when the decision was made to Direct the Mental Health Hospital in South Wichita.

Sarah Lopez: As Vice Chair of the Governor’s Task Force responsible for guiding the Regional Mental Health Hospital project forward, I’m working to ensure the utmost safety of this brand-new, state-of-the-art facility and develop our local workforce to provide these valuable services with hundreds of high paying jobs right here in south Wichita.

We’re partnering with WSU and KU at the new Biomedical Campus and WSU Tech to build a local pipeline of mental health professionals. We’re also working with the State of Kansas to expand educational opportunities within mental health services. These collaborative efforts will allow us to staff the Regional Mental Health Hospital with more than 300 new, well-paying jobs in south Wichita on day 1 and continue growing the mental health workforce moving forward.

District 2 continues to see issues with mental health and substance use along parts of Kellogg. How can the county address this issue, especially as opioid settlement funds come available?

Jeff Blubaugh: While serving the Wichita City Council I had a lot of complaints along the West Kellogg and Broadway corridors about mental health, drugs, prostitution, and recently more violence. I think the first thing we should do is ensure communication and collaboration between WPD, The Sheriff, The Homeless Outreach Team, as well as homeless providers. In my experience there is an opportunity for stronger communication between these agencies.

Sarah Lopez: District 2 isn’t alone in facing the growing need for mental health services. Sedgwick County is expanding COMCARE Crisis alongside the new Biomedical Campus, and COMCARE is supporting Wichita’s new Multi-Agency Center (MAC). We’ve also expanded our mobile mental health teams to 24/7 services.

Collaboration is key to addressing our growing mental health needs. Sedgwick County is partnering with the City of Wichita to contract with the Steadman Group to maximize the effectiveness and impact of opioid settlement funds. We have a joint committee of county, city and community members studying an integrated care model in collaboration with behavioral health providers to reduce the stigma and increase community outreach and educational programs. The plan will be completed by the end of this year.

Sedgwick County Commision

Stephanie Wise, Celeste Racette face off for District 3 seat

By Celia Hack KMUW

Voters in Sedgwick County’s District 3 will decide between a commercial real estate broker and a former fraud investigator to fill an empty county commission seat.

District 3 encompasses much of west Wichita, rural Sedgwick County and small cities like Goddard, Garden Plain, Colwich and Andale. Incumbent Republican David Dennis, who served as commissioner for the past eight years, is not seeking reelection.

Republican Stephanie Wise, born and raised in the Goddard area, works in commercial real estate, as the vice president and associate broker at Street Commercial. She specializes in lease negotiations between commercial landlords and tenants. Wise said the commission’s role in ordering the closure of certain businesses during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic spurred her to run. Many businesses she worked with had to close, she said.

“Anytime the government is dictating whether your business is essential or not is a problem,” Wise said.

“I would hope that, had I been in that seat at that time, that I would have voted to protect those businesses and allowing them to stay open if they chose to,” she added.

Democrat Celeste Racette grew up on both the east and west sides of Wichita. After working as an accountant and auditor for banks, she spent five years investigating bank fraud for the federal government. In 2019, Racette founded Save Century II, an organization dedicated to preserving the building.

Racette decided to run after losing a campaign for mayor of Wichita last year. Her candidacy for mayor as well as county commission stems from frustration with economic development incentives developers get from the city and county.

“I still am unhappy – I’ll just be very blunt – with the way taxpayer money is being mishandled,” Racette said.

Here’s where the candidates stand on issues and questions facing the district:

Candidate responses were edited for length and clarity.

What are your top two priorities if elected to the Sedgwick County Commission?

Stephanie Wise: 1. Modernizing county government through functional consolidation of departments and services, eliminating redundancies between the county and the 20 cities that exist within the county’s borders.

2. Property tax reform — both as an advocate at the state level and as an executive on the commission to pass meaningful policy that would alleviate and help the people of Sedgwick County, especially seniors and those who are living on a fixed income.

Celeste Racette: My top priority is fair taxation and keeping property taxes ‘revenue neutral.’ To accomplish this, I will start by ensuring county government serves its citizens with honest, accountable and financially responsible policies and actions. My unique qualifications as a bank examiner, fraud investigator and auditor give me the tools to protect taxpayers. Property taxes is on every voter’s mind when we knock on doors! I will also work full time in the position, giving taxpayers 100% of my attention and energy.

My second priority is to protect the core services under the county’s control. Most significant is public safety. We must provide for the Sheriff’s department, Fire, 911 and EMS with the resources they need to keep our community safe and secure.

Stephanie Wise: As it stands, there are two proposals under consideration that would fund the arts and quality of life

Stephanie Wise and Celeste Racette

Sedgwick County Commision

line-items via sales tax. To be clear, the sales tax wouldn’t be an additional source of funding; rather, it would be an alternative source of funding, offsetting the amount the county would need to collect in property taxes, thus allowing the commission to lower the mill-levy rate by a considerable margin. Right now, roughly 30% of the total revenue collected by the existing .01 sales tax, which has been in place since 1985, is generated by people who live outside the county. Keeping the sales tax base broad is the key to the success of whichever plan the county implements going forward.

Celeste Racette: I am supportive of any rational alternatives to the growing problem of inflationary increases in property tax values that are hurting hard working families, and seniors on fixed incomes. Many families are just one paycheck away from eviction. The sales tax option is one alternative, but it won’t be enough on its own to seriously reverse the current trend of inflationary increases in property tax. We have to collaborate with all 20 cities within the county to eliminate waste and overlap. Replacing one tax with another tax is not the answer. We spend $8,000,000 annually on inmate health care, why hasn’t the state expanded Medicaid? The hotel guest tax is used by the City of Wichita to fund cultural arts, why isn’t this shared proportionately by the county?

Stephanie Wise: Functional consolidation between Sedgwick County and the 20 cities represented within its borders is the responsible course of action, and thus one I fully support. Modernizing and consolidating government will eliminate wasteful redundancies, produce more efficiency, and ultimately alleviate the heavy property tax burden facing residents throughout the county. Like the sales tax, I will not commit to any particular plan at the present time, as I need to learn more about the proposals and potential consequences, both positive and negative. There are no “fixes” in government; everything is a tradeoff of some kind. I owe it to the people of Sedgwick County, and to county staff, to do my due diligence before committing to one particular model of consolidation.

Celeste Racette: The first priority is to ensure that county government is waste free. My 25 year skill set as a financial manager gives me the proper perspective to oversee county government finances. We must continue to offer competitive salaries to county employees, but we have to do a better job of streamlining government functions. I have also discovered millions of dollars in unpaid loans to developers from the City of Wichita that are winding through the court system. Developers should be encouraged, but economic incentives tied to development should be monitored to prevent abuse. At the same time, we have to stay focused on providing compensation to retain and attract staff. Mandatory overtime in the Sedgwick County Jail then could be eliminated.

The county’s solar moratorium expired in mid-September. Though new county rules regarding utility-scale solar limit where it can be placed, there is still land in District 3 that is eligible for solar farms. If a solar farm zoning application is brought to the county, how would you treat it?

Stephanie Wise: I will commit to reviewing and considering each application that is presented based on the merits and with a strong bent toward respecting property rights. I understand that some farmers are seeing this as an appealing option to generate revenue on their land without having to sell it. However, the property rights of surrounding neighbors are equally important, and there are a lot of concerns with the size of the land being appropriated for materials that are highly questionable. The government’s role is to protect the rights of all property owners, not to prop-up artificial markets, such as solar and wind. I have to balance the competing interests of property owners, making sure the decisions of one property owner don’t negatively affect the decision of their neighbors, which is exactly what’s happening with solar energy in counties across Kansas and around the U.S.

Celeste Racette: Solar power is an important component of our future energy policy. Just as with every other land use question that comes before the county commission, we must strike a rational balance between property rights and the public interest. That can be accomplished with a fully transparent process that allows all voices to be heard. Sedgwick County District 3 has more rural area than most. New technology is coming that will shrink transmission lines, making it easier to handle solar power. Careful analysis of the proposal and feedback from existing housing developments will determine the feasibility of the zoning application.

District 3 includes both Lake Afton and Sedgwick County Park, two places where the county recently said residents had issues with trash and deterioration. The county also cut the parks department budget in the 2025 budget. How would you care for the county’s parks and the people who use them?

Stephanie Wise: The county has shown recent efforts to make improvements of these parks by implementing National Clean Up Day at Sedgwick County Park and updating the park rules at Lake Afton regarding the amount of days visitors are allowed to stay at the park annually. Before these rules were in place, we had approximately 20 homesteaders living at Lake Afton. The park was never meant to be a housing facility. As we focus on functional consolidation, we talk a lot about what the core functions of county government are. Parks are not a core function and the parks department could be

Sedgwick County Commision

potentially folded into the City of Wichita.

Celeste Racette: Camping long-term at Lake Afton is the outcome from many different stress factors: homeownership in Sedgwick County has fallen from 63% in 2021, to 58% in 2022, and rents are rising. Affordable housing needs to be addressed, as many of these individuals just couldn’t afford rent! Our parks department provides a vital quality of life component to Sedgwick County citizens and must be safe and open for everyone to enjoy. The problem with long-term camping is that it interferes with the experience families and visitors expect when enjoying the park facilities. I believe the county made the right decision.

Kansas State Board of Education

November election could shift Kansas State Board of Education to the right

By Suzanne Perez KMUW

The race for five seats on the Kansas State Board of Education could dramatically shift the board’s political makeup, which could reshape academic standards or the way schools approach social-emotional learning.

Currently, four of the 10 board members — Michelle Dombrosky, Cathy Hopkins, Dennis Hershberger and Danny Zeck — are conservative Republicans who campaigned in recent elections against what they described as “woke” leanings in public schools.

They spoke out against lessons on racism, sexuality and gender identity, as well as efforts to be more inclusive of trans kids. Several times, the four conservative board members have voted no or abstained on key policy decisions, including allocations to local districts of millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funding.

This year, three of the board’s moderate members — Deena Horst of Salina, Ann Mah of Topeka and Jim McNiece of Wichita — are not running for reelection. And that worries some public school advocates.

“Our concern is that they always have to have six votes to pass anything,” said Sally Cauble, a former state school board member. “And this election could swing that board very much to the right.”

Cauble belongs to Kansans for Excellence in Education, a political action committee that recently endorsed all five Democratic candidates for state school board. The group was created by a handful of moderate former board members who fear that a political shakeup could affect history standards or social-emotional learning in schools.

“Unfortunately, many of the people running for school boards are being fed the wrong materials and aren’t even clear on what the state board can and cannot do,” Cauble said. “We need people that want to work with other people and not just determine that it’s their way or the highway.”

Members of the Kansas Board of Education serve four-year terms. They set subject-area academic standards and graduation requirements but do not make specific curriculum decisions — those are up to local school boards.

The board also doesn’t make decisions about school funding. Those issues are handled by the Kansas Legislature and governor.

In District 4 near Kansas City, Kan., Democrat Kris Meyer faces Republican Connie O’Brien. Meyer is a former teacher and school administrator; O’Brien is a former state lawmaker and self-described “ultra-conservative.”

During a recent candidate forum hosted by the Johnson County Post, Meyer advocated for additional funding for special education and policies to encourage teacher retention. O’Brien said Kansas schools get enough money and need to use it more wisely.

“Reading, writing and math — history, civics — those kinds of subjects need to be prevalent in our public education. And right now, they’re not necessarily prevalent,” O’Brien said.

In District 10 near Wichita, Democrat Jeff Jarman — a Wichita State University professor and former Maize school board member — faces Republican Debby Potter. During the primary, Potter pointed to her experience as a homeschooler and an endorsement from the anti-abortion group Kansans for Life.

At a Republican forum, Potter said she’s running for the state board because she’s concerned about the public schools her grandchildren might attend.

“I want them not to be indoctrinated away from … their faith and away from their parents,” Potter said. “And I feel like there’s a lot of undermining of the families going on.”

In District 2 near Kansas City, board president and Democratic incumbent Melanie Haas faces Republican Fred Postlewait, a retired computer systems manager.

In District 6, which includes Topeka, Lawrence and Emporia, Democrat Beryl New faces Republican Bruce Schultz. And in District 8 in Wichita, incumbent Democrat Betty Arnold – a former Wichita school board member – faces Republican Jason Carmichael, a property manager who ran unsuccessfully for Wichita school board last year.

Cauble, the former state board member, said she ran in 2006 after the Kansas board made national news for approving science standards that cast doubt on the theory of evolution. She said any political shift at the state level can affect what’s taught in Kansas classrooms.

“The state board has a very specific and important role according to our Constitution,” she said. “We want people who believe in and appreciate public education.”

Kansas State Board of Education

Arnold and Jason Carmichael

Betty Arnold and Jason Carmichael vie for the state BOE District 8 seat

By Suzanne Perez KMUW

Wichita-area voters will decide two seats on the Kansas State Board of Education in November.

District 8 covers most of Wichita and five other school districts, including Andover, Derby and Haysville. Members of the Kansas State Board of Education serve four-year terms. They set subject-area standards and oversee state assessment tests but do not make specific curriculum decisions — those are up to local school boards.

The board also doesn’t make decisions about school funding. Those issues are handled by the Kansas Legislature and governor.

Members elected Nov. 5 will take office in January. Here’s where the candidates stand on some key issues facing Kansas schools:

Betty Arnold, 75, retired state auditor, current member of Kansas Board of Education.

Jason Carmichael — Did not answer questions

Candidate responses were edited for length and clarity.

Tell voters about yourself. What background or perspective on education would you bring to the Kansas State Board of Education?

Betty Arnold: I have a BBA Degree from Wichita State University and promoting education is my chosen way to give back to the community. I strongly believe in public education and in the 14 years that I have served on both local and state boards, I have immersed myself in learning of the possible obstacles and solutions in making sure all Kansas students have access to safe and high quality education.

What should the State Board of Education do to improve student achievement? How important are state assessment test scores in judging a school’s performance?

Betty Arnold: The role as charged by our State constitution is that the State Board will provide supervision of public schools and education interests of the state. Supervision includes accreditation, licensure, standards for educating preservice teachers. Within this realm we must respect the authority granted to local Boards which serve as the direct conduit for addressing student achievement. Unfortunately, state assessment scores is the standard used to measure student success. The concern with assessment scores is that it does not offer an accurate picture of how well a student is doing but instead is a one-day snapshot without considering other factors. Because of this factor, if assessments do not accurately reflect the learning that has occurred then it could not offer accurate assessments on the performance of a specific school.

What is the role of the State Board of Education when it comes to public school libraries? Should the state board have a say in what books or other materials libraries can have in their collections?

Betty Arnold: Standards are established by the State Board of Education to ensure that all members of the learning community have access to resources that meet a variety of needs and interests and this is done in a collaborative way with districts on issues that are important to them.

The Kansas State Board of Education recently appointed a committee to explore the topic of cell phones and social media in schools. Do you think the Kansas State Board of Education should set limits on what kinds of devices are allowed in classrooms?

Betty Arnold: The purpose of this committee is to offer guidance and recommendations to schools; the authority to create limits would rest with the local Boards. Forming this committee does show that the State Board does recognize that boundaries should be established and hopefully the outcomes will serve as guidelines that local boards might employ.

Over the past four years, state lawmakers have considered measures to give parents more oversight and control over what’s taught in public schools. What are your thoughts on parents’ rights and what districts should be required to do?

Betty Arnold: The individual plan of study implemented by the State Board of Education is a perfect example of giving

Betty

Kansas State Board of Education

parents and students more control of their studies and career choices. It has to be a partnership among educators, families and business entities to ensure successful outcomes for students.

School districts represented by District 8 seat

Kansas State Board of Education

Jarman, Kent Rowe and Debbie Potter

Candidates in a three-way race to represent District 10 on State BOE

By Suzanne Perez KMUW

Some Wichita-area voters will decide on who will represent them on the Kansas State Board of Education in November. District 10 covers more than 30 districts in south-central Kansas, including Goddard, Maize and a portion of west Wichita.

Members of the Kansas State Board of Education serve four-year terms. They set subject-area standards and oversee state assessment tests but do not make specific curriculum decisions — those are up to local school boards.

The board also doesn’t make decisions about school funding. Those issues are handled by the Kansas Legislature and governor.

Members elected Nov. 5 will take office in January. Here’s where the candidates stand on some key issues facing Kansas schools:

Jeffrey Jarman, 54, director of Wichita State University’s Elliott School of Communication.

Kent Rowe – – Did not answer questions

Debby Potter – Did not answer questions

Candidate responses were edited for length and clarity.

Tell voters about yourself. What background or perspective on education would you bring to the Kansas State Board of Education?

Jeffrey Jarman: I served more than 8 years on the Board in Maize, including 4 years as the President. I am in my 29th year teaching at Wichita State University. I currently serve as the Director of the School of Communication where I teach classes in persuasion and argumentation. I would bring several perspectives to the State Board including a passion to advocate for public education, including support for stable funding and opposing vouchers (which my opponent supports). My experience on a local board reinforced the importance of gathering information, listening to multiple points of view, and building consensus around the best solution. The Board is divided with some members regularly voting against support for funding for at-risk students and homeless students. I will always support local districts when they submit requests to use existing funds for the benefit of our most vulnerable students.

What should the State Board of Education do to improve student achievement? How important are state assessment test scores in judging a school’s performance?

Jeffrey Jarman: The state recently implemented two important changes that should help with achievement, including the science of reading to ensure students are reading at grade level by the third grade, and shifting to a school improvement model for accreditation to help with specific improvements targeted at four fundamentals. As a board member, I want to partner with our schools to support their efforts in these areas to increase student achievement. By contrast, my opponent brainstormed an idea to allow students to drop out after the 6th or 8th grade. She is aligned with members of the Board who vote against programs for at-risk students, which have no additional costs. Losing these programs would increase the problem of students falling behind. State assessment scores are one of many factors that should be used in judging a school’s performance.

What is the role of the State Board of Education when it comes to public school libraries? Should the state board have a say in what books or other materials libraries can have in their collections?

Jeffrey Jarman: It is important to keep the role of the State Board and local boards distinct. The State Board of Education provides general oversight of all schools and sets the standards for what students should learn at each grade level

Jeff

Kansas State Board of Education

and in each subject. Local school boards are responsible for selecting the specific curriculum used by their teachers. Library materials should remain within the scope of local school boards. Each school district, using the expertise of their teachers and librarians, should determine what books and library materials should be in their collections. The State Board should stay out of these local decisions.

