Two vie for Kansas House District 99 seat

A first-time candidate and a candidate who narrowly lost in his first race two years ago are vying for the House District 99 seat in east Wichita and Andover.

They’re both Republicans seeking to replace Dennis Hedke, who is retiring. The issue will be decided in the primary election because there is no Democratic candidate.

“I ran two years ago, filed on the last day I could file,” Spirit AeroSystems project manager Randy Banwart, 54, said. “Now it’s in my blood. I’m completely focused on what’s going on. I think that’s what makes me a better candidate than I was two years ago.”

His opponent, family lawyer Susan Humphries, said her foray into politics does not surprise friends and family who know of her passion for the U.S. Constitution and conservative causes.

“My husband was 100 percent for it,” Humphries, 58, said. “And my sweet daughter-in-law said, ‘Why would you not do this? This is you.’ Of course, I sought my husband’s counsel first.”

Aside from both being relative political newcomers, there are plenty of differences between the candidates on the issues.

Humphries says state taxes should be reduced and small businesses should remain exempt from income taxes. Banwart would also like to see overall taxation reduced but says all options are on the table when it comes to the state achieving financial stability. He specifically cites Brownback’s 2012 tax plan, which exempted the owners of certain businesses from income taxes, as needing overhauling as part of a “fair and balanced approach.”

Banwart thinks the state’s spending on K-12 should be increased as a way to help the state’s future workforce. Humphries believes current spending is adequate.

Both give poor marks to the most recent Legislature, but Banwart is much more critical of Gov. Sam Brownback.

“I think a lot of people are irritated with Brownback. ... I don’t think he’s leading the state the way he needs to be, being the business guy I am.”

When Brownback saw his current financial policies were not working, he should have been willing to change course, Banwart said. “That’s how you have to do that in your personal life. Why not do that at the state level?”

Humphries, asked her opinion of Brownback, said, “I think he’s a really nice guy. I think he needs to do the hard work. I support him because he’s a Republican governor. Does that mean I love everything he’s done? No.”

Banwart

Banwart, a Wichita native, said he was active in student politics growing up and had the interest rekindled about five years ago. In 2014, he lost to Hedke, the incumbent, by 148 votes out of about 3,224 cast. He said the same issues he focused on two years ago — stabilizing school funding and the state’s financial position, plus improving the economy — are still paramount today.

One alternative to exempting small businesses from income taxes might be putting that money into an economic development fund for the state that would help businesses, he said. One additional concern is the state’s increasing debt load. He said he’ll keep an open mind on taxes and many other issues if sent to Topeka.

“I don’t want to close doors. I want to be open minded. I want to listen, educate myself and maybe something will come of it.”

He thinks his job as a project manager better prepares him to make the “business decisions” required to run the state financially.

“That’s what I do every day, look at return on investment. If it (investment) is too high, kick it out.”

Humphries

Humphries said her family first moved to the area in 1981 and to their current home in District 99 in 2002. She said her family has also lived elsewhere for job purposes, most recently from 2010-2014 in Colorado. She got her law degree from the University of Denver then.

“We have moved away because of job transfers,” she said. “More important is two years ago, we lived in beautiful Colorado and I chose to take the bar exam in Kansas because I love Kansas. We weren’t just born here. We chose here. We’ve come back five times.”

Humphries said her candidacy is a result of lifelong interest in policy and family issues, especially adoption and the foster care system. Thirty years ago, before raising her own family, she worked as a caseworker for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“I understand the struggles that families have,” said Humphries, who adopted two of her four children with her husband, Cary.

Since getting her law degree, she has focused primarily on adoption law while working at the Schultz Law Office in Wichita. Humphries said her niche is helping people who have had long-term guardianship of relatives, such as a niece or grandson, legally adopt the child. Improving the state’s foster care system is a major priority.

“There are other states that have partnered together with private nonprofits to really work on getting children off the foster care rolls,” she said.

This story was originally published July 8, 2016 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Two vie for Kansas House District 99 seat."