Two Democrats hope to oust incumbent in District 98

Two Democrats vying for the Kansas House in District 98 seat agree that big changes are needed in Topeka. They differ over who has the best chance to beat the Republican incumbent and make that happen.

The district takes in the north half of Haysville, part of south Wichita and some unincorporated areas of Sedgwick County. Running in the Democratic primary are Haysville City Council member Steven Crum and Justin Kraemer, a former TV news reporter and anchorman.

Rep. Steven Anthimides, who defeated Crum in the general election two years ago, is unopposed in the Republican primary.

“I just think I have the experience for this,” Crum said. “When I do something, I stick with it. I’m in my 17th year as a teacher. I’ve lived in this district basically my whole life. I’m running as a Democrat, but at the same time, I know how to work with other people.”

Kraemer says Crum focuses too much on education and should have beaten Anthimides in 2014. He lost by 129 votes.

“I just don’t think he’s as dedicated to winning this race as we are,” Kraemer said. “Two years ago, Steve Crum barely raised money or knocked on doors. If Steve Crum had done the work necessary to win this race, he could have single-handedly stopped that (state) budget from passing, and we could have gotten a better deal from Republicans.”

Crum acknowledged that he could have run a more effective campaign against Anthimides two years ago.

“Maybe I didn’t do some things he (Kraemer) thought I should do,” Crum said. “I am doing some things different this time. It was a learning experience.”

Like Kraemer, Crum said he has become more disappointed with Anthimides’ performance since the latter’s election in November 2014. Anthimides was first appointed to the seat in January 2014.

“When he was first in there, he had shown the ability to go against the governor. That’s just kind of faded away,” he said.

Crum and Kraemer both say independent voters will decide this November’s contest.

Priorities for Crum

Crum, 50, is a teacher at Nelson Elementary School and coach at Campus High School, where he graduated in 1984. He has served on the Haysville City Council for all but three years since 2001.

Crum said he had to think hard about whether to run again after being contacted by Democratic Party leaders in Topeka. He still has children in school, and serving in the Legislature means being away from home.

He did so because of three issues he sees as priorities: eliminating the state’s income tax exemption for small businesses; increasing funding for education; and expanding Medicaid coverage to more Kansans. Crum said the state’s current tax system has the state “on the brink of bankruptcy” while “some of the wealthiest citizens are given a free pass on part of their tax responsibilities.”

Crum says the state should spend more on education, although he thinks Kansas schools do a good job overall.

As for Medicaid, he said, “There are people who are dying” because they lack coverage.

“I know a guy that was kicked out of ICU in the hospital 72 hours after he had brain surgery because he wasn’t going to be able to pay. He was dead two weeks later.”

Crum said he has experience with government budgets from serving on the Haysville City Council and as chief negotiator between Haysville teachers and the school district.

Kraemer: ‘We need jobs’

Kraemer, 42, was a reporter and weekend anchor for KSN from 2008 through 2013. He lost his job when an open microphone caught him cursing on air. He moved into the district last year and announced his candidacy shortly afterward. He said he had also lived in the district before House district lines were redrawn in 2012.

“I find what’s going on in Topeka extremely frustrating,” he said. “It certainly appears that Sam Brownback and his allies are not listening to the concerns of working families and everyday Kansans. They proved that when they passed the largest tax increase in Kansas history but still protected this ridiculous tax exemption for 330,000 business owners in the state. It’s something we can’t afford right now.”

Kraemer said taxes on some Kansans could be reduced if everybody would “pay their fair share.” He called the state’s current policy of applying the full sales tax to food purchases immoral.

The state is doing a lousy job in economic development, he said, and lawmakers shouldn’t waste time trying to pass legislation related to issues like bathroom use or sexual orientation.

“We need jobs. That’s the only thing that’s going to turn it around. We have to send a message that this is an exceptional place to live.”

Kraemer said his conversations with independent voters in the district show they are disappointed in both parties. He thinks his skills as a professional communicator will translate into effectiveness in Topeka, where he says relationships he built with lawmakers as a journalist will be helpful.

Kraemer said he’s had a hard time finding full-time work since his well-publicized firing from KSN. So he’s working full time campaigning for the District 98 seat.

Asked if voters remember the circumstances of his departure from TV, Kraemer said, “Oh yeah, it comes up. I think the vast majority of people in this area are sympathetic. Does that make me automatically eligible for the Statehouse? Of course not. But we’re trying to use some of that name recognition and the unique circumstances of my departure. I don’t think voters are holding it against me.”

This story was originally published July 15, 2016 at 6:59 PM with the headline "Two Democrats hope to oust incumbent in District 98."