Jeffrey Jarman: Like decisions about curriculum and library books, decisions related to cell phones (and technology in general) should be made by local school boards. The task force will provide recommendations on the use of personal devices in school, as well as screen time and mental health. The recommendations will be out this fall. This will be valuable information for local school districts to use as they formulate their own policies. I believe we will continue to see districts across the state implement additional restrictions on the kinds of devices used in the classroom. This is an important issue, but it is most appropriate for local school boards to set the policies for their districts, not the State Board.

Jeffrey Jarman: There is no need for the Legislature to intervene in this area. Every local board already has within its power the ability to take these kinds of initiatives. Legislative interference is intended to denigrate schools, teachers and public education by giving the false impression that schools are hiding information from parents. Nothing could be further from the truth! Most schools provide an overwhelming amount of information to parents and the curriculum is widely available. When needed, local school boards can determine the best policies to keep parents engaged and informed.

of school districts represented by District 10

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Kansas Senate

Sasha Islam seeks to unseat Senate President Ty Masterson in Senate District 16

Six Senate races are contested. Two are uncontested.

Articles by Blaise Mesa

The Beacon

Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson is running for a fifth term representing District 16. Wichita resident Sasha Islam is hoping to unseat him.

Republicans have won this seat in the past five elections.

You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here

Who are the candidates in Kansas Senate District 16?

Democrat Sasha Islam

Islam studied at the University of Phoenix and worked in a variety of food service, retail, customer service and health care jobs. Islam said her work experience helps her relate to voters.

“I am one of them,” she said. “We don’t feel like our voices are heard or given much consideration when they are heard by our representatives. Be the change you wish to see.”

She is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO and the Cannabis Justice Coalition-Kansas.

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Her campaign website is here.

Republican Ty Masterson (Incumbent)

Masterson is the Senate president. He has massive influence over what bills advance and what legislation dies.

Masterson was first elected in 2008. He previously served in the Kansas House and on the Andover City Council. He owns a small business, and he and his wife have six children and five grandchildren.

“Senator Masterson has been a champion for center-right conservative principles, including limited government, individual liberty, free enterprise and traditional values,” his campaign website said.

He is endorsed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, Kansas Farm Bureau, the Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Family Voice, Kansans for Life and the Kansas Rifle Association.

His campaign website is here.

If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble?

Options include: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else.

Islam: Honestly, I don’t want to compare myself to another politician. I am an individual, but have been taking notes and learning from multiple politicians over the last 10 or so years. I have witnessed some of the Democratic women in political offices and consider them my inspiration to keep pushing forward with my campaigns. I’m not sure what my “style of leadership” or how my point of view might differ from the other women I look up to from afar. I hope to bring a new perspective and think outside the box for future solutions as they’re brought into focus.

Masterson: Masterson didn’t respond to the questionnaire. Responses are from his campaign website, voting history and other public statements.

If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Islam: I have two in mind. I want to undo or repeal the anti-DEI law that was signed into state law back in April, that went into effect July 1.

Sasha Islam and Ty Masterson

Kansas Senate

The next would be a “Medical Privacy Act” that would mean Kansas could not step in between medical professionals and women getting reproductive care; prevent the state from trying to monitor women’s reproductive cycles or them traveling to other states; and children getting gender affirming care (that’s between parents and their children). This would appease many of the state’s residents, as we made history in August 2022 for reproductive rights!

Masterson: Masterson has helped push GOP priorities by killing or advancing bills in the Senate. How would you have voted on the following items? You can vote yes, no or pass.

The Aug. 2, 2022, constitutional amendment on abortion

Voting no meant the state constitution would continue to protect the right to abortion. Voting yes would have meant it can be regulated or banned.

Islam: No. I voted no to keep women’s bodily autonomy rights. I continue to educate those who were confused by the way the ballot explained it. The “save both” doesn’t save both, it puts mothers at risk. Many mothers already have children and they shouldn’t lose a parent when it’s preventable.

Masterson: Masterson is endorsed by anti-abortion group Kansans for Life and has said, “the pro-life activist who stands in front of an abortion clinic and convinces a young mother to choose life … is a patriot.”

Flat tax on income

A flat tax on income was packaged with property tax cuts and eliminating Social Security income tax. Democrats and Republicans agreed on other parts of the plan, but were at odds over a flat tax. A single rate on income didn’t pass this year.

Islam: I am still learning about that. I feel like it would have benefited the people of Kansas, but at the same time, I understand the state, counties and cities use taxes to fund things.

Masterson: Yes. “It’s not this progressive structure that penalizes you the better you do. It’s fair. The structure is what’s so important you can’t continue to buy economic development,” Masterson told The Kansas City Star during the session.

Banning transgender women from women’s sports

Banning transgender women from women’s sports. Voting yes would mean athletes have to compete as the gender they’re assigned at birth. This bill was vetoed but the veto was overridden in 2022.

Islam: No. I’ve met and know transgender people. Some are in different stages of transitioning. I wouldn’t want a transgender person in the locker rooms with their birth gender, because it’s wrong and puts them at risk of bullying and abuse. Trans people are and have been injured when in similar situations.

Masterson: Yes. The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act is about just that – fairness. It simply sets guidelines that ensure the fair playing field continues for women that we have recognized for decades.

Banning gender-affirming care for trans youth

Voting yes means children under 18 can’t get puberty blockers, hormone treatment, and in rare cases, genderreassignment surgery. This bill narrowly failed this year and is expected to come up again in 2025.

Islam: No. I have two people in my home that need access to gender-affirming care. Gender-affirming care is not just for trans or people with body dysmorphia. When will they try to ban it for adults too? Is that when they’ll realize it has more uses?

Masterson: Yes. The Senate took a firm stand in support of helping and not harming children by making it clear that radical transgender ideology and the mutilation of minors is not legal nor welcome in Kansas.

Chiefs and Royals stadium-financing bill

This bill didn’t spend any taxpayer money to attract the teams, but it did set aside future sales tax dollars from future stadium districts to pay off bonds. This law passed by a comfortable margin, and voting yes opens the door to the Chiefs and Royals in Kansas.

Islam: Yes. I’m for it. It can and would bring in more tourism to Kansas. This would generate more income and could boost the economy of the state. I understand it might be a bumpy road to success, but I feel like it will pay off in the long run.

Masterson: Yes. “The potential to establish a home for the Chiefs family here on the Kansas side of the state line is an opportunity that deserves a thorough conversation. We have reached out to the Chiefs organization and asked them to weigh in on the possibility of using Kansas’ unique STAR bond funding tool and explore what that collaboration could hold. We’re excited that the Chiefs are open to this conversation and look forward to seeing what mutually beneficial opportunities might lie ahead for both the people of Kansas and the Chiefs franchise,” Masterson said in a joint statement with the speaker of the House.

APEX (Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion)

This bill had billions in tax incentives to bring a Panasonic battery plant to De Soto, Kansas. As it was being passed, lawmakers were not told which company would be coming, but were told the bill is necessary to attract large businesses. Voting yes approved a massive tax incentive plan for companies.

Kansas Senate

Islam: With recent knowledge of Lake Cheney being under 60% (capacity), I want to learn where the plant(s) would be buying their water from? If they can buy responsibly from reservoirs and bodies of water that are at 80% or better on average through the year, I’d allow it.

Masterson: Yes. “I’d much prefer an incentive like this that incentivizes this kind of stable generational growth. It’s akin to bringing aviation to Wichita, which is still there 100 years later,” he told The Star

Mail ballot grace period

Currently, any mail ballot in Kansas can arrive three days after Election Day and still be counted if it was postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting yes would eliminate that grace period.

Islam: No. I understand why that rule is in place. It’s to make sure that each person’s ballot is counted and making their choices known.

Masterson: Yes. Masterson didn’t respond to the voter guide, but legislators who supported the bill said it will restore faith in elections. Without the grace period, almost all ballots would be counted by election night.

A bill loosening child care regulations

It would expand allowed child-to-staff ratios and allow teenagers to work at these facilities. Voting yes approves the loosened restrictions. Learn more about this bill here.

Islam: Yes, just as long as children are 14 and older, with a school program to make sure the grades are not failing, as they do with school sports. Limit them to only 12-20 hours weekly until they’re 16.

Masterson: Yes. Masterson didn’t respond to the voting guide, but lawmakers who supported the bill said stripping away burdensome regulations will let businesses grow.

The Parents’ Bill of Rights

Islam: This is a split issue for me. I am not a parent, but do participate in the raising of my roommate’s child. I prefer the children to be in class, but some parts of the science and health classes, such as the sex (education), is a day or week the parent could pull the child or don’t sign the waivers.

Masterson: Yes. It states a common-sense long-established premise that a parent has a right to direct the education, upbringing, and moral or religious training of their children.

Mary Ware takes on Republican Keenen Smith in District 25

Sen. Mary Ware, a Wichita Democrat, is hoping to keep her Kansas Senate seat blue. Keenen Smith is trying to change that.

Republicans have won this seat three times in the past five elections.

You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here

Who are the candidates in Kansas Senate District 25?

Republican Keenen Smith

Smith is the 4th Congressional District chairman of the Kansas Young Republicans. He majored in political science at Jackson State University and is the founding president of the Revitalize Broadway Partnership — a group focused on growing business in Wichita.

He spent time in the military and “champions the Declaration of Independence, upholds the Constitution and stands firmly for pro-gun rights, pro-liberty ideals, property rights, a free market, fiscal responsibility and limited government.”

Keenen Smith (left) is running to unseat Democrat Mary Ware (right).

Kansas Senate

He is endorsed by Kansas Family Voice and the Kansas Rifle Association.

His campaign website is here.

Democrat Mary Ware (Incumbent)

Ware has been in the Kansas Senate since 2019. The lifelong Wichitan has a varied background in farming, business management, massage therapy, social justice work, teaching and small-business ownership.

She’s the ranking minority member of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and a member of the Commerce Committee.

“With the addition of having grown up in poverty, I have a unique background for considering how a bill might affect each of my Kansas neighbors,” Ware said. “Working across the aisle is critical to creating true solutions to our problems, not just bandaids, which are almost always more expensive.”

She is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, Cannabis Justice Coalition-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, the Kansas National Education Association, Game On for Kansas Schools and Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes.

Her campaign website is here

If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble?

Options include: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else.

Smith: Tim Scott and Westley Hunt.

Ware: I have admired Laura Kelly for years. While she’s a tough negotiator for Kansans’ interests, she can work with virtually anyone, regardless of their party or beliefs. I don’t know anyone who keeps the realities of our state’s budget in balance with the needs of all Kansans better than Gov. Kelly.

If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Smith: Automatic, retroactive expungement of past marijuana convictions. Roughly 70 million to 100 million people are living in the United States with a criminal record, which can carry lasting effects and hinder employment, housing and education opportunities. This is especially true for Black people, who are already labeled as disadvantaged by the racial wealth gap. Automatic record-clearing measures are a streamlined process to remove arrests or convictions from a criminal record without the onerous fees and legal costs required for expungement in other jurisdictions. Clearance of a record should only provide people of Kansas the opportunity to eliminate barriers to employment, education and housing opportunities.

Ware: Medicaid expansion would provide lifesaving health care for 150,000 Kansans, protect our hospitals from closure, would expand our much needed base of medical providers and would be a job creator. Besides that, there would be no additional cost for all these benefits. We are already paying for it through our federal taxes. Kansans have already sent $7 billion to benefit folks in the other states who have already expanded Medicaid. Medicaid expansion is a health issue, an economic development issue as well as an issue of basic ethics.

How would you have voted on the following items? You can vote yes, no or pass.

The Aug. 2, 2022, constitutional amendment on abortion

Voting no meant the state constitution would continue to protect the right to abortion. Voting yes would have meant it can be regulated or banned.

Smith: His campaign website said “protecting life in Kansas” as a key issue.

Ware: No. Our Kansas Constitution is clear that we all have a right to bodily autonomy. Kansas voters made it clear two years ago that they agree. In these deeply personal decisions there is no room for legislators to get in between a woman and her doctor and her faith.

Flat tax on income

Smith: No.

Ware: No. While it sounds fair to have everyone pay the same percentage in income tax, the reality is that it puts the biggest weight on the shoulders of those who can afford it least. My preference is lowering sales taxes, helping us all, but helping our lowest income Kansans most.

Banning transgender women from women’s sports

Banning transgender women from women’s sports. Voting yes would mean athletes have to compete as the gender they’re assigned at birth. This bill was vetoed but the veto was overridden in 2022.

Smith: Yes.

Ware: No. This is not a matter of fairness for our girls, rather, an attack on yet another disenfranchised group. The fact is that in our entire state in 2023 we only had five trans girls in competitive sports and only one in 2024 another overreaction to a problem that does not exist.

Kansas Senate

Banning gender-affirming care for trans youth

Smith: Yes.

Ware: No. Rather than crafting thoughtful guidelines, this bill completely blocked the possibility for getting what can be lifesaving health care — putting even more stress on young trans teens who are already four times more likely to commit suicide. Every major medical association and leading world health authority supports this health care for transgender youth.

Chiefs and Royals stadium-financing bill

Smith: Yes.

Ware: Yes. This bill didn’t spend any taxpayer money to attract the teams, but it did set aside future sales tax dollars from future stadium districts to pay off bonds. This law passed by a comfortable margin, and voting yes opens the door to the Chiefs and Royals in Kansas. Historically, most stadiums are a very bad deal, so I was wary at first. But after extensive research, it’s clear that the unique STAR bond system that will be used leaves all the risk with the big investors and not with the Kansas taxpayers.

APEX (Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion)

Smith: No.

Ware: Yes. Powerful economic expansion is a great idea by bringing strong companies making gargantuan investments plus unprecedented job creation. With so many moving parts involved, these large deals must be held close to the vest until they solidify. Leadership of both parties were advised of the details, however.

Mail ballot grace period

Currently, any mail ballot in Kansas can arrive three days after Election Day and still be counted if it was postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting yes would eliminate that grace period

Smith: Yes.

Ware: No. With demonstrated slowed mail delivery times, we must continue with the three-day grace period. Our secretary of state confirms that Kansas does not have a voter fraud problem. So, government should be making it easier for us to make our voice heard, not harder.

A bill loosening child care regulations

It would expand allowed child-to-staff ratios and allow teenagers to work at these facilities. Voting yes approves the loosened restrictions. Learn more about this bill here

Smith: No.

Ware: No. More quality child care is a need. The key word is “quality.” The proposed bill would have put Kansas kids in peril without helping much with our shortage of quality child care options for our Kansas families.

The Parents’ Bill of Rights

Smith: Yes.

Ware: No.

Kansas Senate

Chase Blasi, J.C. Moore and Raymond Shore Jr. compete for District 26 seat

J.C. Moore (left) and Chase Blasi (right) are running for the 26th Senate District along with Raymond Shore Jr. (not pictured).

Republican Chase Blasi won his primary race against J.C. Moore, but Moore is now running under a different party. Democratic challenger Raymond Shore Jr. also is in the race.

The Kansas Secretary of State’s Office confirmed Moore will be on the ballot.

Republicans have won this district the past five elections. You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here.

Who are the candidates in Kansas Senate District 26?

Republican Chase Blasi (Incumbent)

Chase Blasi was 28 years old when he was sworn in to the Senate last year — making him the youngest currently serving senator. This is his first election cycle because he was appointed to his Senate seat after former Sen. Gene Suellentrop left office.

Blasi served as chief of staff for Senate Presidents Susan Wagle and Ty Masterson. He graduated from Newman University in 2015.

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He is endorsed by Kansans for Life, the National Rifle Association, Kansas Livestock Association, NFIB-Kansas and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce.

Blasi didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment. His responses were compiled from past stories and his legislative history.

The Beacon couldn’t find an official campaign website for Blasi.

United Kansas Party J.C. Moore

J.C. Moore was the former House representative for the 93rd District. He was first elected in 2018 but lost reelection in 2020. This is his first run at the Statehouse since then.

He grew up on a farm and oil lease in rural Oklahoma. He earned a master’s degree from Ohio State University and his doctorate from Kansas State University. He taught physics and chemistry at Newman University and Friends University. He’s been a department chair, faculty president, chairman of premed curriculum, YMCA volunteer and adult 4-H leader.

“He is committed to making sure Kansas remains a great place for his grandchildren, yours, and for all future generations,” Moore’s campaign website states.

He is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the National Education Association.

His campaign website is here

Democrat Raymond Shore Jr.

Shore didn’t have a campaign website listed on the secretary of state’s website. No campaign website or Facebook shows up when searched. He didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire.

The Beacon couldn’t find an official campaign website for Blasi.

If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble?

Options include: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else.

Blasi: Blasi didn’t respond to The Beacon’s election questionnaire.

Moore: Politically, I would probably resemble Nancy Landon Kassebaum. She was a moderate Republican known for working across the aisles with Democratic senators. She worked to reform health care and cosponsored the KennedyKassebaum Health Insurance Act. She had a love of the outdoors and was responsible for establishing the Tallgrass Prairie

Kansas Senate

Preserve in Kansas.

Shore: Shore didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Blasi: Blasi has introduced a handful of bills during his time in office. Some became law, like exempting Social Security benefits from income taxes. He’s also pushed for sales tax exemptions for disabled veterans.

Moore: If I could pass any bill I wanted, it would most certainly be a bill to amend the Kansas Constitution to provide for a referendum system. Currently, 24 states have a citizen initiative process whereby they may place proposed laws and constitutional amendments directly on the ballot, or repeal unfavorable laws passed by the Legislature. An example in Kansas would be Medicaid expansion. Polls find that 77% of Kansans favor expanding Medicaid, but it is opposed by the legislative leaders. A referendum process would allow it to be put on the ballot and decided by popular vote.

Shore: Shore didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

How would you have voted on the following bills if you were in office when they came up? You can vote yes, no or pass.

The Aug. 2, 2022, constitutional amendment on abortion

Voting no meant the state constitution protects the right to abortion. Voting yes meant it could be regulated or banned.

Blasi: Blasi introduced a bill to allow local governments to restrict or regulate abortion. The bill did not advance.

