Endorsements: Kansas House

The following are The Eagle editorial board’s recommendations for Kansas House. In past elections, the endorsements have tended to be evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. But too many current GOP candidates either voted for or supported reckless tax cuts that have harmed the state’s ability to fund public education and social services and have led to downgrades in the state’s credit ratings. They also back the elimination of state-mandated due-process rights for teachers, the dangerous attempt by the state to assume control of Medicare, and the Legislature’s refusal to allow a federal expansion of Medicaid. What’s needed in Topeka is more moderate, responsible governing and less far-right ideology.

District 81

Democrat Lynn Wells is the most qualified candidate for this southeast Sedgwick County seat, which is open because Jim Howell is running for County Commission. Wells, who retired from what was then the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, has “had enough” of the Legislature, calling last spring’s education bill “disgraceful” and the health care compact “horrific.” She knows the issues and wants a fair tax structure, Medicaid expansion and full funding for education.

The other candidate is Blake Carpenter, a Republican college student who wants to see lower taxes and fails to acknowledge the state’s fiscal crisis. He’s bright and could be a quick learner in Topeka, but likely would be another GOP yes-man.

District 82

Democratic challenger Danette Harris is the best candidate for this district, which includes parts of Derby and Mulvane. A physical therapist and a company commander in the Army National Guard, Harris is understandably frustrated with the Legislature’s decisions, including its failure to fund schools at a constitutional level. She would like to see the state do more for veterans, and promises not to represent an ideology or special interests. “I’m an independent thinker,” she said.

By contrast, Republican incumbent Pete DeGraaf is part of the conservative bloc that has led the state astray fiscally and otherwise. He infamously pushed passage of the state law barring insurance companies from covering abortions (even resulting from rape or incest) by likening a woman’s purchase of abortion-only insurance to having a spare tire.

District 83

One-term Democrat Carolyn Bridges was an effective representative for this east Wichita district on education issues – not surprisingly for someone who spent 25 years as a principal. She wants to fund schools adequately and leave policymaking to the state school board and local boards, and to expand Medicaid and do more for the poor and disabled. Voters should send her back.

Her conservative GOP challenger is James Thomas, a self-described “supply-sider” who owns and runs an energy company and wants more K-12 reforms and tax cuts and less activism by the courts. Thomas’ intelligence and business experience could make him a skilled lawmaker, but his philosophy would further the state’s fiscal mess. And his talk of Bridges’ “government school background” exemplifies her complaint about a lack of respect in Topeka for public education.

District 84

Democratic incumbent Gail Finney is the clear pick in this district, which includes parts of central and east Wichita. In her three terms, she has been guided by her support for public schools and small businesses, also pushing her colleagues to consider legalizing medical marijuana. She wants to restore classroom funding, return to annual state budgeting, revisit tax credits and expand Medicaid.

Her challengers are Ray “Grizzly” Racobs, an independent-thinking Republican who names the environment and improving criminal justice among his priorities, and Libertarian Gordon Bakken.

District 85

Republican incumbent Steven Brunk is the choice in this district in northeast Wichita and Sedgwick County, not for his extreme voting record – which makes him part of the problem in Topeka – but for his experience, knowledge of tax policy and leadership, including as chairman of the Federal and State Affairs Committee. Too bad his worthy proposals for a rainy day fund for revenue shortfalls and a disaster relief fund for emergencies won’t be enough to counter the effects of the 2012 income tax cuts, which he supported and will dog every decision the Legislature makes for years.

His challenger is Democrat Patrick Thorpe, an insurance agent and college student who would expand Medicaid, better fund schools and improve the state’s infrastructure.

District 86

Longtime lawmaker Jim Ward is an outspoken advocate in the Legislature for public education, vulnerable Kansans and common sense, and deserves another term in this southeast Wichita district. An attorney, Ward is needed in Topeka to watchdog the troubled KanCare privatization and to fight for constitutional school funding and Medicaid expansion.

The other candidate is Libertarian James Pruden.

District 87

Voters in this east Wichita district have two unusually strong candidates to consider, but Democrat Charles Jenney is the choice for his commitment to funding public schools constitutionally and to putting the state back on a responsible fiscal path. The award-winning middle school science teacher, who also has experience in rural economic development, is rightly concerned about the imbalanced tax policy in Topeka pushing local property taxes higher. He would expand Medicaid and reverse the phase-out of the mortgage interest deduction.

One-term Mark Kahrs is an influential, knowledgeable lawmaker, especially proving his value as the Legislature deals with legal matters. “They’ve starved the judiciary, which I’m adamantly opposed to,” said Kahrs, an attorney. His leadership, however, largely has served the governor’s damaging fiscal and social agenda. And it’s no comfort to seniors worried about Medicare that Kahrs believes the health care compact, which he supported, is “never going to happen.” (Then why vote for it?)

District 88

Democrat Patricia M. Sloop proved a commonsense advocate for public schools, vulnerable Kansans, tax fairness, local control and renewable energy in her first term serving this southeast Wichita district. The retired clinical social worker proposes freezing the income tax cuts, restoring education funding, and repealing the “scary” health care compact and the due-process and other policy reforms in the schools bill. Voters should give her another two years.

The Republican challenger is real-estate agent Joseph Scapa, whom Sloop unseated in 2012. Scapa’s one term saw him in lockstep ideologically on issues including the disastrous tax cuts, and he is too unconcerned about their consequences.

