Posted by caleb on Mar 27, 2011 in
Local and State Politics Below, I’ve cross-posted my letter to the editor of the Labette Avenue (my local weekly) and the Parsons Sun (the local daily) regarding local candidates and elections.
On April 5, Kansas voters will go to the polls to decide who should serve on their local city councils, school boards, and boards of trustees for their local community colleges. Mayoral and other municipal races are also taking place during this election.
The problem is that, in rural areas in Kansas like where I live, races like these are based more on knowing a candidate more than their positions. They have to be; most candidates don’t even take the time to publish any of their ideas. It is considered sufficient to file papers with the County Clerk’s Office and hope for the best.
It is time for a change. The voters deserve better. I’m sure most of the candidates are good people, but that’s not what is most important. I care about how they will help my city, county, and local school district improve.
I consider my vote valuable, and I want to make informed choices with it. The complete lack of information on local candidates makes this almost entirely impossible.
Today, I’m respectfully issuing a challenge to everyone running for office to publish, at the very least, a short biography and a list of their positions on a few issues they consider important. Tell us why we should vote for you. We’ll agree with some of your positions, and disagree with others, but at least voters will know what to expect if you are elected. By publishing your views, you will be earning your votes, as opposed to winning (or losing) by default. Let us decide whom to vote for based on merits, not connections.
That’s how our republic should function.
Respectfully,
Caleb Hays
Below, I’ve published a list of local candidates, since even this list of candidates is difficult to find online. Please be aware this is specific to voters located within the city limits of Oswego, KS. This originally appeared in the Labette Avenue on January 28, 2011 and also includes information for other areas in Labette County, KS.
Oswego, KS Municipal Elections
Mayor
Glenn Fischer (my candidate of choice), or Bob Shields
City Council (choose 3)
Dee Brown, William Gray, Larry Hawkins, William Owens and Darren Tynan
School Boards
USD 504 School Board (choose 4)
William Barnes, Steven Charles, Tina Dinnsen, Jordan Irwin, Steve McBrien, Shaun Stapleton and Crystal Yeoman
Labette Community College Board of Trustees (choose 3)
Matthew Atteberrry, Carl Hoskins, Montie Taylor, David Winchell and Aubury Schultz
Tags: candidates, elections, kansas, Labette Avenue, Labette Community College, Labette County, local elections, Oswego, Parsons Sun
For the sake of transparency, I wanted to let my readers know that I’m now volunteering with the Todd Tiahrt for Senate campaign as the Labette County coordinator and as part of the broader Southeast Kansas Power Team, headed by my good friend Michelle Hucke. I also wanted to say up front that I am receiving no financial or other compensation for this volunteer position or for any Tiahrt articles, images, or other items on my blog, Facebook, or Twitter.
But while we’re on the subject, I want to tell you why I support Todd.
I hope it’s become apparent to my longtime readers and Twitter followers that I’m not about furthering any one person’s agenda just because their rhetoric sweeps me off my feet. For me, it’s all about the conservative movement and how we, as citizens, can bring our government back inside the bounds we’ve set for it.
Every once in a great while, there comes about a candidate that truly has the ability and backbone to work for this same grand goal. In this Senate primary, that man is Todd Tiahrt.
As I hope you have seen, I don’t back candidates lightly. If you recall, it took me weeks to decide whether or not I would help the (pre-Palin) McCain campaign by doing anything besides voting for it. It wasn’t until after Palin was named VP nominee that I even campaigned for it instead of simply against Obama.
Once you meet Todd and his family, you instantly understand. Instead of the usual political garbage, you get authenticity and a feeling that you’re speaking with someone who’s actually listening, not just doing the head-bob that politicians are so good at. Fifteen seconds later, and after his surprisingly firm handshake, you realize he’s just like you; you come to understand that he could just as easily be your children’s football coach or the man who owns the local real estate agency. That’s because that’s who Todd is: a genuine, caring, and intelligent man who is one of us. Instead of D.C. changing Todd, Todd has changed D.C.
For me to support, endorse, and actually work for a candidate, I have to truly and wholeheartedly believe in them and what they stand for. #RealDeal is not just a Twitter slogan. I hope my support solidifies that idea for you, because it’s completely true.
Todd Tiahrt is that man, and he’s the real deal, Kansas.
Tags: #realdeal, Kansans for Tiahrt, kansas, Labette County, mccain, Michelle Hucke, obama, Palin, Presidential Election 2008, real deal, SEK Power Team, Senate, Southeast Kansas Power Team, Todd Tiahrt