Moore: I was in the Legislature then and voted to put the amendment on the ballot. The amendment failed by a wide margin, and the Legislature should respect the decision of the voters.

Shore: Shore didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

Flat tax on income

Blasi: Yes. Blasi didn’t respond to the voter guide, but legislators who supported the tax package said Kansans needed tax relief — especially with billions in state surplus.

Moore: No. As proposed, it would have given a disproportionate tax cut to those at the higher end of the income scale. Kansans desperately need property tax relief, and I would favor reducing property taxes and increasing the income tax rate for those at the top end of the scale.

Shore: Shore didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

Banning transgender women from women’s sports

Voting yes would mean athletes have to compete based on their gender assigned at birth. The bill was vetoed but overridden in 2023.

Blasi: Yes. Blasi didn’t respond to the voter guide, but lawmakers who supported the law said men have an advantage over women and using the gender at birth is the fairest system.

Moore: No. I don’t know why the Legislature is even considering this except as a way to distract you from voting for moderate candidates who may be more likely to vote in your interest. Those policies should be decided by the Kansas State High School Activities Association and the NCAA.

Shore: Shore didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

Banning gender-affirming care for trans youth

Voting yes means children under 18 can’t get puberty blockers, hormone treatment, and in rare cases, genderreassignment surgery. The bill narrowly failed this year and is expected to come up again in 2025.

Blasi: Yes. Blasi didn’t respond to the voter guide, but lawmakers who supported the bill said children may not understand the true consequences of this procedure.

Moore: No. That is something that should be decided by the youth, his parents, and his doctor. This is another distraction issue.

Shore: Shore didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

Chiefs and Royals stadium-financing bill

Blasi: Yes. Blasi didn’t respond to the voting guide, but legislators who supported the law said bringing a professional sports team to Kansas is a major economic development project that would pay for itself.

Moore: No. I would like for them to move to the Kansas side of the border, but I do not think we should be investing state money to make that happen.

Shore: Shore didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

Kansas Senate

APEX (Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion)

The bill had billions in tax incentives to bring a Panasonic battery plant to De Soto, Kansas. As it was being passed, lawmakers were not told which company would be coming, but were told the bill is necessary to attract large businesses. Voting yes approved a massive tax incentive plan for companies.

Blasi: Blasi was not in office during this vote and didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire.

Moore: Yes. I did not like the secrecy surrounding the bill, but if Panasonic builds the plant as promised, it should bring additional industrial development and jobs to Kansas.

Shore: Shore didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

Mail ballot grace period

Currently, any mail ballot in Kansas can arrive three days after Election Day and still be counted if it was postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting yes eliminated that grace period.

Blasi: Yes. Blasi didn’t respond to the voter guide, but legislators who supported the bill said it will restore faith in elections. Without the grace period, almost all ballots would be counted by election night.

Moore: No. In my district the mail has been moving slowly. A letter mailed from Wichita took over 12 days to reach me, 20 miles away. The Legislature should do everything it can to encourage people to register and vote and to make sure their vote is counted.

Shore: Shore didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

A bill loosening child care regulations

It would expand allowed child-to-staff ratios and allow teenagers to work at these facilities. Voting yes approves the loosened restrictions. Learn more about this bill here

Blasi: Yes. It’ll have an immediate impact in terms of cutting the red tape, he told The Kansas City Star. The number (of children without child care) has gotten worse over time as providers have been pushed out and one of the reasons is due to these restrictions, he said.

Moore: Yes, with reservations. Workers with children need safe affordable child care options. The bill will provide more child care providers, and some that are more affordable. The provisions of the bill that ensure the health and safety of the child should be made stronger.

Shore: Shore didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

The Parents’ Bill of Rights

This bill established “parents’ right to direct the education, upbringing and moral or religious training of their children including the right to object to harmful and inappropriate educational materials.” Republicans say it is up to parents to determine what their children should be learning. Democrats say this bill addresses a problem that doesn’t exist.

Blasi: Yes. Blasi didn’t respond to the voter guide, but lawmakers who support the bill said parents should know if a school’s curriculum was inappropriate.

Moore: No. Parents already have the right to direct the education of their children. Parents who want to see to the moral or religious training of their children may choose a private school that agrees with their religious views or morality. Public schools have students of many religions and values, and they must follow the guidelines set by the State Department of Education to ensure that the values of all students are respected.

Shore: Shore didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

Kansas Senate

Jennifer Herington and Joe Claeys are running for District 27 seat

Joe Claeys (left) and Jennifer Herington (right) are running for an open seat after redistricting moved lawmakers around.

Kansas Sen. Chase Blasi, a Wichita Republican, left this seat after redistricting put him in the 26th District. Now, Maize City Council President Jennifer Herington is running against former school psychologist Joe Claeys.

Republicans have won this district in the past five elections.

You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here.

Who are the candidates in Kansas Senate District 27?

Republican Joe Claeys

Claeys was a school psychologist for 16 years. He has a degree from Kansas State University and a master’s and education specialist degree from Fort Hays State University.

He also taught at Wichita State University for six years.

“Claeys is a dedicated conservative professional, a loving father, and an active member of the 27th District community,” his campaign website said. “With his strong commitment to education and his deep roots in the area, Claeys is wellpositioned to make a positive impact and effectively represent the district’s conservative values in the Kansas Senate.”

He is endorsed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Family Voice, Kansans for Life, the Kansas Rifle Association, Attorney General Kris Kobach and U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall.

His campaign website is here

Democrat Jennifer Herington

Herington is a Wichita native who graduated from Wichita State University. She’s the president-elect for the Kansas Association of Medical Staff Services and has served on the Maize City Council for over six years — she is currently president of the council.

Herington has almost two decades of experience working in health care administration. She is a senior credentialing and contract specialist at the University of Kansas Wichita Medical Practice Association.

“My experience in local governance and health care administration has given me a strong understanding of our local needs and how to address them,” she said.

She is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, Cannabis Justice Coalition-Kansas and the Kansas National Education Association.

Her campaign website is here.

If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble?

Options include: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else.

Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. Responses were compiled from his campaign website and public statements.

Herington: I would most closely resemble Laura Kelly. I believe trying to bridge the gap between party lines to get bills passed is very important to Kansas.

If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.

Herington: The bill that I would pass would be to expand Medicaid in the state of Kansas. This will provide essential

Kansas Senate

health coverage to thousands of local hospitals. It would be a step towards a healthier, more equitable Kansas, where everyone has the opportunity to lead a healthy life.

How would you have voted on the following items? You can vote yes, no or pass.

The Aug. 2, 2022, constitutional amendment on abortion

Voting no meant the state constitution would continue to protect the right to abortion. Voting yes would have meant it can be regulated or banned.

Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.

Herington: No. I believe this choice should be up to the individual and their health care provider.

Flat tax on income

Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.

Herington: No. I do not believe this will help Kansas, it could even put more undue stress on lower income families.

Banning transgender women from women’s sports

Banning transgender women from women’s sports. Voting yes would mean athletes have to compete as the gender they’re assigned at birth. This bill was vetoed but the veto was overridden in 2022.

Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.

Herington: Pass.

Banning gender-affirming care for trans youth

Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.

Herington: No. I believe this choice should be up to the individual and their health care provider.

Chiefs and Royals stadium-financing bill

Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.

Herington: Yes. I believe that this could be an asset to Kansas’ future and would bring additional revenue into the state.

APEX (Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion)

Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.

Herington: Yes. I believe that in certain instances the incentives may be the only way to bring large businesses to Kansas.

Mail ballot grace period

Currently, any mail ballot in Kansas can arrive three days after Election Day and still be counted if it was postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting yes would eliminate that grace period.

Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.

Herington: No. Votes should be counted if postmarked by Election Day.

A bill loosening child care regulations

It would expand allowed child-to-staff ratios and allow teenagers to work at these facilities. Voting yes approves the loosened restrictions. Learn more about this bill here

Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.

Herington: Yes. We need to have more options for child care.

The Parents’ Bill of Rights

Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.

Herington: Pass.

Kansas Senate

Incumbent Renee Erickson draws two challengers for District 30 seat

Renee Erickson (left), Olivia Hayse (middle) and Richard Smith (right) are all running in a crowded Senate race.

Kansas Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, is aiming for a convincing victory against two challengers.

Republicans have won this seat in the past five elections, but the most recent election was the closest. Erickson won with only 51.8% of votes. She now faces Libertarian Olivia Hayse and Democrat Richard Smith.

You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here

Who are the candidates in Kansas Senate 30?

Republican Renee Erickson (Incumbent)

Erickson, the Senate’s assistant majority floor leader, has been in the Statehouse since 2019. She first served in the Kansas House before switching chambers. She chairs the Commerce and Unemployment Modernization Committee. She also chaired a special committee on government overreach during the pandemic.

Erickson is the vice chair of the Senate Education and Public Health and Welfare committees. She is a retired educator and has two children with her husband.

“Senator Erickson has sponsored and championed bills and resolutions affecting pro-life efforts, educational choice and freedom, athletic opportunities for women, free market principles, Second Amendment rights, election integrity, truth in taxation, healthcare freedom, and honoring military heroes and families,” her campaign website said.

She is endorsed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Family Voice, Kansans for Life and the Kansas Rifle Association.

Her campaign website is here.

Libertarian Olivia Hayse

Hayse was the marketing director for the Libertarian Party of Kansas from 2020 to 2024. She’s on the Oaklawn Leadership Committee and has served on the Sedgwick County 5th District Citizens Advisory Board since 2021. Hayse is also an adviser with the Kansas Cannabis Coalition.

“I am active in local and state politics,” she said. “I am an outspoken advocate for small government and personal freedoms.”

She is endorsed by the Cannabis Justice Coalition-Kansas and Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes.

Her campaign website is here

Democrat Richard Smith

Smith spent the last 15 years of his aerospace engineer career as a stress engineer. He’s worked for Boeing and has a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Tulsa. He also has a bachelor’s degree in English.

Smith served in the Kansas Air National Guard and was deployed during Desert Storm. He won an Airman of the Quarter Award while serving.

Smith was the president of the Mid-Kansas Jewish Federation and served two terms as president of the Hebrew Congregation. He is on the board of the Wichita Grand Opera.

“I am running for senator to ensure that the Kansas family has the resources to thrive,” his campaign website said.

His campaign website is here

Erickson and Smith didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire. Their responses were compiled from campaign websites, legislative records and public statements.

If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble?

Kansas Senate

Options include: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else.

Erickson: Erickson didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

Hayse: Justin Amash

Smith: Smith didn’t respond to the questionnaire. If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Erickson: Erickson has sponsored a bill adjusting Kansas teachers’ retirement plans.

Hayse: Finally legalizing cannabis and all other plant medicines in Kansas. As an adviser with the Kansas Cannabis Coalition I have heard from some of our most vulnerable populations that they need and want access to plant medicine. It is time we put down fear-mongering tactics of the past and let Kansans choose what to treat their own bodies with.

Smith: We need to get a future high-speed rail line from Oklahoma City through Wichita to Kansas City. Likewise, there must be western high-speed rails to join the Kansas City metro area and Denver, and Wichita to Amarillo, Texas, and/or Albuquerque, New Mexico.

We must support our existing oil industry and startups as we transition our dependence on fossil fuels to renewable resources. Someday, as fossil fuels become more and more expensive to extract, gas at the pump will hit $8 per gallon. It could arrive faster than we anticipate. We must be ready to support our livelihoods with lower cost, energy efficient transportation. We must leave our children with a safe and healthy environment to live in.

How would you have voted on the following items? You can vote yes, no or pass.

The Aug. 2, 2022, constitutional amendment on abortion

Voting no meant the state constitution would continue to protect the right to abortion. Voting yes would have meant it can be regulated or banned.

Erickson: Yes. Erickson is endorsed by the anti-abortion group Kansans for Life, and her Facebook page advocated for passing the amendment.

Hayse: No. It is not the role of the government to tell women what to do with their bodies.

Smith: The people of Kansas have spoken. We need to hold the line on the assault on women’s access to reproductive health care services, and their right to make that decision for themselves.

Flat tax on income

Erickson: Yes. Is there anything that the governor’s proposing that hasn’t been a Republican-led policy?

Hayse: Neutral. While I believe that sweeping tax reform is needed, a flat tax rate that would help those in higher tax brackets more than those in lower tax brackets is not the solution I believe is best for Kansas at this time. We have to address overall government spending if we really want to give tax relief to citizens.

Smith: Smith didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

Banning transgender women from women’s sports

Voting yes would mean athletes have to play the sport based on their gender assigned at birth. This bill was vetoed but the veto was overridden in 2022.

Erickson: Yes. When it comes to athletic competition, men have an inherent physiological advantage. When men are allowed to participate in women’s sports, that creates an unlevel playing field and takes away opportunities for women.

Hayse: No. It should be left up to the local school districts and/or individual leagues to decide how they want to run their teams.

Smith: Smith didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

Banning gender-affirming care for trans youth

Erickson: Yes. Erickson didn’t respond to the voter guide, but lawmakers who supported the bill said children may not understand the true consequences of this procedure.

Hayse: No. Health care decisions for children should remain with those children, their parents, and their health care professionals.

Smith: Smith didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

Chiefs and Royals stadium-financing bill

Kansas Senate

Erickson: Yes. We see an incredible opportunity, and exciting opportunity, to put Kansas on the map along with states that have professional sports.

Hayse: No. This is not a suitable use of taxpayer dollars.

Smith: Smith didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

APEX (Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion)

Erickson: Yes. Erickson didn’t respond to the voter guide, but legislators who supported the law said it will bring jobs to Kansas and grow the economy.

Hayse: No. The state government should not be picking winners and losers of industry. The state should not be incentivizing some industries while placing restrictions on others.

Smith: Smith didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

Mail ballot grace period

Currently, any mail ballot in Kansas can arrive three days after Election Day and still be counted if it was postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting yes would eliminate that grace period.

Erickson: Yes. Erickson didn’t respond to the voter guide, but legislators who supported the bill said it will restore faith in elections. Without the grace period, almost all ballots would be counted by election night.

Hayse: No. We should not be making it harder for citizens to participate in democracy.

Smith: Smith didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

A bill loosening child care regulations

It would expand allowed child-to-staff ratios and allow teenagers to work at these facilities. Voting yes approves the loosened restrictions. Learn more about this bill here.

Erickson: Yes. Erickson didn’t respond to the voting guide, but lawmakers who supported the bill said stripping away burdensome regulations will let businesses grow.

Hayse: Neutral. I do not believe the state government should be telling any business what to do. If child care facilities want to explore creative solutions to staffing and other issues they are facing then we should allow them to run their businesses as they see fit. (Hayse changed her answer from yes to neutral after publication).

Smith: Smith didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

The Parents’ Bill of Rights

Erickson: Yes. As an educator, I saw how students thrived when parents were involved in their education. Parents need to know what their children are being taught and have significant engagement in the process School boards, even in Kansas, have been violating parents’ rights.

Hayse: Neutral. It should be up to the local school districts and/or schools to decide on curriculum. The state government does not need to pass a sweeping law in either direction when it comes to educational content. The motivation behind this bill opens the door to prejudice and would need to be addressed before I could sign on enthusiastically.

Smith: Smith didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

Kansas Senate

Stephen Owens and Jason Miller are running to replace long-serving senator in District 31

Jason Miller (left) and Stephen Owens (right) are running for the Kansas Senate.

Rep. Stephen Owens, a Hesston Republican, is trying to switch chambers as he runs for the Kansas Senate against Democrat Jason Miller.

Outgoing Sen. Carolyn McGinn has held this seat in the 31st District since 2005.

You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here.

Who are the candidates in Kansas Senate District 31?

Democrat Jason Miller

Miller is the director Mennonite Abuse Prevention, a nonprofit aiding survivors of sexual violence. He also works at Grazing Plains Farms, a dairy farm.

He is married to a public school teacher who has been in the field for 20 years. Miller also fostered and adopted two children and spent two years on the Kansas Mental Health Task Force.

“My experiences supporting traumatized children, losing a son to suicide, and working alongside survivors of sexual violence drive my belief in the possibilities for Kansas systems to promote resilience and healing,” Miller said.

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He is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, Cannabis Justice Coalition-Kansas, the Kansas National Education Association, Game On for Kansas Schools and Planned Parenthood Great Plains.

Republican Stephen Owens

Owens was elected to the Kansas House in 2018 and is hoping to make the jump to the state Senate. He and his wife Rose own a small business in Hesston and have three children.

The grandfather of two graduated from Bethel College and has an MBA from Southwestern College. Owens is a board member of the Kansas State Rifle Association.

“Together, our family is rooted in Kansas values and are thankful for this great state that has so blessed our family,” he said.

He is endorsed by Americans for Prosperity Kansas, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Family Voice, Kansans for Life and the Kansas Rifle Association.

If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble?

Options include: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else.

Miller: Carolyn McGinn is my friend and a mentor. I hope to serve the community with the same centrist sensibilities, straight talk and Kansas work ethic.

Owens: Ronald Reagan. He said: Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.

If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Miller: I would pass a bill requiring that all public and private eighth grade graduates in Kansas be explicitly informed of their rights to a free public high school education. I descend from a tradition of conservative Mennonites and Amish who forbid education beyond eighth grade, and many children of these groups in Kansas continue to end their schooling early. I am the first generation in my family to attend a public high school. I believe that a high school education for every child is not only beneficial to them individually but is in the best interest of our communities.

Owens: Kansans need and deserve true property tax relief. To do so, we must reform the current system in a way that ensures Kansas senior citizens aren’t taxed out of their homes, Kansas citizens aren’t forced to pay property tax increases before putting food on their table and young Kansans can afford to live in the homes they purchase. This will take out-of-

Kansas Senate

the-box thinking, looking at what other states are doing and a simplified approach to spending. How would you have voted on the following items? You can vote yes, no or pass.

The Aug. 2, 2022, constitutional amendment on abortion

Voting no meant the state constitution would continue to protect the right to abortion. Voting yes would have meant it can be regulated or banned.

Miller: No. I don’t believe that Kansas needs to introduce any further restrictions on abortion. I believe that abortions are reproductive health care, and I believe that the same health care rules and laws should apply to both men’s and women’s bodies. I trust individuals to make the best health care decisions for themselves in consultation with their support networks and medical professionals.

