Ballot City
Overland Park
Personal Biography
I was born in Overland Park and have lived in Kansas almost my entire life. My wife and I moved to our house eight years ago and could not be happier. Our two girls attend Blue Valley’s public schools. My wife and I both work in Overland Park. Public service has always been a part of my life. Since graduating from the University of Kansas’s School of Law, I’ve dedicated my career to helping the community.
Education
University of Wisconsin - Madison and University of Kansas - Lawrence
I’m an attorney with two decades of experience working with the government and with both parties to solve problems. I’ve spent two terms or six years on a school board and I’m a strong proponent of public education. I can also guarantee that the votes I take are for the betterment of the district and people I serve, not based upon what would be best for my party.
1) Expansion of Medicaid – This affects hundreds of thousands of Kansans and costs the state hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Its economic impact affects everyone.
2) Free and Fair election – Kansas has safe elections and we need it to remain that way. It is a core value of our Democracy. Registering should be straightforward. Access to polls and ballot boxes should be available to everyone. Mail-in ballots are the only way some people can vote and the three day window for acceptance cannot be eliminated.
3) Education – Public education is the lifeblood of any successful community. We must continue to fully funding schools in Kansas.
Under Kansas rules, legislators and even political interests are able to “hide” who created legislation by submitting it to a committee so that the committee becomes the primary sponsor. Voters should know what legislators support and making sure sponsor names are listed on bills will go a long way towards ideal.
I'm open to changes if they make sense. But right now we have a great system in place. It allows for multiple weeks of early voting and mailed in ballots that can arrive up to 3 days after the election (so long as it's postmarked on or before the election date). My job at this point is to try to ensure elections are open and fair to everyone and I would fight anything that is proposed that would work against that.
Campaign Phone
913-353-5965
Personal Biography
My wife and I have been married for 49 years and have 2 children and 1 grandson. Prior to retirement, I was Senior Vice President of Managed Market Resources, a healthcare consulting practice.
Education
Graduate of Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, Iowa - Accounting
Community/Public Service
Elected to serve 2 terms as a Precinct Committeeman, 2020-2024, Member of the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce, active member of my church, have been previously involved with Habitat for Humanity.
I am committed to representing District 48 residents, not outside special interest groups. Unlike my opponent, my campaign is built on grassroots support, not special interest money.
As a strategic planning consultant for healthcare clients, I have extensive experience navigating diverse opinions and significant differences within client teams. This experience mirrors the dynamics in the Kansas House of Representatives. My goal is not to win arguments but to find common ground. By fostering collaboration, we can chart a path to successful outcomes and achieve our goals together.
1st, fully fund education, ensuring accountability to teachers, students, parents, and taxpayers. Engage dedicated teachers, involve students/parents to assess resource effectiveness. Taxpayer input on community benefits. This creates a responsive, efficient education system. 2nd, policies balancing spending and taxation are crucial. Fund responsibilities without overburdening citizens. Excessive taxation hinders enjoying hard-earned rewards. With spending up 50% in 6 years, the Executive & Legislative branches have work to do. 3rd, cybersecurity is critical to protect sensitive information and citizens in Kansas. With recent system failures and ongoing threats, we must enhance safeguards to protect our resources, documents and citizens.
The “kslegislature.org” home page is a wealth of information. We should consider updates based on input from frequent users. Bills in the "Gut and Go" process could have a specific tab on the website for transparency, allowing citizens to follow these changes in real-time. This “public notice” site would enhance civic engagement and trust. It may be time to review the "Gut and Go" process' value and ensure it serves the public interest effectively.
Voter confidence in election outcomes is critical to ensuring participation in our system of government. We should regularly review our processes, laws, and systems to ensure they are transparent, secure, and accessible to all eligible voters.
