How about some random thoughts about last week’s election results?
On the federal level some votes are still being counted with the result being more of a red trickle versus the “Big Red Tsunami” the Republicans were predicting and hoping for.
I think it is better to have a divided congress hopefully requiring more bipartisan solutions.
If current leaders on both sides stay unchanged we are in for two more unproductive years. Let’s hope new leaders emerge that are willing to compromise and seek progress versus political gains. Stop the name-calling and listen once in a while.
In Kansas much, the same thing happened with a heavily weighted conservative Republican legislature hopefully being counterbalanced by Democratic Governor Laura Kelly and a group of moderate republicans and democrats.
Once again our local representatives will often be in the spotlight when the Governor’s vetoes are being challenged.
Kris Kobach’s victory in the Attorney General’s race is problematic. With crime on the rise, we need an AG dealing with law enforcement, not politics. Kobach’s past is one of more seeking attention than results, Which needs to change,
Locally Republicans Mark Schreiber and newcomer Ken Duft won their races for State Representative and County Commissioner.
Schreiber defeated retired pastor Mic Maguire in a race some thought might be closer. I don’t think Lyon County has heard the last from Maguire. He ran an aggressive campaign.
Duft defeated Greg Stair in a close battle to replace retiring commissioner Scott Briggs whose shoes will be difficult to fill.
In addition to Pastor Maguire two other ESU alums sought places in the Kansas House of Representatives, Emily “Bloss” Carpenter ran in the Kansas City area and former Ft. Hays State University president Ed Hammond ran in Hays.
Just a few weeks ago “Bloss” Carpenter, the former All-American roundballer at Emporia State was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame and last spring she ran unsuccessfully for the DeSoto, Kansas Board of Education.
Also of note is all three former Hornets faced incumbents. Maguire and Hammond ran as Democrats while Carpenter was a Republican candidate.
It was an interesting mid-term election. Let’s hope for more civility across the board as we celebrate the clean and fair election our democracy so needed.
I’m Steve Sauder with “Something to think about.”