Owens: Yes. I believe all life is precious. The constitutional amendment would have allowed the Legislature to continue to regulate the abortion industry. With its failure, we have now become the abortion capital of the region and nearly all regulations have been overturned.

Flat tax on income

Miller: No. I believe a graduated income tax best supports strong communities. I also believe the concept is ethical and supported, for example, by the Bible: “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required.” (Luke 12:48, NKJV)

Owens: Yes. Simplifying our tax structure is the first step to eliminating state income taxes altogether. The next best was creating the two-tier system which eliminated the lowest tier for the benefit of all Kansans. In addition, we lowered property tax and eliminated taxes on Social Security!

Banning transgender women from women’s sports

Voting yes would mean athletes have to play the sport based on their gender assigned at birth. This bill was vetoed but the veto was overridden in 2022.

Miller: No. I believe the law overreaches and unnecessarily escalates into a legal matter something that can be better handled by school leaders and KSHSAA (Kansas State High School Activities Association) in consultation with a student, their support networks and medical professionals.

Owens: Yes. I voted yes every single time. Biological males do not belong in female sports. This is not fair, it’s not safe and it is simply wrong.

Banning gender-affirming care for trans youth

Miller: No. I believe gender-affirming care is health care, and I believe that the same health care rules and laws should apply to both men’s and women’s bodies, straight or LGBTQ+. I trust individuals to make the best health care decisions for themselves in consultation with their support networks and medical professionals.

Owens: Yes. I will do so again in 2025 given the opportunity. No child should have permanent, disfiguring surgery or change their gender until they reach adulthood and can make an informed decision. Our children are young, susceptible and often change their minds. Let our kids be kids.

Chiefs and Royals stadium-financing bill

Miller: I struggle with this one, but I think I would have voted no. My understanding is that economists have repeatedly found little economic benefit from new sports facilities. While it might make us feel good, I don’t believe luring the Chiefs and (Royals) would be a wise financial investment.

Owens: No. While I am a Chiefs fan and would love to have my “My-Homey” on the Kansas side of the border, there were serious problems with the bill that left too many questions unanswered.

APEX (Attracting Powerful Economic

Expansion)

Miller: No. I believe that, like investments in sports facilities, public investments in businesses in the form of tax breaks and incentives have been shown by economists to be ineffective. Businesses are most attracted to communities with strong workforces.

Kansas Senate

Owens: Yes. Personally, I dislike economic benefit packages. However, we must be competitive as a state. This was an opportunity to land a major employer that will create thousands of high paying jobs. I believe it was the right decision for Kansas at the time.

Mail ballot grace period

Currently, any mail ballot in Kansas can arrive three days after Election Day and still be counted if it was postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting yes would eliminate that grace period

Miller: No. I believe that the priority should be to encourage voting and participation in democracy. The possibility of late ballots does not negatively affect the integrity of an election or vote counting.

Owens: Yes. I believe elections should be decided by Election Day. Mail in ballots are sent out weeks in advance with plenty of time provided to mail them in. We are one of only a few states that allow the delay and rarely does it have an impact on the outcome.

A bill loosening child care regulations

It would expand allowed child-to-staff ratios and allow teenagers to work at these facilities. Voting yes approves the loosened restrictions. Learn more about this bill here

Miller: No. I believe this bill was rushed and that professional state regulators should be allowed to work on this before lawmakers prematurely intervene. Changes may need to be made, but they need to be made carefully and in close consultation with state agencies responsible for the oversight of child care facilities.

Owens: Yes. Access to child care is an increasing challenge for families and employers. We need more and easier access to qualified child care providers.

The Parents’ Bill of Rights

Miller: No. As the husband of a public high school teacher, I believe that teachers strive to teach students to think for themselves, figure out what is most likely true, and become responsible adults. As a graduate of a public school after being home-schooled and attending multiple private religious schools, I believe that public schools most consistently present unbiased educational experiences and provide a quality education.

Owens: Yes. Parents should be the primary educator of their children. They are the ones who should make decisions best for their children and their education.

Kansas State House

Kansas House Elections: Your guide to voting in Wichita and Sedgwick County

Kyle Beauchamp (left) and Leah Howell (right) are running for the Kansas House.

Fourteen local House races are contested

By Blaise Mesa

The Beacon

All 125 Kansas House seats are up for election this year. You can find your polling place and the race you vote in here. The Beacon asked candidates in the Sedgwick County election the same list of questions to see their priorities for office. Their answers start below:

Leah Howell and Kyle Beauchamp face off in District 82 House race

A teacher is trying to flip a red seat to blue in a Kansas House district southeast of Wichita.

Rep. Leah Howell, a Derby Republican, is challenged by teacher Kyle Beauchamp. Republicans have won the district in the last five elections.

You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here

Who are the candidates in Kansas House District 82?

Democrat Kyle Beauchamp

Beauchamp is a middle school science teacher. He spent most of his eight-year teaching career as a high school physics teacher. He has a degree in education from Emporia State University.

Beauchamp hasn’t just taught, he’s also driven semi trucks and worked in warehouses and in retail. He and his wife have one child, a second grader in Derby.

“I am passionate about many things, but expert only in a few of those,” he said. “These include transportation and mobility; public health and safety; and climate and environment. So I would write my own bills in these areas, and take my cue from other experts in others.”

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Beauchamp is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, the Kansas National Education Association and Game On for Kansas Schools.

His campaign website is here.

Republican Leah Howell (Incumbent)

Howell started in the Kansas Legislature in 2022. She’s the vice chair of the Welfare Reform committee and a member of the Child Welfare and Foster Care, Elections, Insurance and Federal and State Affairs committees. She’s lived in Derby since 1998 and raised five children.

Howell has volunteered with kids, the state Republican party and Republican women’s groups.

She’s endorsed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Family Voice, Kansans for Life and the Kansas Rifle Association.

Her campaign website is here

Both candidates were asked the same questions about their priorities for office and how they would vote on certain issues. Howell didn’t respond to the election guide. Her answers are from her voting history, campaign website and Facebook page.

If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble?

Kansas State House

Options include: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else.

Beauchamp: I took a quiz on ActiVote where I most closely matched with Jill Stein. Others to whom I landed near include Bernie Sanders and Joe Manchin.

Howell: Howell didn’t respond to the voter guide. If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Beauchamp: If I could pass any bill, elections would move from First Past The Post (FPTP) to Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). I am also fond of Condorcet methods and Borda counts. Almost anything would be better than FPTP, though, and I feel that IRV is a very obvious next step in refining the process of democratic input for elections and applicable ballot measures.

A close second would be advancement of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. However, I cannot pass any bill, and so I am focused on what can be done in the near term, like expanding Medicaid.

Howell: Howell sponsored the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. This law requires doctors to give medical care to babies delivered alive after an abortion. Supporters pushed for this law because they believe medical providers leave children to die if they survive an abortion. It is a felony for doctors to not provide care to these infants.

How would you have voted on the following items? You can vote yes, no or pass.

The Aug. 2, 2022, constitutional amendment on abortion

Voting no meant the state constitution would continue to protect the right to abortion. Voting yes would have meant it can be regulated or banned.

Beauchamp: No. Restrictive legislation against some kinds of abortions will unnecessarily invade the privacy of women’s health. A woman’s health care decisions are for her to make alone with input from her doctor, not a politician. Those who seek lower abortion rates in the state or country should pursue those ends by means of a more robust social safety net, education, access to contraceptives, sex education, decreased poverty rates, and other improvements to people’s lives that have proven elsewhere to decrease the number of abortions performed.

Howell: Yes. Howell is endorsed by anti-abortion group Kansans for Life.

Flat tax on income

Beauchamp: No. Regressive. Shifts tax burden downwards. Higher income individuals can afford to pay a higher percentage towards taxes.

Howell: Yes. Howell supported every major tax cut plan in 2024 and a flat tax plan from 2023. She said on Facebook that Kansans need tax relief. “When the legislature passed a single rate tax plan earlier this year, the Governor vetoed it and said she couldn’t support that. (The Legislature) came back with a bipartisan compromise with two tax rates. She vetoed again and said it was too expensive. This time (the Legislature) compromised even more and changed the amount of the tax cuts, so Kansans will keep LESS $$$$ in their pockets How is one governor wiser than 133 bipartisan legislators working together on a compromise plan?”

Banning transgender women from women’s sports

Voting yes would mean athletes have to play the sport based on their gender assigned at birth. This bill was vetoed but the veto was overridden in 2022.

Beauchamp: No. If they want to compete as women, let them. The inclusion of all is more important than the precise gatekeeping being sought in this bill by those who would invade the privacy of and burden athletes with a heavy-handed solution to address a trivial problem/non-issue.

Howell: Yes. Howell didn’t respond to the voter guide, but lawmakers who supported the law said men have an advantage over women and using the gender at birth is the fairest system. Howell voted for multiple versions of this bill.

Banning gender-affirming care for trans youth

Voting yes means children under 18 can’t get puberty blockers, hormone treatment, and in rare cases genderreassignment surgery. This bill narrowly failed this year and is expected to come up again in 2025.

Beauchamp: No. I think this bill is too restrictive of choices that should be made by individuals and their families and doctors around them.

Howell: Yes. Howell didn’t respond to the voter guide, but lawmakers who supported the bill said children may not understand the true consequences of this procedure. Howell supported multiple versions of this bill, including one that allows doctors to be sued for doing gender reassignment surgery.

Chiefs and Royals stadium-financing bill

This bill didn’t spend any taxpayer money to attract the teams, but it did set aside sales tax dollars from future stadium

Kansas State House

districts to pay off bonds. This law passed by a comfortable margin, and voting yes opens the door to the Chiefs and Royals in Kansas.

Beauchamp: Yes. As worded, this bill can hardly be objectionable.

Howell: Yes. Howell didn’t respond to the voting guide, but legislators who supported the law said bringing a professional sports team to Kansas is a major economic development project that would pay for itself.

APEX (Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion)

Beauchamp: Pass. Need further study. Unsure. I’d like to hear arguments on both sides to make up my mind.

Howell: Yes. Lots of good reasons to vote no. Plenty of solid reasons to vote yes … Ultimately for me, it came down to Kansas needs good jobs, we need to attract more people to live, work and play here in our great state. Sometimes we have to make less idealistic but practical votes in order to meet our ultimate goals. We worked hard to have good safeguards included in the bill. I’m excited for our future here in Kansas.

Mail ballot grace period

Currently, any mail ballot in Kansas can arrive three days after Election Day and still be counted if it was postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting yes would eliminate that grace period.

Beauchamp: No. In the off chance that such ballots can make/break polling results, they should be counted if received within the grace period.

Howell: Yes. While Kansas is rated one of the best states for election security in the country, the USPS will not guarantee a postmark on all mail ballots and not all USPS postmarks contain a date and time stamp. Allowing mail-in ballots that currently arrive after 7 p.m. on Election Day gives mail ballot voters no guarantee that their ballot will be counted due to this ambiguity. The only way to ensure both mail ballot voters and in person voters are held to the same standard (of turning in or being in line) to vote by 7 p.m. on Election Day is to remove the current 3-day mail ballot extension.

A bill loosening child care regulations

It would expand allowed child-to-staff ratios and allow teenagers to work at these facilities. Voting yes approves the loosened restrictions. Learn more about this bill here

Beauchamp: No. Just as in education, the problem of unmatched supply and demand should not be solved by lowering standards.

Howell: Yes. Howell didn’t respond to the voting guide, but lawmakers who supported the bill said stripping away burdensome regulations will let businesses grow.

The Parents’ Bill of Rights

Beauchamp: No.

Howell: Yes. Howell didn’t respond to the voter guide, but lawmakers who support the bill said parents should know if a school’s curriculum was inappropriate.

Longtime Democrat Henry Helgerson faces Erik Seligman in Kansas House race

Henry Helgerson (left) is running for another term against Erik Seligman (right)

A Republican is running to unseat a long-serving Democrat in a Kansas House district.

Rep. Henry Helgerson, an Eastborough Democrat, has won multiple stints in the Kansas Statehouse. He was unopposed in 2022 and Democrats have won this district in the last five elections.

Erik Seligman is trying to change that.

Who are the candidates in Kansas House District 83?

Democrat Henry Helgerson (Incumbent)

Helgerson has a few stints in the Kansas Legislature. He first took office in 1983 and left office in 2000. He returned in 2003 and 2004, but didn’t reappear at the Statehouse until 2016, where he has served since.

He is a Wichita State University, Rockhurst College and Harvard University alumnus. Helgerson has a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard. He founded the Wichita Children’s Museum — now Exploration Place — and was the director of Mennonite Housing and is a member of the Wichita Chamber of Commerce, according to his campaign website.

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Helgerson manages a family-owned business that started in 1937.

“We must reach across party lines, across economic, social and racial divides to create a new future,” his campaign website said. “The strength of Kansas is in our people who get up and go to work every day, and are willing to help out a neighbor when misfortune happens. And it has for thousands of Kansans.”

He is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, NFIB-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, the Kansas Livestock Association, the Kansas National Education Association and Game On for Kansas Schools.

Republican Erik Seligman

Seligman has a bachelor’s degree in math from Princeton University and a master’s in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University. He works for Cadence Design Systems — a software company — after retiring from Intel after 27 years.

He is a former member of the Hillsboro School Board in Oregon and its curriculum committee and the Washington County (Oregon) Commission on Children and Families. He currently serves on the industry advisory board for Wichita State University’s electrical and computer engineering department.

He is endorsed by Americans for Prosperity, the Cannabis Justice Coalition-Kansas and the Kansas Rifle Association.

Helgerson and Seligman didn’t respond to the election questionnaire. Responses are from their campaign websites, voting histories and public comments.

If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Helgerson: Helgerson has proposed a range of legislation. He has called for more money for water projects, building a state psychiatric hospital in Wichita and aid for homeless veterans.

Seligman: Seligman said on his website that “We need to strengthen Kansas charter school laws, and expand school choice programs throughout the state … Some schools will have different programs, such as STEM, STEAM, or dual/nondual language, that may work better for some kids than others … But do we really believe one-size-fits-all is the best way to deliver education? Every school has a finite amount of resources, and cannot focus on everything.”

What are your priorities for office?

Helgerson: Helgerson supports Medicaid expansion.

“It’s been years coming,” his campaign website said. “Expansion bills passed the House three times … Expanding

Kansas State House

Medicaid would aid more than 150,000 Kansans who currently do not have health insurance or access to affordable medical care.”

His campaign website, which hasn’t been updated in years, is here.

Seligman: Seligman opposes gender-affirming care.

“It has become increasingly clear that gender-affirming medical care allows children — many too young to get a tattoo — to decide on medical treatments that will affect the rest of their lives, and are not truly necessary,” his campaign website said. “The incumbent voted against outlawing these treatments.”

He also wants more tax cuts and said the special session on taxes didn’t go far enough. He also opposes “racist and antiSemitic equity programs.”

His campaign website is here.

Patrick Penn faces Aonya Kendrick Barnett in Kansas House District 85

Aonya Kendrick Barnett (left) and Patrick Penn (right) are running for a Wichita House seat.

Rep. Patrick Penn, a Wichita Republican, is running against a Safe Streets Wichita staffer in a November race.

Republicans have won this district the last five elections. Penn has won his last two elections by over 15 percentage points.

You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here

Who are the candidates in Kansas House District 85?

Democrat Aonya Kendrick Barnett

Barnett is a prevention specialist with Safe Streets Wichita and is vice chair of the Governor’s Behavioral Health Prevention Subcommittee, according to her LinkedIn profile. She studied communications and women’s studies at Wichita State University.

“I’ve worked across community sectors to combat the overdose crisis, advocate for public health and promote educational justice,” she said. “Together, we will build a future where every voice is heard, every community is uplifted and everyone has a fair shot at success.”

She is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, the Kansas National Education Association and Game On for Kansas Schools.

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Her campaign website is here.

Republican Patrick Penn (Incumbent)

Penn first took office in 2021. The Army veteran served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve.

He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Combat Action Badge. Penn retired in 2017 with the rank of captain.

The former foster child has a criminology degree from Colorado State University and a master’s in applied information technology from George Mason University Volgenau School of Engineering.

He and his wife have four children.

“Growing up, Patrick learned the importance of faith, family, and hard work,” his campaign website said.

Penn is endorsed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock

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Association, Kansas Family Voice, Kansans for Life and the Kansas Rifle Association.

His campaign website is here

Both candidates were asked the same questions about their priorities for office and how they would vote on certain issues. Penn didn’t respond to the election guide. His answers are from his voting history, campaign website and Facebook page.

If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble?

Options include: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else.

Barnett: If elected, I would most closely resemble Shirley Chisholm. Like her, I am committed to fighting for justice, equity, and the rights of all people. Inspired by her vision in “Unbought and Unbossed,” I believe in a government that genuinely listens to its people, especially those historically marginalized. My leadership will be bold, unapologetic and focused on challenging the status quo to create a more inclusive and fair society where every voice is heard and valued. I will work tirelessly to ensure the government serves all its people, not just the privileged few.

Penn: Penn didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Barnett: It would be a comprehensive public health bill that ensures every Kansan has access to affordable, quality health care. This bill would address health disparities, expand mental health services and strengthen preventive care. Health is foundational to opportunity, and this legislation would make Kansas a healthier, more equitable state for all.

Penn: Penn sponsored the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. This law requires doctors to give medical care to babies delivered alive after an abortion. Supporters pushed for this law because they believe medical providers leave children to die if they survive an abortion. It is a felony for doctors to not provide care to these infants.

Penn also proposed toll exemptions for current military members in Kansas.

How would you have voted on the following items? You can vote yes, no or pass.

The Aug. 2, 2022, constitutional amendment on abortion

Voting no meant the state constitution would continue to protect the right to abortion. Voting yes would have meant it can be regulated or banned.

Barnett: No. I believe in protecting a person’s right to choose and maintaining access to reproductive health care.

Penn: Yes. “In 2019, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the Kansas Constitution protects a nearly unlimited right to abortion. This ruling is not only incorrect, but it is completely out of line with the thinking of most of the state and the country. A majority of Americans believe the most vulnerable in our society should be protected and support pro-life policies…. We need to protect the unborn, trust women in Kansas, respect the people of Kansas, and give a voice back to the voters by passing the Value Them Both Amendment on August 2,” Penn wrote in a Breitbart op-ed

Flat tax on income

Barnett: No. A flat tax disproportionately impacts low- and middle-income families. We need a tax system that is fair and progressive.

