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Kansas House of Representatives, District 031 Choose 1

The Kansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the legislature of the U.S. state of Kansas. Composed of 125 state representatives from districts with roughly equal populations of at least 19,000, its members are responsible for crafting and voting on legislation, helping to create a state budget, and legislative oversight over state agencies.

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Paul Davidson (Dem)

Biographical Information

What makes you the best candidate for this position? What skills, expertise, or competencies qualify you?

Candidate has not yet responded.

What are Kansas's three most important issues, and how do you intend to address them?

Candidate has not yet responded.

How would you make it easier for Kansas citizens to follow bills as they flow through the legislature? What, if any, changes would you propose in the “Gut and Go” process?

Candidate has not yet responded.

Would you support changes to Kansas election laws and voting systems? Why?

Candidate has not yet responded.

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Dennis Grindel (Rep)

Biographical Information

What makes you the best candidate for this position? What skills, expertise, or competencies qualify you?

Candidate has not yet responded.

What are Kansas's three most important issues, and how do you intend to address them?

Candidate has not yet responded.

How would you make it easier for Kansas citizens to follow bills as they flow through the legislature? What, if any, changes would you propose in the “Gut and Go” process?

Candidate has not yet responded.

Would you support changes to Kansas election laws and voting systems? Why?

Candidate has not yet responded.

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Emily Hane (Dem)

Biographical Information

phone 785-213-5856
Personal Biography Emily Hane lives and works in House District 31. Her entire career has been in the public sector, working to increase access to education and access to safe water at various nonprofit organizations. As a volunteer, she helps to advocate for affordable housing and tenant rights in her community. She knows how to build coalitions to get things done, and how to stay focused on meaningful work in a time when there is too much noise.
Community/Public Service Board Member, Build Wyco (formerly Community Housing of Wyandotte County); Planning Committee, Watkins Scholarship Hall 100th Celebration; Volunteer, World War 1 National Museum and Memorial; Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
Education BA - Political Science - University of Kansas; MPA - University of Missouri - Kansas City
Ballot City Kansas City
County WYCO
email_added info@emilyhaneforkansas.com

What makes you the best candidate for this position? What skills, expertise, or competencies qualify you?

I fully believe that public servants should be accessible and responsive. As a nonprofit fundraiser, I've sharpened the skills of building relationships at scale, showing up at events, and reaching out regularly.

With more than 15 years of experience in the public sector and serving my community, I am an effective collaborator and coalition builder. Nothing gets done in the state alone, and I have the ability to bring people to the table and work with individuals with different backgrounds and political perspectives.

I earned my BA in Political Science and English at KU and my MPA at UMKC.

What are Kansas's three most important issues, and how do you intend to address them?

1. Education - The students of today are the leaders of tomorrow, and Kansas needs to adequately invest in our public education systems. I support maintaining funding levels, fully funding special education, and increased educator compensation. I oppose voucher programs that take public resources away from public schools, and I oppose book banning for ideological reasons. 2. Affordable Housing and Property Tax Relief - I support policies like the homestead exemption and freezing property tax rates for seniors. I also support renter relief through late-fee caps and limiting the number of homes an LLC can own. I oppose regressive tax policies that place burdens on working class families. 3. Affordable Healthcare - Expanding Medicaid

How would you make it easier for Kansas citizens to follow bills as they flow through the legislature? What, if any, changes would you propose in the “Gut and Go” process?

A good elected official is transparent and proactive in communicating with constituents. In addition to actively maintaining a newsletter distribution list and a Facebook page, I believe there is still a huge benefit to face to face conversations. This includes attending neighborhood meetings and speaking at public forums in the district to share updates on legislative issues. "Gut and go" silences Kansans by bypassing opportunities for public commentary. This is how politicized legislation like SB 244 passes. There is a reason we have committee hearings, public testimony, and debate as part of the legislative process. Democracy demands participation, and "gut and go" politics silences the conversation and erodes participation.

Would you support changes to Kansas election laws and voting systems? Why?

