The Fallacy of Local Government Elections

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

Tiahrt tours Southeast Kansas

On Thursday, July 8, Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-KS04) completed his tour of Southeast Kansas with multiple stops in Parsons, Oswego, and Pittsburg.

I caught up with the Congressman as he was touring downtown Oswego, KS, my hometown. Michelle Hucke, Tiahrt SEK Coordinator, and I (the lowly Labette County coordinator), along with Brie Bringle and Tom Bringle, Mayor of Oswego, introduced Todd to all of the local merchants and business owners in the community.

Mr. Tiahrt also toured one of the largest and fastest-growing industries in Oswego, the Boss Tank division of Tank Connections.

Later that afternoon, he held a town hall in Oswego – most likely the first event of this nature held in Oswego in at least a few decades. Even in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday, he still had almost 1.5% of the entire population of the city attend – that’s the same attendance, per capita, as the Karl Rove event in Wichita!

Voters in Oswego are very excited about Todd. In fact, as you drive through the community of roughly 2,000 inhabitants, you’ll see Tiahrt yard signs all over the place; there’s even a giant 4×8 sign downtown. As for Todd’s opponent, he’s never heard the term “SEK” and his travel (or lack thereof) to the area shows it.

That evening, the Congressman hosted a “meet and greet” and town hall in Pittsburg, KS with the Southeast Kansas Conservatives group. With only hours notice, people packed into the meeting room the organization had reserved on Broadway in Pittsburg.

The photograph above (I apologize for the poor quality) was taken at the very beginning of the Congressman’s speech and from the front of the crowd. If you could only see how every seat surrounding Todd was filled! In fact, as people continued to come in throughout the evening, they had to sit behind just to have a place to sit. That’s how excited we are in Southeast Kansas about Todd Tiahrt.

You could feel the electricity and excitement in the air as Todd spoke about our need to rid ourselves of unnecessary government involvement. He said, “If the cost of a regulation outweighs its benefit, let’s get rid of it!”  He also talked about the urgency with which he fought against Obama’s health care plan, and how we must repeal the atrocity called Obamacare as soon as is humanly possible. Truly, the Congressman was on-fire last night.

One woman raised her hand and talked about how, as “embarrassed” as she was to admit it, she was a registered Democrat. She said that she was ashamed of what her party was doing to the nation, and that she had been planning on re-registering as a Republican. The woman said after hearing Todd speak, and seeing the integrity with which he conducted himself, she was convinced and that she’d be voting for him on August 3. Talk about awesomeness!

The excitement on the ground was palpable. Basically everywhere we went, if you mentioned the name “Tiahrt,” eyes lit up, and people were anxious to speak with Todd. If you have ever had any doubt about the winner of August’s primary, cast it out. Todd Tiahrt will be our next U.S. Senator from Kansas.

Tags: boss tank, brie bringle, columbus, kansas, Michelle Hucke, obamacare, Oswego, Pittsburg, sek, sek conservatives, Senate, southeast kansas, Southeast Kansas Conservatives, tank connections, Tiahrt, Todd Tiahrt, Tom Bringle, U.S. Senate

BREAKING: Todd Tiahrt to visit SEK TOMORROW, 7/8

Tags: Bringle, Clemens, Clemens Insurance Agency, Jerry Clemens, kansas, Mayor Tom Bringle, Oswego, Parsons, Pittsburg, Southeast Kansas Conservatives, Tiahrt, Todd Tiahrt, Tom Bringle, U.S. Senate

Happy Thanksgiving!

In this season of Thanksgiving, let us not forget to thank our Lord for the many  blessings He gives us everyday. This year has been one filled with new life learning experiences for me- from paying my first real bills to living on my own. I’ve definitely learned I need to appreciate the little things a bit more.

Usually my family and I spend the Thanksgiving holiday with my dad’s family in Wichita, KS. However, because of my job (another blessing), we were unable to make the trip this year, so we celebrated Thanksgiving Day at my parent’s house in Oswego, KS.  We thought back, and this is possibly only the second time we’ve shared a Thanksgiving meal as only our immediate family. While we of course missed getting to see our other relatives (and the more opportune Black Friday shopping!), it was a nice change to spend a quiet evening at home.

I thought I’d share some pictures from our feast.

Turkey

A Tradition! Green Bean Casserole

Homemade Pumpkin Pie

and all together:

Let's Eat!

Tags: Corrie, Family, food, kansas, Oswego, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving 2009, Wichita