Penn: Yes. (A proposed flat tax plan) was primarily geared towards those who are living paycheck-to-paycheck. It was also designed to encourage economic growth so we can reverse the troubling trend of people leaving Kansas for more prosperous pastures.

Banning transgender women from women’s sports

Voting yes would mean athletes have to play the sport based on their gender assigned at birth. This bill was vetoed but the veto was overridden in 2022.

Barnett: No. Everyone should have the right to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity. This bill unfairly targets transgender youth and young adults, promoting discrimination rather than inclusion. All athletes deserve the opportunity to compete in a supportive and equitable environment.

Penn: Yes. “Should LSU’s female champion Angel Reese give up her spot, her recognition and her victory a Black woman because a man decided to suit up with the females and go dominate the court? … You want to say that you want to help Black people, I encourage you to vote yes on this,” Penn said on the House floor.

Banning gender-affirming care for trans youth

Barnett: No. Gender-affirming care is medically necessary for the mental and physical well-being of trans youth. This bill would strip away their access to critical, life-saving health care, putting their lives at risk and denying them the dignity

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and respect they deserve. Everyone, regardless of their gender identity, has the right to receive the care they need to live healthy, authentic lives.

Penn: Yes. SB 233 enacts important protections in recognition of the fact that children’s brains aren’t fully developed before the age of 18, meaning their ability to fully weigh the risks and consider the long-term ramifications of these genital mutilation procedures and body-altering drugs is limited.

After all, it’s for this same reason that we don’t allow kids to smoke or buy alcohol, get tattoos, or gamble among other things that can have negative and lasting effects.

Chiefs and Royals stadium-financing bill

Barnett: Pass. While I support economic development, I need more information on how this bill impacts taxpayers before I decide.

Penn: Yes. Penn didn’t respond to the voting guide, but legislators who supported the law said bringing a professional sports team to Kansas is a major economic development project that would pay for itself.

APEX (Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion)

Barnett: No. While I support bringing businesses to Kansas, this bill needed more transparency and accountability in decision-making.

Penn: Yes. The tax giveaways to attract APEX projects should help all Kansas companies not just one with a measured corporate tax reduction I support bringing jobs and investment to our state.

Mail ballot grace period

Currently, any mail ballot in Kansas can arrive three days after Election Day and still be counted if it was postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting yes would eliminate that grace period.

Barnett: No. Eliminating the grace period would disenfranchise voters, especially those in rural areas or who face barriers to voting.

Penn: Yes. It’s important that Kansans have faith in our elections … (Passing this bill lets) voters know with confidence that every vote is ready to be counted when the polls close.

A bill loosening child care regulations

It would expand allowed child-to-staff ratios and allow teenagers to work at these facilities. Voting yes approves the loosened restrictions. Learn more about this bill here.

Barnett: No. While expanding access to child care is essential, loosening regulations could compromise the quality and safety of care for our children.

Penn: Yes. Penn didn’t respond to the voting guide, but lawmakers who supported the bill said stripping away burdensome regulations will let businesses grow.

The Parents’ Bill of Rights

Barnett: No. This bill creates unnecessary divisions and undermines public education by allowing personal beliefs to dictate curriculum. We already have foundational rights protecting parental involvement in education; this proposal is redundant and risks disrupting the educational environment by imposing subjective views on all students. Public schools should focus on providing a balanced, comprehensive education that serves all students equitably.

Penn: Yes. (These bills are) key because it allows parents to review what is being taught to their children and puts a spotlight on the race Marxist ideology that the teacher unions and Democrats want to use to indoctrinate our children.

Susan Estes and Mike Snider run for District 87 House seat

Susan Estes, a Wichita Republican, is trying to keep her House seat from a retired attorney. Republicans have won the seat in the last five elections.

Who are the candidates in Kansas House District 87?

Republican Susan Estes (incumbent)

Estes first took office in 2021. She’s the vice chair of the House Committee on Education and serves on the K-12 Budget and Appropriations committees.

She’s endorsed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Family Voice, Kansans for Life and the Kansas Rifle Association.

Democrat Mike Snider

Snider is a retired attorney.

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He graduated from Washburn University with chemistry and juris doctor degrees. He was a partner at the Snider & Seiwert law firm from 1993 to 2024. He went to law school after “experiencing a flawed health care system as a respiratory therapy technician during my college years.”

“Like many people, his grown-up children moved away from Kansas to states they felt were more welcoming and had greater opportunity,” according to his campaign website. “For Kansas to thrive in the long term, Mike wants to create a community that is welcoming, full of opportunity, and represented by a state government that listens to its residents.”

He is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, the Kansas National Education Association and Game On for Kansas Schools.

If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble?

Options include: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else.

Estes: Estes didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

Snider: I would hope to emulate Sharice Davids. Her ability to connect, hone in on issues and listen while ensuring legislation is passed that supports all Kansans.

If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Estes: Estes sponsored the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. This law requires doctors to give medical care to babies delivered alive after an abortion. Supporters pushed for this law because they believe medical providers leave children to die if they survive an abortion. It is a felony for doctors to not provide care to these infants.

She’s also proposed income tax cuts for members of the armed forces.

Snider: Medicaid expansion. The American Heart Association supports expanding Medicaid. This would address many voters’ concerns regarding access to health care and the mental health crisis in our district. Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado and Nebraska legislatures have passed Medicaid expansion while our Kansas legislative leadership refuses to allow it to come to a vote regardless of the show of support across the state. Kansas is missing out on millions of federal tax dollars that now goes to other states. I favor a legislative vote on Medicaid expansion as we must take care of Kansans first.

How would you have voted on the following items? You can vote yes, no or pass.

The Aug. 2, 2022, constitutional amendment on abortion

Voting no meant the state constitution would continue to protect the right to abortion. Voting yes would have meant it can be regulated or banned.

Susan Estes (left) and Mike Snider (right) run for Wichita House seat.

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Estes: Estes is endorsed by anti-abortion group Kansans for Life.

Snider: The Kansas Legislature should mind its own business and follow the Kansas Constitution. Bodily autonomy and reproductive health care choices are protected by our Kansas Constitution, and those choices are best left to the patient in consultation with their health care provider.

We do not need Kansas legislators continuing to pass laws that our Kansas courts have decided are unconstitutional. Flat tax on income

Estes: Yes. Estes didn’t respond to the voter guide, but legislators who supported the tax package said Kansans needed tax relief — especially with billions in state surplus.

Snider: No. I would have voted no on a flat tax. To those whom much has been given, much is required.

Banning transgender women from women’s sports

Voting yes would mean athletes have to play the sport based on their gender assigned at birth. This bill was vetoed but the veto was overridden in 2022.

Estes: Yes. Estes didn’t respond to the voter guide, but lawmakers who supported the law said men have an advantage over women and using the gender at birth is the fairest system. Estes voted for multiple versions of this bill.

Snider: No. I would have voted to sustain the governor’s veto.

Banning gender-affirming care for trans youth

Estes: Yes. Estes didn’t respond to the voter guide, but lawmakers who supported the bill said children may not understand the true consequences of this procedure.

Snider: No. I would have voted no. Families need to discuss these matters with health care providers and make their own decisions.

Chiefs and Royals stadium- financing bill

Estes: Yes. Estes didn’t respond to the voting guide, but legislators who supported the law said bringing a professional sports team to Kansas is a major economic development project that would pay for itself.

Snider: No. I would have reviewed the small print and would want to ensure that taxpayers money was protected.

APEX (Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion)

Estes: No. Estes didn’t respond to the voter guide, but legislators who opposed the law wanted to see more transparency and were hesitant to support massive tax cuts to one business.

Snider: I would have insisted on more details to determine an appropriate risk-vs.-benefit analysis that could be utilized by any community looking to attract large businesses.

Mail ballot grace period

Currently, any mail ballot in Kansas can arrive three days after Election Day and still be counted if it was postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting yes would eliminate that grace period

Estes: Yes. Estes didn’t respond to the voter guide, but legislators who supported the bill said it will restore faith in elections. Without the grace period, almost all ballots would be counted by election night.

Snider: People require grace because life happens. Our post office requires grace as well.

A bill loosening child care regulations

It would expand allowed child-to-staff ratios and allow teenagers to work at these facilities. Voting yes approves the loosened restrictions. Learn more about this bill here

Estes: Yes. Estes didn’t respond to the voting guide, but lawmakers who supported the bill said stripping away burdensome regulations will let businesses grow.

Snider: I would vote no and then ask the question of why there is an increased need for people in this important work and really the minimum wage deficits.

The Parents’ Bill of Rights

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Estes: Yes. Estes didn’t respond to the voter guide, but lawmakers who support the bill said parents should know if a school’s curriculum was inappropriate.

Snider: There is a process in place to build appropriate curriculum and parents already have choices regarding education. Legislation is not needed to further complicate the education system.

Sandy Pickert is running for re-election against Veronica Gillette in District 88

Sandy Pickert, a Wichita Republican, is trying to keep a House seat she narrowly won in the last election. She is facing public school employee Veronica Gillette.

Republicans have won this seat twice in the last five elections.

Who are the candidates in Kansas House District 88?

Democrat Veronica Gillette

Veronica Gillette was born and raised in Wichita. She’s a Realtor and spent the last decade working in the Native American education program with Wichita Public Schools.

She’s volunteered with the Native American Community Resource Coalition and the W/ (a young professionals service group) through the Wichita Chamber of Commerce. Gillette serves on the diversity, equity and inclusion committee with the Realtors of South Central Kansas and Wichita’s Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights Advisory Board. She was the chair of that advisory board until stepping down to run for office.

“With my careers and community roles, I’ve aimed to bridge gaps and foster unity and my motives have been centered on responding to the needs of those around me,” she said.

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Gillette is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, the Cannabis Justice Coalition-Kansas, Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes and Game On for Kansas Schools.

Her campaign website is here

Republican Sandy Pickert (Incumbent)

Pickert flipped this House seat with 50.96% of the vote in 2022. She’s a retired nurse who spent 49 years in the industry.

She serves on the Water, Child Welfare and Foster Care, Welfare Reform and General Government Budget committees.

“My career in nursing taught me a lot about listening, caring, and problem solving,” according to her campaign website. “You can count on me to put those skills to use in Topeka for you as we work together to tackle the cost-of-living issues that are hitting us hard — fuel, food, and taxes.”

She’s endorsed by Americans for Prosperity Kansas, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Family Voice and the Kansas Rifle Association.

Her campaign website is here

If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else?

Gillette: (A) combo of Laura Kelly and Sharice Davids. Their leadership has paved the way for women like me to find the courage and inspiration to run for office.

Pickert: Pickert didn’t answer the questionnaire.

Veronica Gillette (left) takes on incumbent Sandy Pickert (right) in November.

If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Gillette: Legalizing marijuana would bring numerous benefits to Kansas. Kansans who suffer from a variety of conditions should have the option to use marijuana for medicinal use outside of pharmaceuticals. Legalization would create an increase in job growth and the tax revenue generated from legalization could be used on public schools, investing in infrastructure, adding to rainy day funds, public health campaigns and more. Kansas would also see reduced costs associated with policing, prosecuting and incarcerating individuals for marijuana-related offenses.

Pickert: Pickert sponsored the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. This law requires doctors to give medical care to babies delivered alive after an abortion. Supporters pushed for this law because they believe medical providers leave children to die if they survive an abortion. It is a felony for doctors to not provide care to these infants.

She’s also proposed a ban on smoking on the gaming floor at lottery facilities and requiring health insurance companies to pay for diagnostic breast exams to save Kansans money.

What are your priorities for office?

Gillette: Gillette supports abortion access.

“Politicians should not supersede medical professionals or dictate decisions regarding women’s health care,” she said. “I will advocate for women’s equality and guarantee that every woman has the autonomy and freedom to make the best decisions for herself and her family, regardless of her circumstances.”

She didn’t say whether she’d vote against a ban on gender-affirming care, but she did tell KSN that she wants Kansas to let people live freely and authentically.

“I value the principles of equality, dignity, and respect for all of Kansas’ residents, including those who identify as LGBTQ+. Upholding the rights and addressing the issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community is not only a matter of justice but also a reflection of our commitment to creating a society where everyone can live freely and authentically.”

Pickert: Pickert has voted for bans on gender-affirming care, for bans on transgender women in women’s sports and for Republican-led flat tax plans.

She has voted against bans on three-day grace periods for mail ballots. Her website lists lowering inflation, supporting police to keep streets safe and helping small businesses as key priorities.

Former lawmaker Steve Huebert faces Tracy Edingfield in District 90

Steve Huebert is running for office again. Tracy Edingfield is trying to beat him.

Republican primary winner Steve Huebert is trying to get back into office while Tracy Edingfield seeks elected office. Republicans have won this district in the last five elections. This is only the second time since 2014 that the race has included a Democratic challenger.

Election Day is Nov. 5. Oct. 15 is the last day to register to vote. Early voting starts Oct. 16. You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here

Who are the candidates in Kansas House District 90?

Democrat Tracy Edingfield

Edingfield is a former city prosecutor for Mount Hope and a former city municipal judge.

She has a psychology degree from the University of Kansas. Edingfield went back to KU for law school and was a public defender in Joplin, Missouri, for two years. She then worked at the Dresie, Jorgensen and Wood law firm before starting her own practice — McDowell and Edingfield Charter.

She focused on divorce and family law there.

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“I don’t like the direction that the state and the country are headed in,” she said. “I don’t like the fact that so many of the bills that come out of the legislature are being overturned because they’re unconstitutional. And I think a person with legal expertise would be able to write a law that was constitutional and save taxpayers money.”

She’s endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, Game On for Kansas Schools and Rep. KC Ohaebosim, a Wichita Democrat.

Her campaign website is here

Republican Steve Huebert

Steve Huebert served in the House from 2001 to 2022 and chaired the House Education Committee. He stepped down in 2022 but is running again. Huebert is retired.

He is endorsed by Kansans for Life, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Family Voice and the Kansas Rifle Association.

“I am excited about working hard and showing people that I still have the desire to do a good job and listen to the concerns of my constituents,” Huebert told the Ark Valley News.

If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble?

Options include: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else?

Edingfield: I would probably say Nancy Kassebaum … I admire the fact that she was very strong in her convictions. She was very pragmatic in her solution. She negotiated common sense arrangements, and I think she had integrity.

Huebert: Huebert didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire.

If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Edingfield: The first thing I would want to do is expand Medicaid. There (are) 151,000 Kansans, of which 45,000 are children, who fall in the gap between qualifying for Medicare and qualifying for a subsidy under the Affordable Care Act. That is allowing a lot of people to go without health care insurance. That medical insurance is cost prohibitive for a huge chunk of our citizens, and that’s just not acceptable.

Huebert: Huebert introduced many bills in his decades-long career. In his final years of office, he introduced legislation to require students pass a civics test to graduate high school. This bill died after it was vetoed by the governor.

“Just like math students need to learn the basic principles of multiplication in order to study physics and engineering,” Huebert told the Kansas Reflector. “All citizens need to understand the basic principles of how democracy works in order to participate for the rest of their lives. I’m passionate about it. We have a challenge before us.”

How would you have voted on the following bills if you were in office when they came up? You can vote yes, no or pass.

The Aug. 2, 2022, constitutional amendment on abortion

Voting no meant the state constitution would continue to protect the right to abortion. Voting yes would have meant it can be regulated or banned.

Edingfield: No. “I had a very difficult time in both of my deliveries, and I nearly died each time giving birth. The maternal rate for Black women they’re three times more likely to die than white women giving birth. And in Kansas, our infant mortality rate and our maternal mortality rate is closer to the numbers you’ll see in Turkey, which is not considered a developed country. So before we go on to a forced-birth agenda, we need to make sure we have the ability to get women to the point of being pregnant, to the point of giving birth, and beyond that, to the point of healing. And we don’t do that. And as I nearly died both times, these are not exaggerations. I can prove it with my medical records. I would not impose that risk on someone else who did not want it or did not need it. I would be considered a pro-choice Catholic.”

Huebert: Huebert voted in 2021 to put the constitutional amendment on the ballot. The original language for the amendment was that “there is no constitutional right to abortion, and reserving to the people the ability to regulate abortion through the elected members of the Legislature of the state of Kansas.”

Flat tax on income

Edingfield: No. It unduly places a burden on the middle class and not enough of a burden on the wealthier people in our society. I think if you have more, you should pay more.

Huebert: Huebert wasn’t in office during this vote and didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire.

Banning transgender women from women’s sports

Banning transgender women from women’s sports. Voting yes would mean athletes have to compete as the gender they’re assigned at birth. This bill was vetoed but the veto was overridden in 2022.

Edingfield: No. That was a culture war issue. I think it was inappropriate for the legislature to even take it up. I’m not

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even interested in limiting the rights of Kansans in any way, shape or form. I don’t understand the transgender identity crisis, but I have great respect for them If God made them that way, then God made them in that way. It’s not up for me to understand it. It’s up for me to love them. And that’s not showing love. By ostracizing that group of people. It’s bullying behavior, and frankly, it’s going after what I would consider low hanging fruit. Totally inappropriate, totally unfair and I think it’s cruel.

Huebert: Huebert didn’t vote on this specific bill, but he did vote for two other bills banning transgender women from women’s sports teams.

Banning gender-affirming care for trans youth

Voting yes means children under 18 can’t get puberty blockers, hormone treatment, and in rare cases, genderreassignment change surgery. This bill narrowly failed this year and is expected to come up again in 2025.

Edingfield: No.

Huebert: Huebert was not in office during this vote and didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire.

Chiefs and Royals stadium-financing bill

Edingfield: Yes. It brings more economic benefit than harm, so I would vote for it. But I would also have a (provision) that if we have tax money going to support stadiums, I would expect the billionaire team owners to chip in some money as well, and I would earmark some of that money for our Department of Corrections and the women’s facilities in particular.

Huebert: Huebert was not in office during this vote and didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire.

APEX (Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion)

Edingfield: I don’t like the obfuscation of the identity of the plant because I think it makes a difference. I am for having tax incentives for businesses to promote economic growth, and I think it is essential for Kansans to be attractive for businesses.

Huebert: No.

