As messy as the presidential race has gotten we are lucky locally to have clear choices in contested races with the potential to restore our state government to one about which we can be proud.
Today my thoughts on three state candidate races and the Supreme Court Retention question.
In the three races for the state legislature we have excellent choices with experience being the key difference in the contestants.
Jeff Longbine seeks to return to the Kansas Senate. His story is interesting. He grew up in Emporia as a star athlete from a prominent family. He had all makings of a playboy. But, at an earlier than expected age he found himself in the lead position at the family’s automobile dealership.
Jeff’s performance as an automobile dealer is well documented, but it’s the rest of the story that amazes me.
Slightly over a decade ago Longbine decided to run for the Emporia City Commission where he excelled as a problem solver. When the opportunity to run for the Senate developed he stepped up and he has done well. He is being touted for a leadership position in the coalition designed to fix the damage done by the Brownback administration.
His opponent has tried to paint Longbine as a “Brownback enabler” but nothing could be further from the truth.
Longbine has stayed free from labels and is seen as a solution person by his colleagues. The Emporia Gazette wrote “Jeff has used his negotiating skills to bring parties together on divided issues.”
Emporia will be best represented with one of the leaders in the group shepherding our state’s recovery than by a freshman senator trying to find her office.
Mark Schreiber brings a different kind of experience to his task. He has been working with the legislature for nearly 30 years. He knows his way around the capital and knows most all the people he will be working with. Also amazing is how closely his demeanor resembles that of the person he desires to replace. Maybe that’s why Don Hill was willing to retire!
Make no mistake Schreiber will be his own man, but he does hold the moderate principles we so desperately need in Topeka.
In endorsing Theresa Briggs my choice is for known over unknown. Theresa has proven herself as a leader in difficult situations. Both as the leader for Drug Free Schools and as a Lyon County Commissioner her job had challenges. In both cases she was up to the task. Now living in rural Kansas, Theresa adds a new dimension to her qualifications.
Theresa will be a problem solver in Topeka.
The Supreme Court Justice Retention issue is easy for me. I’ll keep them all because I don’t trust Governor Brownback to appoint their replacements.
Votes for Longbine, Schreiber, and Briggs and “Yes” for the Supreme Court judges will be positive steps in helping Kansas regain its pride.
