The Star endorses a candidate with new approach, energy for JoCo state Senate seat
On Nov. 3, voters in Kansas Senate District 9 will choose between Stacey Knoell, a Democrat, and Beverly Gossage, a Republican.
Knoell is the far better choice, and she earns The Star’s endorsement.
District 9 includes much of western Johnson County, as well as parts of Olathe, where Knoell has lived for 17 years. She’s worked as a teacher and sign language interpreter and has done volunteer work for Catholic Charities.
Knoell supports fully funding education in Kansas, which will be critical in 2021 and beyond. She also supports expanded Medicaid coverage in the state, which is important for rural residents as well as people who live in the Kansas City region.
Knoell places the blame for the state’s failure to expand Medicaid where it belongs: on the shoulders of Kansas Sen. Susan Wagle, who is leaving, and other recalcitrant state senators who stalled consideration of a long-overdue expansion.
“There was a compromise,” she said, referring to the bill worked out between Gov. Laura Kelly and state Sen. Jim Denning, a Republican. “There were 22 (senators) who sponsored a bill for Medicaid expansion. So it seems as if there’s a political will within the Senate itself.”
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWho decides the endorsements?
Members of The Kansas City Star Editorial Board interview political candidates, as well as advocates and opponents of ballot measures. The editorial board is comprised of seasoned opinion journalists and is separate from The Star’s newsroom. The board’s members are editorial writers Toriano Porter and Mara’ Rose Williams — all veteran journalists with decades of experience. Editors Derek Donovan is also a member, and editor David Tarrant, while not a member of the board, reads and often improves each editorial we publish. Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
What does the endorsement process entail?
The Star Editorial Board invites candidates in each race to meet with the board in an on-the-record discussion, the purpose of which is more fully understand what distinguishes one candidate from another. Board members do additional reporting and research to learn as much as possible about the candidates. The editorial board then convenes to discuss the candidates in each race. Board members seek to reach a consensus on the endorsements, but not every decision is unanimous..
Is the editorial board partisan?
No. In making endorsements, members of the editorial board consider which candidates are well prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they agree with us or belong to a particular political party. We do weigh heavily their stances on issues we consider basic tests of judgment and candor, such as whether they even acknowledge climate change as real, or if they continue to deny the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election. We weigh these factors against many others, and state clearly what our conclusions are. Primarily, we evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, their readiness for office, their depth of knowledge of key issues and their understanding of public policy. We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points. The editorial board will endorse both Republicans and Democrats, making recommendations about who the best-qualified candidate for each job is.
Why are endorsements unsigned?
Endorsements reflect the collective views of The Star’s editorial board — not just the opinion of one writer. Board members all discuss and contribute ideas to each endorsement editorial.
Knoell supports the state Supreme Court’s ruling establishing an individual right to abortion in the state. That ruling is widely misunderstood: The right to an abortion is fundamental, the court said, but not absolute. Regulations must meet the high standard of strict scrutiny.
Abortion is always an issue in Topeka, and Knoell’s voice will be important when that debate resumes.
Knoell, who is Black, will bring a valuable perspective on a range of key issues, including police reform, to a state Senate that lacks diversity.
“I do not wish to defund the police,” she said. “I do not wish to abolish the police. I do not want to do away with the police,” she told The Star Editorial Board. “I would love to see police be held accountable, that officers aren’t just shuffled around.”
Knoell’s Republican opponent is Beverly Gossage, who declined an invitation to speak to The Star Editorial Board. Gossage is a last-minute replacement for state Sen. Julia Lynn, who withdrew from the race after the primary.
Gossage, a GOP precinct committeewoman and founder of a health savings accounts consulting firm, will be a fierce opponent of expanding Medicaid.
“The warnings of dire results if (Medicaid is) expanded have been proven right, yet some still persist that it will be different in your state,” she wrote on Facebook. “These are the same folks that insist that even though socialism has failed everywhere, we should still try it because ‘we can do it right.’”
For the record, Medicaid isn’t socialism. It’s a program designed to help people who are sick but lack the resources to pay for their care. Missouri voters just amended their state constitution to expand Medicaid — not because voters are raving socialists, but because they know their neighbors need assistance.
Kansas does not need another lock-step conservative unwilling to listen to facts and reason while sitting in the state Legislature. The state Senate needs Stacey Knoell, who will bring a fresh, informed perspective to consequential issues such as education and health care.
This story was originally published October 13, 2020 at 5:00 AM.