Mail ballot grace period

Currently, any mail ballot in Kansas can arrive three days after Election Day and still be counted if it was postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting yes would eliminate that grace period

Edingfield: No. A grace period of three days is totally reasonable.

Huebert: Huebert was not in office during this vote and didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire.

A bill loosening child care regulations

It would expand allowed child-to-staff ratios and allow teenagers to work at these facilities. Voting yes approves the loosened restrictions. Learn more about this bill here

Edingfield: Pass. I don’t know. I don’t have the inside of a child care day care owner, so I don’t know if deregulating is an answer to the problem or would exacerbate a problem.

Huebert: Huebert was not in office during this vote and didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire.

The Parents’ Bill of Rights

Edingfield: No. It was very tactful for Democrats to say this addresses (an issue) that doesn’t exist. I think what this does is it ignores the overriding purpose of a public education …. to prepare each child to become an involved and competent citizen in our democracy … Being exposed to differing points of view is a necessary criterion for being, and that is a necessary skill for every citizen to have and to cultivate so that they can be productive citizens in a democracy.

Huebert: Huebert wasn’t in office as this bill was debated, but he did support similar proposals. Huebert said the bill was necessary because of “real things going on in this country that need to be dealt with.”

He was frustrated that the governor vetoed the 2022 version of this bill.

“I appreciate she’s got some high-paid consultants,” he told the Kansas Reflector. “She needs to get some new ones.”

Emil Bergquist running to keep House District 91 seat from Democratic challenger Keisha McClish Couts

Emil Bergquist (left) and Keisha McClish Couts (right) are running for the Kansas House.

Rep. Emil Bergquist, a Park City Republican, has held his seat since 2018. He now faces a challenge from a 10-year mental health therapist and community activist.

Republicans have won this seat the last five elections. Keisha McClish Couts is the second Democratic challenger since 2014. You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here.

Who are the candidates in Kansas House District 91?

Republican Emil Bergquist (Incumbent)

Bergquist was first elected in 2018. He’s also spent 16 years as mayor and a council member in Park City.

Bergquist retired after spending his entire career at Beechcraft, or Textron Aviation.

Bergquist is the chair of the Local Government committee and serves on the Elections, Insurance, Health and Human Services, and Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications committees. He has four children with his wife.

“I believe that responsible governance is structured around our state and federal constitutions. That is reflected in our oath of office,” he said on his campaign website. “Restricting the growth of government and protecting your freedoms is my focus.”

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Bergquist is endorsed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Family Voice, Kansans for Life and the Kansas Rifle Association.

His campaign website is here.

Democrat Keisha McClish Couts

McClish Couts is a mental health therapist. She has a master’s degree in therapy from Friends University and a bachelor’s in international business from InterContinental University.

McClish Couts also works with Sunflower Community Action, a Wichita-based group trying to get equality and justice for all.

“Keisha has devoted years to advocating for mental health services, especially for underserved populations,” according to her campaign website, “and addressing food deserts through her work with Common Ground Producers and Growers Inc.”

She is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, the Cannabis Justice Coalition-Kansas, the Kansas National Education Association and Game On for Kansas Schools.

Her campaign website is here.

Neither candidate replied to the questionnaire. The Beacon has compiled information from campaign websites, voting histories and public statements to provide the most information to voters.

If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Bergquist: Bergquist sponsored the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. This law requires doctors to give medical care to babies delivered alive after an abortion. Supporters pushed for this law because they believe medical providers leave children to die if they survive an abortion. It is a felony for doctors to not provide care to these infants.

McClish Couts: McClish Couts wants marijuana legalized and is pushing for Medicaid expansion.

What are your priorities if elected?

Bergquist: Bergquist regularly supports conservative priorities like a flat tax on income, bans on transgender athletes, bans on gender-affirming care for transgender minors and eliminating the grace period on mail ballots.

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His campaign website pushes for small government, individual liberty and responsible use of tax dollars.

McClish Couts: McClish Couts wants to address homelessness, strengthen mental health services and eliminate disparities in the education system.

She wants to prevent farmer suicides. McClish Couts said federal lawmakers don’t understand the needs of “farmers, small business owners, their families, suppliers, end customers, and the whole of American society.” She said she’ll advocate for additional support on a state level.

Brian Bergkamp and Justin Shore compete for Kansas House District 93 seat

Brian Bergkamp (left) is running to keep his seat from local elected official Justin Shore (right).

Rep. Brian Bergkamp, a Wichita Republican, is being challenged by a local council member in his district. Republicans have won this district in the last five elections.

You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here

Who are the candidates in Kansas House District 93?

Republican Brian Bergkamp (Incumbent)

Bergkamp has served two terms in the Kansas House. He has an accounting degree from Friends University and worked at Koch Industries after college.

Bergkamp volunteers for The Lord’s Dinner and is involved with the Catholic Diocese of Wichita.

“I was elected in 2020 and have worked since then to lower taxes and reduce government regulations in our state,” Bergkamp said. “I believe our friends and neighbors should help solve problems and support others – not the government.”

Bergkamp is endorsed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Family Voice, Kansans for Life and the Kansas Rifle Association.

His campaign website is here.

Democrat Justin Shore

Shore is currently the Clearwater City Council president. He was also elected to the Sedgwick County Extension Executive Board and serves on the Program Development Committee for Family & Consumer Sciences.

“I’m a regular volunteer in my community and county, including at my senior center,” Shore said. “I’ve had a threedecade long career in information technology that has taken me around the world, and I still work on the family farm.”

Shore is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, the Kansas National Education Association and Game On for Kansas Schools.

His campaign website is here.

If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble?

Options include: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else.

Bergkamp: I am a mix of several of these. My voting record is conservative and yet I am able to have productive conversations and working relationships with those who have opposing viewpoints. Everyone has a reason for believing what they do, and I want to understand why others think of issues differently than me. I never want to stop learning and trying to be a better version of myself.

Shore: Senator Nancy Kassebaum, whom I met in 1984 during her first reelection campaign. She was well known for avoiding partisanship and worked across the aisle to pass major pieces of legislation such as HIPAA.

If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

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Bergkamp: A 3% cap on state expenditure increases. Our FY2015 general budget was $6.3 billion; our FY2025 budget is ~$10.5 billion. This $4.2 billion increase is much more significant than the rise of inflation. If we cannot control our costs, our property taxes and all other taxes will continue to put undue burdens on our state.

Shore: Medicaid expansion. Passing Medicaid expansion immediately provides 150,000 working Kansans with health insurance. This brings funding to rural hospitals and mental health services across Kansas. This funds care for veterans not covered under VA health benefits. It brings an end to medical bankruptcies for unpaid medical bills, a cost that is paid for in higher rates for families that already have medical insurance. And it encourages more providers to come to Kansas, reducing wait times for care for everyone. The impact is broad, immediate, and long overdue.

How would you have voted on the following items? You can vote yes, no or pass.

The Aug. 2, 2022, constitutional amendment on abortion

Voting no meant the state constitution would continue to protect the right to abortion. Voting yes would have meant it can be regulated or banned.

Bergkamp: Yes. I fail to see how the Kansas Supreme Court found in our constitution a right to abortion. Their logic is flawed. The dissenting justice said: “The majority’s decision is so consequential because it fundamentally alters the structure of our government to magnify the power of the state.”

Shore: No. This was an ill-conceived way to force ideology on Kansans and divide us further. However, Kansans from all parties spoke loudly and clearly when they voted this amendment down. The matter has been settled by the voters. It’s time for the government to go back to doing its actual job.

Flat tax on income

Bergkamp: Yes. This policy puts Kansas in a competitive position to continue attracting workers while simplifying our tax code. More liberal states such as Illinois and Colorado have enacted a single rate, so there is no reason Kansas cannot get this done.

Shore: No. Flat taxes are regressive, taxing lower income earners a larger portion of their income than higher income earners. It starves the state of revenue to fund the very programs that the lower income earners depend upon. It’s a backdoor way to force small-government ideology on us by bankrupting the state.

Banning transgender women from women’s sports

Banning transgender women from women’s sports. Voting yes would mean athletes have to compete as the gender they’re assigned at birth. This bill was vetoed but the veto was overridden in 2022.

Bergkamp: Yes. This is a logical decision based on fairness. It should not be a complicated issue.

Shore: No. This is a matter that medical doctors and sporting regulatory bodies, experts in their fields, resolved years ago; long before the majority in the legislature decided to have an opinion on the matter.

Banning gender-affirming care for trans youth

Bergkamp: Yes. It is proven our brains are not fully developed until our 20s. It is our duty as a society to protect individuals from making decisions that will alter their life until they are fully capable of doing so.

Shore: No. The legislature forcing their uneducated opinions on the state encroaches on the rights of parents and the rights of their children to make their own medical decisions with doctors. It’s government overreach. Every major medical organization in the US supports gender-affirming care. Simply put, it saves the lives of children.

Chiefs and Royals stadium-financing bill

Bergkamp: No. We had limited time to debate and discuss such a massive decision. Nearly all studies have shown stadiums do not lead to economic benefits for the state. I won’t sacrifice taxpayers’ dollars just to one-up Missouri.

Shore: Yes. As a local leader, I would first want to be certain that the local taxing districts accept the redirection of sales tax dollars to support this effort. As long as they are in agreement, and this is a well-vetted, studied and scored proposal. I would support it.

APEX (Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion)

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Bergkamp: No. Only a few knew what company this was for before voting on it. Again, these subsidies are typically not to the benefit of the state in the long run.

Shore: Yes. I support a well-vetted, studied and scored solution that involves incentives in order to create good-paying jobs and regional prosperity in a reasonable amount of time. Not every proposal meets that standard, though, and each should be studied. Confidential proposals should be shared with caucus leadership for evaluation and recommendations.

Mail ballot grace period

Currently, any mail ballot in Kansas can arrive three days after Election Day and still be counted if it was postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting yes would eliminate that grace period

Bergkamp: Yes. We should know the election results by midnight of election day. It creates uncertainty in the process when results are not known for extended periods of time. There are plenty of options available to voters to ensure they are able to vote in a timely fashion.

Shore: No. Hailing from rural Kansas, I understand the delays in sending mail around the state. It is reasonable to allow a grace period for receiving ballots that were sent on time. Canvassing and the certifying of the elections doesn’t occur for an additional seven days after the current grace period anyway.

A bill loosening child care regulations

It would expand allowed child-to-staff ratios and allow teenagers to work at these facilities. Voting yes approves the loosened restrictions. Learn more about this bill here

Bergkamp: Yes. As child care costs and availability continues to hurt our state, we must look to solutions like this to make it more affordable and create additional capacity.

Shore: No. Kansas desperately needs more day care options, but compromising the safety of children is not the way to achieve that goal. This was a poorly conceived bill.

The Parents’ Bill of Rights

This bill lets parents pull their kids out of classes if they are being taught objectionable material. Republicans say it is up to parents to determine what their children should be learning. Democrats say this bill addresses a problem that doesn’t exist. Bergkamp: Yes. I do not want to put undue requirements on our schools, but parents should have the ultimate say at the end of the day on what material their children are learning.

Shore: No. Parents and teachers have always had the ability to work together on potentially sensitive topics. Here, the legislature is inserting itself into the conversation between parents and educators on a child’s education. The legislature seems to only support local control when it’s politically beneficial to the legislature.

House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer and Christopher Parisho vie for House District 95 seat

Parisho (left) and Tom Sawyer (right) are running for the Kansas House.

House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer is running against a community member for a House seat from Wichita. Democrats have won this seat in the last five elections. Christopher Parisho, the Republican challenger, has lost to Sawyer in the last two elections.

You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here.

Who are the candidates in Kansas House District 95?

Republican Christopher Parisho

Parisho unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the Wichita City Council and for this House district. Parisho has worked as a

Christopher

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professional photographer and in the aircraft industry. He’s also spent time on Delano neighborhood groups and Wichita’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board.

He is endorsed by Kansans for Life.

His campaign website is here.

Democrat Tom Sawyer (Incumbent)

Sawyer was first elected to the Kansas House in 1987, where he has served just about every year since. He has served as both majority leader when Democrats had control of the House and minority leader.

He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Wichita State University.

Sawyer is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, the Kansas Rifle Association, the Kansas National Education Association and Game On for Kansas Schools.

His campaign website is here.

Neither candidate replied to the questionnaire. The Beacon has compiled information from campaign websites, voting histories and public statements to provide the most information to voters.

If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Parisho: Parisho supports term limits for politicians. “My opponent in this race was first elected to the legislature in 1987 … This pledge is aimed at federal offices but I also make the pledge not to make a career of serving in the state legislature the way my opponent has.”

Sawyer: Sawyer has sponsored bills that would eliminate taxes on feminine hygiene products, abolish the death penalty and release Kansans convicted of marijuana charges.

What are your top priorities in office?

Parisho: Parisho has criticized the state’s child welfare system on his campaign Facebook page.

“This system needs to be rebuilt from the ground up or scrapped and replaced,” he said in 2022.

Sawyer: Sawyer and House Democrats proposed a series of tax cuts in the 2024 session. Democrats and Republicans were at odds on how to cut taxes, but both sides had proposals to cut Social Security income taxes, property taxes and income taxes.

Sawyer also supports Medicaid expansion and lowering prescription drug costs.

In District 96, Republican incumbent Tom Kessler has Democratic challenger in Dan Johnson

Dan Johnson (left) and Tom Kessler (right) are running for a Wichita House seat.

Rep. Tom Kessler, a Wichita Republican, is running for a third term in office. He is challenged by social worker Dan Johnson.

Democrats have won this seat in three of the last five elections.

Election Day is Nov. 5. Oct. 15 is the last day to register to vote. Early voting starts Oct. 16. You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here.

Who are the candidates in Kansas House District 96?

Democrat Dan Johnson

Johnson has three decades of work in social services, including working for the Kansas Department for Children and Families.

He’s focused on youth offenders and drug and alcohol counseling. He’s also coordinated distribution of food at local

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pantries.

“I have worked with the most vulnerable populations in our society and I spent many years training groups across Kansas about the differences in the social classes, and more specifically, how to work with people stuck in generational poverty,” he said.

Johnson is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, Cannabis Justice Coalition-Kansas, the Kansas National Education Association and Game On for Kansas Schools.

His campaign website is here.

Republican Tom Kessler (Incumbent)

Kessler first took office in 2021. He is the vice chair of the Federal and State Affairs Committee and a member of the Taxation Committee.

Kessler is a small-business owner — Tom’s Wine and Spirits. He also serves on the Citizen Participation Organization, the District Advisory Board for the 3rd City Council District, and he co-chairs the Magnet Advisory Committee for USD 259.

“I’ve launched several small businesses here and have been deeply involved in my children’s education, sports and scouting activities, underscoring my strong belief in the value of family and community,” Kessler said.

He’s endorsed by the Cannabis Justice Coalition-Kansas, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, Kansans for Life and the Kansas Rifle Association.

His campaign website is here

Libertarian Joseph Trotter

Trotter didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire and didn’t list a campaign website on the secretary of state’s candidate list.

If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble?

Options include: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else.

Johnson: Terry McLaughlin

Kessler: I have great respect for several of our current leaders, particularly U.S. Rep. Ron Estes. We share a strong commitment to tax reform, reducing burdensome regulations, defending Wichita’s aviation industry, protecting our agriculture sector and prioritizing support for our military and their families.

Trotter: Trotter didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire. If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Johnson: Narrowing it down to one is tough, but a bill related to equal rights would be on the list. There should be no continued attempts to rob any human being of their rights. To make my point, I ask, can you tell me of one medical right of a man that is not given to him? We have the right to make our own decisions about our medical care, just because we may not like the decision someone makes, that does not mean we shall take away their right to make it. Yet, women are routinely subjected to having their rights challenged.

Kessler: If I could pass any bill, it would focus on supporting small businesses and promoting economic growth in our community. It would invest in workforce development programs to ensure that local businesses have the skilled labor they need to thrive. Additionally, it would include provisions to support education and training opportunities, particularly in industries crucial to South Wichita, like aviation and agriculture. By empowering small businesses and fostering a strong workforce, we can build a more prosperous and resilient community.

Trotter: Trotter didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire.

How would you have voted on the following items? You can vote yes, no or pass.

The Aug. 2, 2022, constitutional amendment on abortion

Voting no meant the state constitution would continue to protect the right to abortion. Voting yes would have meant it can be regulated or banned.

Johnson: Johnson didn’t answer this question.

Kessler: Yes. I voted yes to give the people the opportunity to decide for themselves whether they believe this is a constitutional right.

Trotter: Trotter didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire.

Flat tax on income

Johnson: No.

Kessler: Yes. One of the key advantages of a flat tax rate is its simplicity: everyone pays taxes at the same rate. In

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contrast, our current progressive tax system is complex, costing taxpayers both time and money to navigate, as it requires different tax calculations for each individual. Unlike progressive and regressive tax systems, a flat tax ensures that all taxpayers are charged the same rate, eliminating the disparities between different groups.

Trotter: Trotter didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire.

Banning transgender women from women’s sports

Banning transgender women from women’s sports. Voting yes would mean athletes have to compete as the gender they’re assigned at birth. This bill was vetoed but the veto was overridden in 2022.

Johnson: I will be visiting with District 96 constituents about this during this election cycle.

Kessler: Yes. The American College of Sports Medicine says, “biological sex is a determinant of athletic performance: adult males are faster, stronger, more powerful than females because of fundamental sex differences in anatomy and physiology dictated by sex chromosomes.” That’s a short answer to a complex question.

Trotter: Trotter didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire.

Banning gender-affirming care for trans youth

Johnson: I will need to research this in more detail. I am by no means well versed in this issue. If this comes up I would want to talk with these families and understand more clearly about this issue and why it is important to vote either way.

Kessler: Yes. Children struggling with gender dysphoria should have access to standard, evidence-based psychological treatment to help manage their distress and any related conditions like anxiety or depression. I believe the best way to support these children is not through harmful, experimental, unnecessary and often irreversible procedures, but by providing compassionate and appropriate care that prioritizes their long-term well-being.

Trotter: Trotter didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire.

Chiefs and Royals stadium-financing bill

Johnson: Yes.

Kessler: Yes. STAR bonds, or sales tax and revenue bonds, fund the development of tourist attractions by using the sales taxes collected at those sites to pay off the construction debt. In the case of stadiums, this means that sales taxes on food, tickets or merchandise in that area cover most of the debt, rather than relying on taxpayer dollars from the state’s general fund. For me, supporting this was an easy decision.