My grandmother's grandmother was a card-carrying member of the Kansas Equal Suffrage Association. I know how hard my ancestors fought for women to have the right to vote, and I am horrified that efforts are being made to disenfranchise voters. Advanced voting by mail is a convenient (and for some) necessary option to vote, and I oppose signature verification laws. I do not support Documentary Proof of Citizenship laws that have already been proven unconstitutional. Kansans deserve to have their lawmakers treat their constitutional rights with respect rather than changing them on political whims. Deliberate barriers to voting cause real harm to the ability for all eligible voters to cast our ballots freely, safely, and equally.

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Christian A. Ramirez (Dem)

Biographical Information

What makes you the best candidate for this position? What skills, expertise, or competencies qualify you?

Candidate has not yet responded.

What are Kansas's three most important issues, and how do you intend to address them?

Candidate has not yet responded.

How would you make it easier for Kansas citizens to follow bills as they flow through the legislature? What, if any, changes would you propose in the “Gut and Go” process?

Candidate has not yet responded.

Would you support changes to Kansas election laws and voting systems? Why?

Candidate has not yet responded.

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Eli Woody (Dem)

Biographical Information

phone 7855598686
Campaign Web Site http://www.woodyforkansas.com
Campaign Phone 7855598686
Twitter @woodyforkansas
Instagram @WoodyforKansas
Personal Biography Eli Woody is a public school teacher, husband, and proud toddler dad running for Kansas House District 31. He is a passionate communicator who always stands up for students and others in need. Eli brings a compassionate, family-first perspective to public service. His top priorities for our community are delivering real property tax relief, access to affordable healthcare, and fully funding our public schools.
Community/Public Service Public school teacher/Education (13 years)
Education B.A., English Education, Washburn University & M.A., Communication, University of Colorado Denver
Ballot City Kansas City
County WYCO

What makes you the best candidate for this position? What skills, expertise, or competencies qualify you?

Effective leadership requires the ability to listen deeply, digest complex information, and advocate fiercely for others. I exercise these exact skills every single day. My background in education has trained me to be a patient mediator who can bring opposing sides together to find common-sense solutions. I am running to bridge the gap between our neighborhoods and the state capitol. My qualification isn't a long political resume—it is a proven track record of showing up, doing the hard work, and clearly communicating the stakes to the people I serve.

What are Kansas's three most important issues, and how do you intend to address them?

First, we must deliver property tax relief to homeowners by returning state funds back to our local communities to lower the burden. Second, we must fully fund public schools, including vital special education services, to support our students and teachers. Third, we must protect healthcare access by finally expanding Medicaid, which will inject billions into our economy and keep our working families healthy. Addressing these challenges requires collaborative leadership that looks past partisan games to focus on the real, kitchen-table issues impacting our daily lives.

How would you make it easier for Kansas citizens to follow bills as they flow through the legislature? What, if any, changes would you propose in the “Gut and Go” process?

Government shouldn't be hard to follow. To make tracking bills easier, I support upgrading our legislative website with plain-language explainers and clear status alerts. As for "Gut and Go" tactics—where bills are stripped and replaced last-minute—I support a mandatory 48-hour public review window and a required committee hearing before any vote. But process reform is only half the battle. I promise to be fully transparent about life in the legislature. I’ll use social media and regular mailers to break down what I’m voting on, why I’m voting that way, and how it impacts you. My goal is to bring the Statehouse to your living room so you’re never left in the dark.

Would you support changes to Kansas election laws and voting systems? Why?

Our democracy works best when every eligible voter can easily make their voice heard. I support election law changes that prioritize voter convenience and accessibility. This means expanding advance in-person voting days to accommodate busy work schedules, protecting the use of secure ballot drop boxes so working parents can safely turn in their ballots, and opposing recent laws that cut back on the timeframe for returning mail-in ballots. Voting should not be a test of endurance or a logistical hurdle. I will always advocate for common-sense updates that make the ballot box more accessible to every eligible Wyandotte County family.