The Star endorses a JoCo leader who relies on facts in this Kansas Senate district
This is such an as-seen-on-TV culture that anyone who has been on-screen in your home night after night for years has an enormous “Oh, I know that guy” advantage.
That’s an obvious plus for longtime FOX4 meteorologist Mike Thompson, the weatherman who doesn’t believe in climate change — or evolution. But Thompson, who also sees the death rate from COVID-19 as so “infinitesimally small” that we should “call off this emergency,” is far more extreme than his smiling, Al Rokeresque persona.
Earlier this year, Thompson was chosen by Republican precinct committee members to fill retiring Mary Pilcher-Cook’s District 10 seat in the Kansas Senate. In his short time in office, he’s voted against COVID-19 relief funding and against extending unemployment benefits during a pandemic.
In March, he said Gov. Laura Kelly’s decision to close schools and limit crowds was “inciting a panic that is unnecessary. This is not the ebola virus.” In August, he falsely suggested that wearing a mask makes people more apt to contract COVID-19. In September, he argued that the number of coronavirus deaths has been overcounted — the opposite is true — and asked, “At what point do we say, OK, it’s a small enough number that we call off this emergency?”
In his interview with The Star Editorial Board during the primary, Thompson seemed to blame Black Americans for racial inequities. Race relations have without question improved since he was growing up in the 60s, he said. “We’ve got to have an honest and open discussion, though, and these days that’s more and more difficult because if somebody has the ‘wrong’ perspective on things, their voices are squelched and they’re marginalized. … You look at the history of why the Black family has been undermined, that’s where the problem lies. If we can’t get them back into the churches, if we can’t get a more cohesive Black family, then you’re not going to fix the problem.”
That’s not only wrong-headed but turns facts upside down. According to the Pew Research Center, Black Americans are more likely than Americans as a whole to self-identify as Christian, and are less likely than white Americans to be unaffiliated or to self-identify as an atheist.
Now, none too soon, District 10 voters can thank Thompson for his service and elect Democrat Lindsey Constance, an elementary school teacher who coaches other teachers in the Shawnee Mission District, where she has taught for 17 years and where she herself went to school. She also serves on the Shawnee City Council and is a cofounder of Climate Action KC.
Like the majority in her district and in the state, Constance supports Medicaid expansion “now more than ever.”
“It’s just common sense to keep our tax dollars here in Kansas,” she says.
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.
Her other priorities include improving services for older Kansans and those who suffer from a mental illness. She believes that fighting the virus instead of ignoring it is the only path to economic recovery.
Constance supports abortion rights, and regrets that Medicaid expansion was “held hostage” this year by Republicans pushing for an anti-abortion constitutional amendment. She believes that both medical and recreational marijuana should be legal in Kansas.
Her energy, priorities and fact-based approach make Lindsey Constance the obvious choice to represent District 10 in Topeka, and she’s earned The Star’s endorsement.
This story was originally published October 26, 2020 at 5:00 AM.