Trotter: Trotter didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire.

APEX (Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion)

Johnson: I do not have an objection to providing some tax incentives to attract large businesses to our state. Every state is doing the same thing so we have to be competitive. However, I do believe our workforce of skilled labor is also a selling point. We do not have to trap ourselves into never taxing these companies.

Kessler: Yes. The Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion (APEX) Act is a bipartisan bill that strengthens Kansas’ ability to compete for major national and global development projects. It opens the door to transformative economic opportunities, creating thousands of new jobs, injecting billions into the economy, and offering more opportunities for Kansas families. This bill could secure the largest private sector investment in state history, with a current project promising 4,000 jobs and $4 billion in business investment.

Trotter: Trotter didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire.

Mail ballot grace period

Currently, any mail ballot in Kansas can arrive three days after Election Day and still be counted if it was postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting yes would eliminate that grace period

Johnson: No. Every vote needs to be counted if the voter has put forth a good faith effort to return the ballot on time, and the grace period accounts for that.

Kessler: In hindsight, it became clear that the 2017 Kansas Legislature’s decision to create a three-day grace period for accepting mail-in ballots postmarked before polls closed was a mistake, despite the near-unanimous vote. This law eroded public confidence in mail-in voting by causing daily changes in vote totals. While one goal was to ensure processing of military ballots, that issue had already been addressed with electronic ballot transfers. We were assured that postmarks or

barcodes on returned ballots could verify they were sent before polls closed, but unfortunately, this has proven unreliable in most cases.

Trotter: Trotter didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire.

A bill loosening child care regulations

It would expand allowed child-to-staff ratios and allow teenagers to work at these facilities. Voting yes approves the loosened restrictions. Learn more about this bill here

Johnson: To just do away with safeguards to help any business expand is not an answer. If we could take a little time to explore this issue and get much needed feedback from child care facilities, we could potentially ease some of the restrictions. But, I am not about to ease up procedures that keep children safe. The top priority is the safety of our children. Our families do need help with the huge cost and difficulty in finding quality child care, but never at the cost of safety.

Kessler: Yes. This bill sets new child care licensing requirements regarding facility capacity and staff-to-child ratios. It eliminates certain licensing fees and training requirements, allows day care providers to apply for temporary waivers of specific statutory rules, and authorizes the development of pilot programs to expand child care availability and capacity. Additionally, it transfers some child care programs to the Kansas Office of Early Childhood and divides licensing responsibilities between the secretary of health and environment and the executive director of early childhood.

Trotter: Trotter didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire.

The Parents’ Bill of Rights

Johnson: I would not be inclined to pass this bill. There are options for parents that may not agree with some curriculum, such as having conversations with their children about the curriculum and their family’s belief on the subject. Parents currently have the option to withhold their child from certain lessons, too.

Kessler: Yes. This bill grants parents the right to make decisions about their child’s upbringing, education, care and mental health. It also mandates that school districts establish policies to safeguard these parental rights.

Trotter: Trotter didn’t respond to The Beacon’s questionnaire.

Incumbent Nick Hoheisel faces Christine Pruitt in Kansas House District 97

Nick Hoheisel (left) and Christine Pruitt (right) face off in the general election this November.

Rep. Nick Hoheisel, a Wichita Republican, faces a challenger after winning an uncontested general election in 2022. A retired postal service worker, Christine Pruitt is running for the seat.

Republicans have won this seat in the past five elections.

You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here.

Who are the candidates in Kansas House District 97?

Republican Nick Hoheisel (Incumbent)

Hoheisel is in his third term in the Kansas Statehouse. He first took office in 2019 and has two kids with his wife. Hoheisel is the chair of the Financial Institutions and Pensions Committee. He’s also on the Transportation and Taxation committees. He has twice been appointed to a Medical Marijuana special committee.

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“As a lifelong resident of Southwest Wichita, my wife, Misti, and I chose to raise our two children here because we deeply believe in our community’s spirit,” he said. “I’m committed to continuing the work to ensure Southwest Wichita remains a great place to live, work and raise a family.”

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Hoheisel is endorsed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, the Kansas Livestock Association and the Kansas Rifle Association.

His campaign website is here.

Democrat Christine Pruitt

Pruitt spent over two decades at the U.S. Postal Service but is now retired. She was a union member who fought for workers’ rights. She was born in Wichita and graduated from North High.

The single mother raised two children and now has four grandchildren and four stepgrandchildren.

“I have negotiated solutions to employee issues for more than 30 years,” Pruitt said. “Advocating and negotiating requires the ability to understand all sides of the issues, not just the one you think is best.”

She is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, Cannabis Justice Coalition-Kansas, the Kansas National Education Association and Game On for Kansas Schools.

If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble?

Options include: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else.

Hoheisel: My goal isn’t to emulate any politician; it’s to represent Southwest Wichita in Topeka, cast votes that best serve our community, and then return home to my family. However, I do deeply admire U.S. Sen. Bob Dole’s service to our state and country. Senator Dole had a strong sense of duty to constituents, a commitment to service, and prioritized finding practical solutions to complex issues. My aim is to work towards policies that benefit all Kansans, just as Dole did.

Pruitt: A mixture of Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids. I understand the struggles of working people. I believe the government should be responsive to the needs of the least of us. For 10 years, Kansas has not passed Medicaid expansion. This would provide health care for many small-business owners that can’t afford coverage through the Marketplace. The lack of health care has contributed to the attendance issues that many companies are experiencing. Ignoring illness until it becomes serious causes long-term consequences.

If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Hoheisel: If I could pass any bill, it would impose severe penalties for fentanyl trafficking. Fentanyl is a deadly threat, and distributors must face the strictest consequences. This bill would increase penalties for traffickers, prioritize law enforcement resources to combat the crisis, and bolster support for addiction treatment and prevention. With nearly 250 overdose deaths in Sedgwick County in 2023, 153 of which were fentanyl-related, a hard-line approach is crucial. In the last session, I helped secure an extra $3.5 million to support law enforcement in addressing this urgent threat.

Pruitt: I believe that the citizens of Kansas should have the right to force a vote on an issue. Each of the states that border Kansas have the right to direct citizen initiative. The voters of Kansas let their voices be heard in 2022 but they are prohibited from forcing an issue onto a ballot. For instance, Oklahoma obtained medical marijuana via a citizen initiative. Although the voters elect the representatives, sometimes citizens believe that their voices are not being heard. This method allows them to force an issue they feel committed about onto the ballot.

How would you have voted on the following items? You can vote yes, no or pass.

The Aug. 2, 2022, constitutional amendment on abortion

Voting no meant the state constitution would continue to protect the right to abortion. Voting yes would have meant it can be regulated or banned.

Hoheisel: Yes. I voted yes to allow the people to have a say in their constitution. They spoke, and their voice should be respected. Going forward, we must focus on fostering a culture of life by addressing the rising costs of raising a family and work to make adoptions more affordable.

Pruitt: No. Bodily autonomy is every person’s right.

Flat tax on income

Hoheisel: Yes. I support simplifying the tax system. A single-rate tax at 5.25% would streamline the tax code and potentially lower administrative costs. The 5.25% proposal, which had support from both Republicans and Democrats, would have provided a tax break for every income tax-paying Kansan.

Pruitt: No. The less a person makes, the less they can afford the taxes. The more a person makes, the less impact higher taxes places on their lives. No one likes paying taxes but a flat tax places a higher burden on the people that can least afford it.

Banning transgender women from women’s sports

Banning transgender women from women’s sports. Voting yes would mean athletes have to compete as the gender they’re assigned at birth. This bill was vetoed but the veto was overridden in 2022.

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Hoheisel: Yes. I believe athletes should compete based on their gender assigned at birth. This measure is necessary to ensure fairness in women’s sports and address inherent competitive advantages.

Pruitt: The drama at the Olympic boxing event brought this to the forefront. I would need more information to know for sure how I would vote on banning transgender women from women’s sports. It is usually the fear of the unknown that creates prejudice. Testosterone testing is one option to even the field.

Banning gender-affirming care for trans youth

Hoheisel: Yes. I believe such significant medical decisions should be made with full maturity and informed consent. Restricting these procedures for youth allows for more time to consider long-term implications and ensures decisions are made when individuals are fully capable of understanding the impact.

Pruitt: No. Denying who a person is creates mental health issues. This happens when LGBTQ+ children are not accepted by their family. Bodily autonomy is exactly that. There is a difference between a youth wanting this versus a parent forcing it.

Chiefs and Royals stadium-financing bill

Hoheisel: Yes. The proposal funds the stadium project with future sales tax revenue generated from the stadium area, avoiding costs for taxpayers who don’t visit the stadium. This strategic investment boosts our economy, supports our state and helps ensure that our sports teams stay in the region.

Pruitt: Yes. I would have voted yes based on the revenue coming from the stadium districts and not all of Kansas. The intent was to provide an incentive for the teams to relocate to Kansas. The collection of sales tax from bringing the team(s) would have paid the bonds. This move would have created additional jobs in Kansas and potentially business opportunities around the stadiums.

APEX (Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion)

Hoheisel: Yes. Despite frustrations with the lack of transparency, the economic benefits of attracting a major company to Kansas are substantial. This bill was crucial for making our state competitive globally, and the Wichita area stands to gain from an estimated 4,000 supplier jobs related to the APEX project.

Pruitt: Yes. I believe the problem comes from how long the tax incentive is left in place. Bringing jobs to Kansas helps the economy. Good-paying jobs help stimulate the entire area as increased spending helps all businesses.

Mail ballot grace period

Currently, any mail ballot in Kansas can arrive three days after Election Day and still be counted if it was postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting yes would eliminate that grace period.

Hoheisel: Yes. I believe it’s crucial to uphold strict deadlines for ballot counting. This change ensures that all ballots are received and processed on time. Given the current reliability issues with USPS, I encourage mail voters to use ballot drop boxes to ensure their votes are counted.

Pruitt: No. As a retired postal employee, I know the issues with mail. I also know the problems with current mail service in the northern part of Kansas. There is a task force in place to monitor election mail to ensure that the election mail clears the plants every day. But a voter should not be denied the right to have their vote counted because of a delay in the mail.

A bill loosening child care regulations

It would expand allowed child-to-staff ratios and allow teenagers to work at these facilities. Voting yes approves the loosened restrictions. Learn more about this bill here.

Hoheisel: Yes. These changes would enhance flexibility and availability of child care services while maintaining safety and staffing standards. Access to and affordability of child care are major concerns in the community and are critical to addressing our workforce shortage.

Pruitt: No. The restrictions are what keep our children safe. Parents that are worried about the safety of their child are not as productive as parents that are secure in knowing their children are being cared for by professional, licensed individuals. The ratio is established to ensure that each child has appropriate overwatch.

The Parents’ Bill of Rights

This bill lets parents pull their kids out of classes if they are being taught objectionable material. Republicans say it is up

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to parents to determine what their children should be learning. Democrats say this bill addresses a problem that doesn’t exist.

Hoheisel: Yes. This bill supports parental control over education by allowing parents to withdraw their children from classes with objectionable material. It reflects my belief in the importance of parental involvement in education and provides a way to address the concerns some parents may have.

Pruitt: No. Facts are facts whether I like them or not. As a graduate from the Wichita Public Schools, I was taught the same things that people want to object to now. History is history. Unfortunately, it is written by the winners so the other side is seldom heard. The idea of a parent claiming that a child should not learn math, or learn to read, there should be no opting out of other subjects. I don’t agree with the theory of evolution but I am better off knowing about it.

Cyndi Howerton and Carol Brewer run for District 98 in Kansas House

Rep. Cyndi Howerton, a Wichita Republican, is trying to keep her Kansas House seat red.

Republicans have won this seat four of the last five elections. She’s challenged by nonprofit founder Carol Brewer.

You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here.

Who are the candidates in Kansas House District 98?

Democrat Carol Brewer

Brewer founded the nonprofit Dorothy’s Lane, which helps Kansans get emergency food, clothing and medical resources. She’s a mother of 10 children — three biological and seven adopted. Brewer’s also a foster parent who has cared for 70 children.

She’s won the Presidential Gold Volunteer Award three times.

“A Kansas native, (she) embodies the values of honesty, integrity and service instilled in her by her family,” Brewer said.

She’s endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, Cannabis Justice Coalition-Kansas, the Kansas National Education Association and Game On for Kansas Schools.

Her campaign website is here.

Republican Cyndi Howerton (Incumbent)

Howerton took office in 2021 after a special election. She’s the vice chair of the Water Committee and a member of the Taxation, Child Welfare and Foster Care, and Legislative Modernization committees.

She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and works as a tax service manager. Howerton also volunteers as a parent advocate with AgapeCare Cradle, where she helps families deal with infant loss.

“As a daughter of educators, a manager of a significant business, a veteran’s wife and a pillar of her community, Cyndi embodies the leadership and empathy needed to make a positive impact in state politics,” her campaign website said.

She’s endorsed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Family Voice and the Kansas Rifle Association.

Her campaign website is here

Howerton didn’t respond to the questionnaire. Responses are from her voting history and campaign website.

If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble?

Options include: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else.

Brewer: If elected, I aspire to embody the values and principles exemplified by my late father, Mayor Carl Brewer. Raised under his guidance, I have inherited a deep commitment to compassion, fairness and community service. My father was a dedicated advocate for the people of Wichita, Kansas, believing wholeheartedly in the importance of ensuring that

Carol Brewer (left) wants to put a Democrat in office. Cyndi Howerton (right) is running for another term.

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everyone has the opportunity to exercise their rights. He championed the needs of families and children, emphasizing the responsibility to support those who cannot advocate for themselves.

These foundational values have shaped my professional journey, leading me to a career dedicated to advocating for individuals in need. I am passionate about fighting for justice and ensuring that every voice is heard. I am committed to continuing my father’s legacy of service and advocacy, striving to create a community where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Howerton: Howerton didn’t respond to the questionnaire. If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Brewer: I firmly believe that Medicaid expansion is the most critical issue we face today. The closure of rural hospitals and clinics has severely limited access to health care, resulting in individuals not receiving timely care and, tragically, losing loved ones.

This suffering is exacerbated by partisan politics, which often prioritize party loyalty over the health of our communities. We must prioritize the well-being of our families, the working conditions of health care providers and the future of our next generations.

Medicaid expansion is not just a policy issue; it is a matter of life and death for many, and it deserves our urgent attention. Prevention is better than cure, the employment increase locally, regionally and statewide will also put more funds in our local economy.

Howerton: Howerton sponsored the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. This law requires doctors to give medical care to babies delivered alive after an abortion. Supporters pushed for this law because they believe medical providers leave children to die if they survive an abortion. It is a felony for doctors to not provide care to these infants.

She’s also introduced a bill to create a citizens’ election oversight review board to investigate complaints during elections.

How would you have voted on the following items? You can vote yes, no or pass.

The Aug. 2, 2022, constitutional amendment on abortion

Voting no meant the state constitution would continue to protect the right to abortion. Voting yes would have meant it can be regulated or banned.

Brewer: No. Voting no on the constitutional amendment regarding abortion signifies a commitment to preserving the right to abortion as protected by the state constitution. This decision reflects the belief that individuals should have the autonomy to make personal medical decisions without excessive government interference. By voting no, constituents ensure that access to abortion remains safeguarded, allowing for necessary reproductive health care options. The amendment’s failure to pass indicates a preference for maintaining existing protections and highlights the importance of reproductive rights in the ongoing societal and political discourse. Upholding these rights is essential for promoting individual freedom and health equity.

Howerton: Yes. Vote YES so you will have a voice in abortion legislation in Kansas. A no vote and you will have no voice to influence what happens in Kansas law. We need representation of the people to decide our laws, not a court system.

Flat tax on income

Brewer: No. A flat tax system can disproportionately affect lower-income individuals, as it does not take into account the ability to pay, potentially leading to increased financial strain on those who are already struggling. Additionally, the failure of this proposal indicates that there is significant opposition and a desire for a more progressive tax system that ensures higher earners contribute a fairer share. Maintaining a more equitable tax structure is essential for supporting public services and addressing income inequality.

Howerton: Yes. Howerton didn’t respond to the voter guide, but legislators who supported the tax package said Kansans needed tax relief — especially with billions in state surplus.

Banning transgender women from women’s sports

Banning transgender women from women’s sports. Voting yes would mean athletes have to compete as the gender they’re assigned at birth. This bill was vetoed but the veto was overridden in 2022.

Brewer: Pass.

Howerton: Yes. Today we can choose to be whoever we want to be. That is the freedom granted to us in this amazing country that we live in. But regardless of who we choose to be, the fact still remains that biological women should not have to compete with the biological male in any sport.

Banning gender-affirming care for trans youth

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Brewer: Pass.

Howerton: Yes. Howerton voted for multiple versions of this bill. She didn’t respond to the voter guide, but lawmakers who supported the bill said children may not understand the true consequences of this procedure.

Chiefs and Royals stadium-financing bill

Brewer: Yes. Voting yes on the Chiefs and Royals stadium-financing bill is a strategic move for Kansas. This legislation does not utilize taxpayer money to attract the teams; instead, it allocates future sales tax dollars from designated stadium districts to pay off bonds. By securing the presence of these major sports franchises, the bill is expected to stimulate local economies and attract tourism. The additional revenue generated from increased sales and hospitality taxes will benefit the state’s general funds, supporting essential services and infrastructure. Overall, this bill fosters economic growth while ensuring the future of the Chiefs and Royals in Kansas.

Howerton: Yes. Howerton didn’t respond to the voting guide, but legislators who supported the law said bringing a professional sports team to Kansas is a major economic development project that would pay for itself.

APEX (Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion)

Brewer: Yes. Voting yes on the bill that provides billions in tax incentives to attract a Panasonic battery plant to De Soto, Kansas, is a decision that could have significant economic benefits for the region. While the lack of transparency regarding the specific company during the legislative process raises concerns, the potential for job creation, investment in the local economy and the advancement of clean energy technology are compelling reasons to support this initiative. Attracting large businesses can lead to increased economic activity, infrastructure development and opportunities for local workers. Ultimately, this bill could position Kansas as a leader in the growing battery manufacturing industry, which is crucial for the future of electric vehicles and renewable energy.

