The Star’s recommendations for GOP Kansas House races in Johnson County
Incumbents and challengers are knocking on doors, sending out fliers and appearing at forums to woo voters in hotly contested Republican Kansas House primaries in Johnson County.
For the most part, the choices in these races are crystal clear: The Star recommends that voters send plenty of fresh faces to Topeka.
These well-qualified GOP candidates have endorsed responsible fiscal policies and strong support for public schools — the key to Johnson County’s past and future growth.
If enough new people begin serving in the Legislature in 2017, they will be able to help prevent Gov. Sam Brownback from putting in place even more of his restrictive social agenda, such as punitive welfare changes and his economic policies, such as the “march to zero” on income taxes.
The 2012 tax cuts he approved have caused near financial ruin in the state. They have led to reductions in highway spending, large borrowing to meet pension expenses and a complete spend-down of a once-healthy reserve fund.
The GOP challengers, if successful at the polls on Aug. 2, would advance to the Nov. 8 general election to face Democratic opponents. Johnson County potentially could have a more moderate, more progressive delegation. That should lead to meaningful discussions to repeal the unfair elimination of income taxes for 330,000 LLCs as well as repeal parts of the 2012 individual income tax cuts.
The Star’s recommendations are for selected, contested House races in Johnson County plus one Democratic contest in Wyandotte County.
These recommendations are based on interviews, candidate forums and reviews of campaign literature and incumbents’ voting records. There are many sharp, easily seen differences between incumbents and their challengers.
For example, the Kansas PTA Advocacy group pored over voting records for the incumbents listed below. All but one has supported Brownback’s irresponsible tax and budget plans in Topeka from 2012-2016.
Overall, the challengers offer an impressive knowledge of the state’s fiscal problems. They have a willingness to protect school funding in the future and a desire to work with other lawmakers to get Kansas back on a positive path.
Several have elective experience. Others have been teachers or worked in other education-related jobs. And a few others are business leaders. Together, their common-sense leadership is vitally needed in the Republican Party.
(The Star’s 913 edition next Wednesday will contain a Voter’s Guide with more information about Johnson County candidates.)
8th District
Challenger Patty Markley over incumbent Craig McPherson
14th District
Challenger Leesa Gabel over incumbent Keith Esau
15th District
Challenger Kim Palcic over incumbent Erin Davis and challenger Bo Dostal
17th District
Challenger Tom Cox over incumbent Brett Hildabrand
20th District
Challenger Jan Kessinger over incumbent Rob Bruchman
21st District
Challenger Dorothy Hughes over challenger Neil Patrick Melton
27th District
Challenger Timothy James Harmon over challenger Sean Tarwater
28th District
Challenger Joy Koesten over incumbent Jerry Lunn
30th District
Challenger James Dingwerth over incumbent Randy Powell
38th District
Challenger Mitra Templin over incumbent Willie Dove and challenger Nathan Lucas
39th District
Challenger Shelee Brim over incumbent Charles Macheers and challenger Owen Donohoe
43rd District
Challenger Donald Roberts over incumbent Bill Sutton
78th District
Incumbent Ron Ryckman over challenger Allen Clayton
Wyandotte County
In the 36th District, incumbent Democrat Kathy Wolfe Moore over challenger Gwendolyn Thomas
Voting already has begun in Kansas. The Johnson County Election Office on Wednesday sent out mail-in ballots to people who had requested them. Advance voting in person kicks off at several locations on Monday. About 30 percent of the total votes in the primaries could be cast before Aug. 2.
Republicans in Johnson County find themselves in a good position this summer to nominate new voices to speak out for them in the Kansas House.
Monday: The Star’s endorsements in selected Kansas Senate races in Johnson and Wyandotte counties
This story was originally published July 16, 2016 at 8:05 AM with the headline "The Star’s recommendations for GOP Kansas House races in Johnson County."