District 89

Incumbent Democrat Roderick A. Houston has been a dependable voice for Wichita and public education during his first term in office. As a lifelong resident of this northeast Wichita district and pastor of Mt. Olive Tabernacle of Praise Church of God in Christ, Houston understands the struggles facing many working families. He is concerned about how the state’s tax plan favored the wealthy and is resulting in revenue shortfalls, and he wants to seek a “bipartisan solution that will strengthen the economic future for all Kansans.” He deserves to be sent back to Topeka.

His opponent, Republican Frank Chappell, has impressive credentials. He is a former president of KSN, Channel 3, and has served on the boards of several community organizations. He thinks the tax cuts were the best decision the Legislature made, and he supports a state takeover of Medicare. He is also concerned that “just throwing money at” public education won’t solve its problems.

District 92

Democrat John Carmichael is outstanding and is the clear choice in this north-central Wichita district. Carmichael, who is an attorney, was appointed last year to replace Nile Dillmore, who resigned. Though he has served only one session in the Legislature, Carmichael is remarkably informed, in part, he says, because he has “spent a lifetime watching and learning about the political process.” He is appropriately worried about how tax cuts have strained the state’s finances – “I’m still waiting for the shot of adrenaline,” he said – and favors freezing future tax cuts as a needed first step. He has been a valuable watchdog on the state’s privatization of Medicaid, noting that “it’s coldhearted what they are doing there.”

Republican Jeremy Alessi is a financial adviser who serves on the Arts Council and the city’s cultural funding committee. He describes himself as a problem solver but can’t match Carmichael’s grasp of the issues facing the state.

District 93

Republican John Whitmer is narrowly the better choice in this district, which includes Cheney, Clearwater and Viola and parts of Goddard, Haysville, Mulvane and Wichita. Whitmer, who defeated incumbent Rep. Joe Edwards in the GOP primary, has a diverse business background and has been involved in civic groups, including serving on Wichita’s District 4 Advisory Board. He is conservative but favors more constructive bipartisanship and is critical of the Legislature’s habit of passing big bills at 3 a.m. One concern about Whitmer is that he has had personal financial problems, which were triggered in part by a large medical bill.

Democrat Sammy K. Flaharty, who is making her second run for this office, says she is “flipping tired” of what has been going on in Topeka. If elected, her priorities include making the tax structure fairer, rescinding the health care compact, and restoring state funding to schools and due-process rights for teachers.

District 95

Democratic incumbent Tom Sawyer is the clear choice in this central Wichita district. Sawyer has extensive political experience, including having served as House majority leader and as the Democratic nominee for governor in 1998. He is also active in the community, having served on many civic boards and committees. He thinks the biggest state issues are the budget problems and improving funding for education. Sawyer is a respected and needed voice for common sense in Topeka.

His opponent is Benny Boman, who served one term in the Legislature but has run several times.

District 96

Incumbent Democrat Brandon Whipple is a smart, enthusiastic lawmaker who deserves a second term representing this south Wichita district. He argues that the biggest issue facing the state is “the unbalanced Brownback budget, which irresponsibly cuts services while putting the state further into debt.” He is also concerned that the state’s budget problems could lead to higher property taxes.

Republican Rick Lindsey ran unsuccessfully for this seat two years ago against Whipple. If elected, he wants to make sure the state has a sound budget.

District 98

There are two good candidates vying to represent this district that includes southwest Wichita and parts of Haysville and Oaklawn, but Republican Steve Anthimides is narrowly our choice because of his admirable independence and moderation. Anthimides, who owns a jewelry store in downtown Wichita, was appointed to this seat after Phil Hermanson resigned last year. During his first year in office, Anthimides refused to support the GOP bill that eliminated due-process rights for teachers (“It was a little heated but I held my ground,” he said) and opposed a state takeover of Medicare. Topeka needs more GOP lawmakers who refuse to jump off an ideological cliff. His legislative priorities in a full term would include jobs, education and public safety.

Democrat Steven G. Crum would also be an excellent choice. Crum, who teaches and coaches in the Haysville school district, has served on the Haysville Planning Commission and is currently a member of the Haysville City Council. He is concerned about the lack of give and take in Topeka and wants to help solve problems. Crum could be a dynamic, effective state lawmaker.

District 100

Incumbent Republican Daniel R. Hawkins, who has served one term in the Legislature, is the best choice for this northwest Wichita district. An employee benefits consultant, Hawkins brings real-world business experience to Topeka. Though he took office after the state passed its reckless tax cuts, Hawkins has tended to follow the lead of GOP leaders and needs to show more independence and balance if re-elected.

His opponent is Democrat John Wallace Willoughby, who also ran for this seat two years ago. He wants to make water conservation a top priority of the Legislature.

District 105

Incumbent Republican Mark E. Hutton is narrowly the better choice for this near-northwest Wichita district because of his business background and his willingness to broker compromises. Hutton, CEO of Hutton Construction Corp., has served one term in the Legislature. Though he voted to eliminate due-process rights for teachers and supported a state takeover of Medicare, he has also proved pragmatic at times and solution-oriented. For example, he has been working with the Kansas Hospital Association on possible options for expanding Medicaid. He also is interested in greatly reducing the number of sales-tax exemptions.

Democrat Sherry Livingston, a management consultant, would also be a good choice. She is concerned that the voice of citizens isn’t being heard in Topeka and was disappointed that the Kansas Supreme Court had to tell the Legislature to fund schools properly. She said the Legislature is too interested in ideology instead of making the state a better place. She’s right.

This story was originally published October 22, 2014 at 7:05 PM with the headline "Endorsements: Kansas House."