Howerton: Yes. Howerton didn’t respond to the voter guide, but legislators who supported the law said it will bring jobs to Kansas and grow the economy.

Mail ballot grace period

Currently, any mail ballot in Kansas can arrive three days after Election Day and still be counted if it was postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting yes would eliminate that grace period.

Brewer: No. Currently Kansas allows mail ballots to be counted if they arrive within three days after Election Day, provided they are postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting in favor of eliminating this grace period would undermine access to the electoral process. It is essential to protect democracy and ensure that all citizens can fulfill their basic civic duty to vote. Removing this grace period could disenfranchise voters who may face delays in mail delivery or other unforeseen circumstances. We must prioritize inclusivity and accessibility in our elections to uphold the democratic values we cherish.

Howerton: Yes. Howerton didn’t respond to the voter guide, but legislators who supported the bill said it will restore faith in elections. Without the grace period, almost all ballots would be counted by election night.

A bill loosening child care regulations

It would expand allowed child-to-staff ratios and allow teenagers to work at these facilities. Voting yes approves the loosened restrictions. Learn more about this bill here.

Brewer: No. I strongly oppose this measure. Most children in day care require individualized attention, and many need more support than others. It is crucial to ensure that there are enough qualified teachers in each room to provide proper care and supervision. Additionally, teenagers often lack the emotional and mental maturity necessary to care for young children effectively. Our priority should be the safety and well-being of our children, and this bill undermines that commitment.

Howerton: Yes. Howerton didn’t respond to the voting guide, but lawmakers who supported the bill said stripping away burdensome regulations will let businesses grow.

The Parents’ Bill of Rights

Brewer: No.

Howerton: Yes. Howerton didn’t respond to the voter guide, but lawmakers who support the bill said parents should know if a school’s curriculum was inappropriate.

Kansas State House

In District 100, House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Mike McCorkle run in rematch of 2022 election

Dan Hawkins (left) is running for another term. Mike McCorkle (right) is trying to avenge his 2022 election loss.

Mike McCorkle is hoping to take down the speaker of the House in the 2024 election. Rep. Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, has dominated his elections in the past few years.

Republicans have won this seat in the last five elections.

You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here.

Who are the candidates in Kansas House District 100?

Republican Dan Hawkins (Incumbent)

Hawkins is the speaker of the House. He sets the legislative agenda for the Kansas House and has a massive influence in what bills are passed.

Hawkins has his own employee benefits insurance agency, Hawkins Group Inc.

He served in the Kansas Army National Guard for 12 years and was on the board of directors of the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Kansas for six years. He has two daughters and a grandson.

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He is endorsed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Family Voice, Kansans for Life and the Kansas Rifle Association.

His campaign website is here.

Democrat Mike McCorkle

McCorkle ran against Hawkins in 2022 and lost by 19 percentage points. He is a Desert Storm veteran who lived abroad for over two decades until returning home to Wichita in 2019. McCorkle was awarded a Bronze Star for his military service.

He is on the Wichita Veterans Memorial Park board. McCorkle is also an officer in the Sedgwick County Grassroots Democrats, co-founder of WestSide Dems and co-chair of the Sedgwick County Democratic Party Precinct Committee Person Coalition Committee.

“I got involved in our local democracy because I believe we should all be more involved,” he said.

He is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, Cannabis Justice Coalition-Kansas, the Kansas National Education Association and Game On for Kansas Schools.

His campaign website is here

Hawkins didn’t respond to the questionnaire. Quotes are pulled from press releases, his campaign website, news articles and voting history.

If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble?

Options include: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else.

Hawkins: Hawkins didn’t respond to the questionnaire.

McCorkle: I admire Gov. Kelly and have deep respect for President Joe Biden. I would try to emulate their good service.

If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Hawkins: Hawkins shapes GOP legislative priorities, but he also pushed for Bane’s law, which increased criminal penalties for hurting or killing police dogs.

McCorkle: The first bill I would like to pass would be a law allowing voter ballot initiatives. Kansans do not currently have this option, and we should.

Kansas State House

How would you have voted on the following items? You can vote yes, no or pass.

The Aug. 2, 2022, constitutional amendment on abortion

Voting no meant the state constitution would continue to protect the right to abortion. Voting yes would have meant it can be regulated or banned.

Hawkins: Hawkins is endorsed by anti-abortion group Kansans for Life.

McCorkle: No.

Flat tax on income

Hawkins: Yes. It’s not the single-rate (tax cut) that’s the problem; it’s Gov. Kelly’s spending … Our tax plan isn’t sustainable on their massive overspending in her budget proposal. Her pricey plans to expand government add up to a 13.5% increase over last year.

McCorkle: No.

Banning transgender women from women’s sports

Banning transgender women from women’s sports. Voting yes would mean athletes have to compete as the gender they’re assigned at birth. This bill was vetoed but the veto was overridden in 2022.

Hawkins: Yes. The Fairness in Women’s Sports act protects the rights of female athletes in the state by requiring that female student athletic teams only include members who are biologically female. House Republicans are united in our commitment to defending the intention of Title IX. We proudly stand with the female athletes across Kansas in their pursuit of athletic awards, opportunities and scholarships and believe they deserve every chance at success afforded to their male counterparts, Hawkins said in a joint statement from House leadership.

McCorkle: Pass.

Banning gender-affirming care for trans youth

Hawkins: Yes. As we watch other states, nations and organizations reverse course on these experimental procedures on children, Laura Kelly will most surely find herself on the wrong side of history with her reckless veto of this common-sense protection for Kansas minors.

McCorkle: Pass.

Chiefs and Royals stadium-financing bill

Hawkins: Yes. The potential to establish a home for the Chiefs family here on the Kansas side of the state line is an opportunity that deserves a thorough conversation. We have reached out to the Chiefs organization and asked them to weigh in on the possibility of using Kansas’ unique STAR bond funding tool and explore what that collaboration could hold. We’re excited that the Chiefs are open to this conversation and look forward to seeing what mutually beneficial opportunities might lie ahead for both the people of Kansas and the Chiefs franchise, Hawkins said in a joint statement with the Senate president.

McCorkle: Yes.

APEX (Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion)

Hawkins: Yes. Hawkins didn’t respond to the voter guide, but legislators who supported the law said it will bring jobs to Kansas and grow the economy.

McCorkle: Pass.

Mail ballot grace period

Currently, any mail ballot in Kansas can arrive three days after Election Day and still be counted if it was postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting yes would eliminate that grace period.

Hawkins: Yes. Kansans demand secure elections. With the Postal Service no longer postmarking most mail, it is impossible to know if a late arriving ballot was mailed by Election Day. Gov. Kelly’s veto continues to allow potentially illegal ballots to be counted. House Republicans will continue to work to close this loophole and secure elections.

McCorkle: No.

Kansas State House

A bill loosening child care regulations

It would expand allowed child-to-staff ratios and allow teenagers to work at these facilities. Voting yes approves the loosened restrictions. Learn more about this bill here.

Hawkins: Yes. Hawkins didn’t respond to the voter guide, but lawmakers who supported the bill said stripping away burdensome regulations will let businesses grow.

McCorkle: Pass.

The Parents’ Bill of Rights

Hawkins: Yes. There is nothing that is more the business of parents than the well-being of their children and that includes what they are being taught in school … It’s really a shame this bill is even necessary but across the country school districts are declining to provide this information when requested. McCorkle: Pass.

Jill Ward and John Burke vying to take House District 105 seat

Republican Jill Ward and Democrat John Burke are running to replace outgoing state Rep. Brenda Landwehr.

The 105th District of the Kansas House will have a new representative for the first time since 2016. Republicans have won this district the last five elections.

You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here

Who are the candidates in Kansas House District 105?

Democrat John Burke

Burke has a bachelor’s degree from DePauw University, a master’s degree from the University of Arizona and a Ph.D. from Kansas State University. He spent some time at the University of Oklahoma where he was on the football and wrestling teams.

He spent 18 years as the superintendent of the Haysville School District. In 2020, the Kansas School Superintendents Association gave him the Distinguished Service Award. A Dr. John Burke Learning Center was named in his honor. Burke also taught as an adjunct professor at Friends and Baker universities. He’s currently an assistant professor at Newman University.

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He and his wife have four children.

“Dr. Burke wants to work with other legislators to help all Kansans to thrive,” his campaign website said. “He believes that by reaching across the aisle Kansas can improve its citizens’ lives economically and medically. It is his belief that the current Kansas Republican Party is no longer in touch with the values of the majority of Kansans.”

He is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, the Kansas National Education Association and Game On for Kansas Schools.

His campaign website is here.

Republican Jill Ann Ward

Jill Ward is an account executive and a small-business owner. The lifelong Wichitan comes from a large family and says she understands “the pressures put on families and the challenges they face while they pursue their dreams.”

Ward isn’t a career politician and wanted to run for the Kansas Legislature after she helped change the state’s hit-andrun law after the death of her child. She supports basic conservative principles — like the Second Amendment, growing the

John Burke (left) and Jill Ward (right) are running for an open House seat.

Kansas State House

economy and reining in the size of government.

“My faith and my family are the most important things in my life, and they drive my system of beliefs and my priorities,” her campaign website said.

She’s been endorsed by the Kansas Chamber, NFIB-Kansas, Kansans for Life, the Kansas Rifle Association and Landwehr.

Her campaign website is here.

Neither candidate replied to the questionnaire. The Beacon is compiling responses from the candidates’ websites and public statements.

If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?

Burke: Burke supports Medicaid expansion and legal medicinal cannabis.

Ward: Ward helped pass Levi’s law, which increases the penalties for leaving the scene of a hit-and-run accident when the driver should reasonably assume someone could have died. The law is named after her 20-year-old son who died in a hit-and-run crash on Easter weekend 2022.

What are your priorities for office?

Burke: Burke’s website has five key priorities: fully funded public schools, workforce development, Medicaid expansion, legalized medicinal cannabis and a sensible tax structure.

Ward: Ward wants to see more tax relief. She said on the John Whitmer radio show that she is for any and all plans.

“It’s regrettable that the governor forced a plan into place that did very little for property taxes,” she said. “So (the recently passed tax cuts are) a start, but we have to get some serious help for property taxes.”

Ward also said banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors is another key topic.

Uncontested Senate and House Representatives

Here are the uncontested Wichita races for the Kansas Statehouse

These races already have their winners, but it isn’t official until ballots are certified after the polls close.

By Blaise Mesa The Beacon

Not every race for the Kansas Statehouse will be decided this November. The uncontested races likely have their winner. The following candidates already won their races, baring a massive write-in campaign. You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here

House District 81 – Blake Carpenter

This is an uncontested race. Rep. Blake Carpenter, a Republican, was first elected in 2014 and has been reelected every time since. He resigned from the Statehouse to fulfill his military service but returned to office later. He is a member of the Kansas Air National Guard.

He supports Second Amendment rights, supported the ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports and supported GOP-led tax cuts in 2024. He is endorsed by anti-abortion group Kansans for Life.

His campaign website is here

House District 84 – Ford Carr

This is an uncontested race. Rep. Ford Carr, a Wichita Democrat, is finishing his first term in office. He replaced Rep. Gail Finney, who died in office from medical complications.

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Carr has sponsored bills to exempt tampons and other feminine hygiene products from sales tax, release Kansans serving marijuana sentences and declare Juneteenth a state holiday. He voted against both a flat tax plan and a ban on genderaffirming care for minors.

His campaign website is here

House District 86 – Silas Miller

This is an uncontested race. Rep. Silas Miller, a Wichita Democrat, is finishing his first term in office. Miller is a Marine Corps veteran.

He sponsored a bill to release Kansans serving marijuana sentences and have it expunged from their record. He voted against both a flat tax plan and a ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

His campaign website is here

House District 89 – KC Ohaebosim

This is an uncontested race. Rep. KC Ohaebosim, a Wichita Democrat, has served in the Statehouse since 2017. He’s sponsored bills to abolish the death penalty, increase property tax exemptions and release Kansans serving marijuana sentences.

He voted against both a flat tax plan and a ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

His campaign website is here

House District 92 – John Carmichael

This is an uncontested race. Rep. John Carmichael, a Wichita Democrat, first took office in 2013. He graduated from both Wichita State University and the University of Kansas.

Carmichael, a lawyer, has sponsored a bill to make driving while fatigued a citable offense and supports releasing Kansans serving marijuana sentences and having it expunged from their record.

He voted against both a flat tax plan and a ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

His campaign website is here

House District 94 – Leo Delperdang

This is an uncontested race. Rep. Leo Delperdang, a Wichita Republican, has been in office since 2017. He has worked at AT&T Bell Laboratories for over 20 years. He has a master’s degree from Newman University.

He is anti-abortion and sponsored the Born Alive Infant Protection Act. This law requires doctors to give medical care to babies delivered alive after an abortion. Supporters pushed for this law because they believe medical providers leave

Uncontested Senate and House Representatives

children to die if they survive an abortion. It is a felony for doctors to not provide care to these infants.

He voted for both a flat tax plan and a ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

His campaign website is here.

House District 99 – Susan Humphries

This is an uncontested race. Rep. Susan Humphries, a Wichita Republican, has been in office since 2017. She graduated from the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law. She’s worked in advertising and marketing and as a caseworker for Big Brothers and Big Sisters and worked as an adoption attorney.

Humphries sponsored the Born Alive Infant Protection Act. This law requires doctors to give medical care to babies delivered alive after an abortion. Supporters pushed for this law because they believe medical providers leave children to die if they survive an abortion. It is a felony for doctors to not provide care to these infants.

She voted for both a flat tax plan and a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. She is endorsed by anti-abortion group Kansans for Life.

Her campaign website is here

House District 101 – Joe Seiwert

This is an uncontested race. Rep. Joe Seiwert, a Pretty Prairie Republican, first took office in 2009.

He’s sponsored a bill to ban abortions except if the mother’s life is in danger. He voted for both a flat tax plan and a ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

House District 103 – Angela Martinez

This is an uncontested race. Rep. Angela Martinez, a Wichita Democrat, is finishing her first term in office. She is a direct care counselor at Wichita Children’s Home.

She’s sponsored bills to release Kansans serving marijuana sentences and declare Juneteenth a state holiday.

She voted against both a flat tax plan and a ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

Her campaign website is here.

Senate District 28 – Mike Petersen

This is an uncontested race. Sen. Mike Petersen, a Wichita Republican, first took office in 2005. He is a retired electrician who has lived in Sedgwick County for over 50 years.

He’s sponsored a bill to provide a back-to-school sales tax holiday for school supplies, computers and clothes. He voted for a flat tax plan and a ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports. He is endorsed by anti-abortion group Kansans for Life.

His campaign website is here.

Senate District 29 – Oletha Faust-Goudeau

This is an uncontested race. Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, a Wichita Democrat, has served in the Legislature since 2003 in both the House and Senate.

She regularly sponsors bills to help low-income Kansans get driving privileges back if they missed payments. She voted against a flat tax plan and a ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports.

Her campaign website is here.

State Official Reccomends Drop Boxes over Mail for Ballot

Kansas’ top election official suggests drop boxes over USPS for your mail ballot

By Blaise Mesa

The Beacon

Kansans should think twice before mailing their ballots this election, the state’s top election official said.

The warning comes after Scott Schwab, the secretary of state, said the U.S. Postal Service likely won’t address problems that led to nearly 1,000 ballots — about 2% of mail votes — being thrown out during the primary election.

Now, less than a week before advance ballots are sent out, Schwab’s office is telling voters to avoid the mail because the Postal Service has not done enough to address issues in August.

“His message is for Kansans to make a plan and return their ballot to their county election office or county-run drop box to avoid any issues or postal delays that would cause their vote to go uncounted,” said agency spokesperson John Milburn.

Almost 1,000 primary ballots thrown out

Schwab first complained to the Postal Service in early September. A Sept. 9 letter said ballots were missing postmarks and were being delivered late. The letter said ballots that were mailed on time took so long to be delivered that they couldn’t be counted.

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Kansas law requires all ballots to arrive three days after Election Day with a postmark on or before Election Day. The USPS’ failures, Schwab said, disenfranchised around 1,000 Kansas voters.

The Postal Service replied to the letter and said it didn’t even know about the issues with postmarked ballots. Schwab then sent another letter to the USPS to again voice his displeasure.

Schwab has since spoken with Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and said it was a productive conversation.

The USPS investigating issues

The Postal Service asked for a copy of problematic ballots to further investigate issues with mail. But the USPS didn’t comment on any tangible changes it made in response to Schwab’s concerns.

A press release from the secretary of state’s office said the USPS has acknowledged its mistakes in the primary election.

“As stated previously,” Mark Inglett, strategic communications manager at the Postal Service, said over email, “we have been in close and repeated communication with Secretary Schwab and other Kansas election officials throughout the year to resolve their concerns and specifically, to review our policy on postmarks.”

The post office doesn’t postmark every piece of mail. Postmarking or canceling mail is done to prevent mail from being reused. Inglett said the Postal Service tells employees it needs to postmark every ballot, but “such practice does deviate from normal procedures.”

Voters can guarantee a postmark on their ballot if they visit a Postal Service retail center and request one from an employee when they drop off their ballot.

Best mail ballot practices

Whitney Tempel, a spokesperson for Schwab’s office, said that “he is not confident this issue will be fixed before the general election.”

Inglett said the USPS beefs up services around the elections.

Starting Oct. 21:

· Post office locations can create drive-through ballot drop-off options and specific lines for ballot postmarking.

· USPS staff will make additional deliveries and mail collections. That includes early collections on Nov. 2, Nov. 4 and Nov. 5. Mail carriers will make special runs to election boards on those three dates and the last day ballots are accepted.

· Express mail is available to quickly deliver ballots that are mailed close to Election Day.

· Facilities will set up special processes to speed up delivery to election boards.

The USPS has mail ballot recommendations, including mailing any ballots at least one week before the election.

The Postal Service delivers around 433 million pieces of mail per day. About 0.1% of that is mail ballots.

“Voters should know that the Postal Service has more than enough capacity to handle all election mail in 2024,” Inglett said.

State Official Reccomends Drop Boxes over Mail for

Scott Schwab, the Kansas Secretary of State, said a drop box is a better option for your mail ballot. Photo by Blaise Mesa / The Beacon