East Wichita Kansas Senate District 30 Democratic primary

Democrats Melissa Gregory and Amy Lyon are competing for the Democratic nomination for the east Wichita Senate District 30 seat which was left without an incumbent when Susan Wagle announced she was retiring from the state Senate. The winner of the primary will face Republican Renee Erickson in November.

Melissa Gregory

Age: 73

Education: Bachelor’s Degree, Wichita State University

Occupation: Public Servant

Political and civic experience: District Director and Chief of Staff for Kansas Congressman Dan Glickman’s office. Key assistant for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Glickman. Manager of the Wichita office and director of Senior Health Insurance Counseling in the Kansas Insurance Department. Director of Appointments during Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ term to recruit and vet candidates to serve on professional boards and commissions. Member of Gov. Laura Kelly’s transition team.

Endorsements: Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple, Former Attorney for the 18th Judicial District of Kansas Nola Foulston, Former Congressman and U.S. Secretary. of Agriculture Dan Glickman, Former Gov. and U.S. Sec. of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Former U.S. Attorney Randy Rathbun, Former Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Tim Norton, Community leader Lyndy Wells, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, former Sedgwick County Commissioner and Kansas State Representative Melody McCray-Miller

Contact information: melissaforkansas@gmail.com; https://melissagregoryforkansas.com

1. What will be your top priorities as a Kansas legislator?

While we don’t know what the state will look like in January when the next Legislature convenes, we need to focus on keeping people safe, healthy, and restoring jobs lost to the pandemic response and bolstering healthcare, by expanding Medicaid to our working families and children. We also need to protect public education funding and reform our law enforcement/judicial justice/juvenile justice/corrections system.

2. The state government will likely be facing budget shortfalls. Specify what taxes you would support raising and/or what cuts you would support to address this problem.

Again, while no one knows how big the budget hole will be when the next Legislature convenes, we need new and thoughtful leaders who will leave politics behind to come up with real solutions to the deficits that the pandemic response has rendered at the local, state, and federal levels. No one can tell you today that they have the solution for that, but I have direct experience at the federal and state levels in dealing with local governments. That experience and my reputation as a reasonable servant of the people will get me a seat at the table to address these interrelated issues.

3. Do you support or oppose expansion of the state’s KanCare Medicaid program? Explain.

I support Medicaid expansion as one of my highest priorities because Kansas has been on the wrong side of this issue. Common sense also tells us it is imperative while we grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the people working hard and providing essential services are working poor who make too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford to take care of their family’s basic needs and health care. Expanding Medicaid will benefit these working families and could help restore medical services in communities where hospitals have been forced to close.

4. Do you believe any changes should be made to better protect the rights of minority citizens? If so, what?

Yes, of course. I will fight discrimination and mistreatment of any Kansan, or efforts to single out people for exclusion or to be treated differently under the law. But we must get through the uncomfortable part and start to figure out what we need to learn and need to do. Some local leaders have responded to community demands and grievances with a model for community public safety. It is inclusive, and a good start. But we cannot pit advocates against each other for funding or change is stifled and the system stays the same.

5. Should the Covid-19 pandemic flare up again, or another dangerous disease surface in Kansas, who should be in charge of the state’s response to disease control and containment? What measures would you support or oppose?

Lacking Federal leadership, the Governor should drive the statewide response to COVID-19. As a member of Governor Kelly’s Transition Team, I know the diligence that resulted in selecting Dr. Norman to head the KDHE. This is the team you want. Legislators who drag their feet for whatever reasons have not helped Kansans during the pandemic. The Governor’s access to state and federal scientific and medical resources results in informed decisions.

6. Do you support or oppose efforts to place a constitutional amendment before Kansas voters to overturn a state Supreme Court ruling that says the Kansas Constitution supports a woman’s right to choose to terminate her pregnancy?

I oppose efforts to amend the constitution on this matter. As a woman and a mother, I am very clearly supportive of a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body. The 30th District has people that favor my position and others that don’t, and I acknowledge that and will listen to differing points of view.

7. Why should voters choose you over your opponents?

I have the skills for successfully working with all levels of government to better the lives of people in the 30th District. I know how to reach reasonable solutions to complex issues, and I am respected by those I have worked with closely in and out of government at the local, state, and federal levels.

I am dedicated to keeping people safe and healthy, restoring jobs lost to the pandemic and bolstering healthcare by expanding Medicaid to working families. I am focused on problem-solving, yet I am a fighter when I need to be. I respect the office and I respect the people of this district.

Amy Lyon

Age: 54

Education: Bachelor Degree - Organizational Management & Leadership

Occupation: Independent Consultant

Political and civic experience: Campaign staff for Carl Brewer gubernatorial run; Previous candidate in the 2019 Mayoral election; Kansas Director of Objective Zero, working to end suicide among veterans and service members; Veterans Community Partnership,

Endorsements: 2020 Equality Kansas Endorsement

Contact information: info@amylyonforkansas.org

1. What will be your top priorities as a Kansas legislator?

Advocacy for constituents who have been ignored for a very long time; Medicaid Expansion - Ensuring health access for everyone and to ensure we save rural hospitals; Strategic rebuilding of our economy in times of COVID; Protection of Women’s Health; Education budget review and revamp so that each year it doesn’t take the Kansas Supreme Court to mandate funding.

2. The state government will likely be facing budget shortfalls. Specify what taxes you would support raising and/or what cuts you would support to address this problem.

First, examining the large tax breaks that were given to corporations need to be reexamined, and rescinded or reduced to funnel money back to Kansans and to assist small businesses with economic fallout from COVID-19. While we always dream of tax cuts, as I stated above, I believe is tax shifts to avoid the many failed tax cut experiments which have been detrimental to the state, and from which we are just rebounding.

3. Do you support or oppose expansion of the state’s KanCare Medicaid program? Explain.

There is ZERO reason we leave money in DC that could help Kansans who need care. Currently, 90% of Medicaid expansion is already paid for, leaving our local government to save across the board and ensure our most vulnerable have access to medical services. After 2020, it is estimated that Kansas would possibly see a 2.8% increase in state Medicaid expenses which is offset by the plethora of savings that come with expansion.To not expand Medicaid is to remain fiscally and morally irresponsible.

4. Do you believe any changes should be made to better protect the rights of minority citizens? If so, what?

As a U.S. Veteran and Nationally Certified Advocate, I believe in all human rights, and it is our duty to ensure we protect and attend to the rights of every citizen.

A protection that should have occurred and is still an issue is gentrification and a great example is the electric poles erected in 67214. How many elected officials allowed this to happen, knowing the impact, and allowed it because it was not an affluent white neighborhood. Add that this is also a food desert and yes, protections for minority communities need to happen. While not considered a protection, we need to recruit, and elect more diverse city and state officials.

5. Should the Covid-19 pandemic flare up again, or another dangerous disease surface in Kansas, who should be in charge of the state’s response to disease control and containment? What measures would you support or oppose?

The misconception is that COVID-19 ever went away. Despite warnings by top medical and health professionals, people made this a political issue and lost all common sense. Exactly what was predicted did occur. My belief is that we listen to the medical professionals and let them lead. Completely remove all politics from the equation. Within our government structure, we include outstanding health professionals and we should follow their lead. Further, if the mandate is masks, we readily make available and provide to public.

6. Do you support or oppose efforts to place a constitutional amendment before Kansas voters to overturn a state Supreme Court ruling that says the Kansas Constitution supports a woman’s right to choose to terminate her pregnancy?

I do not support legislation that restricts or removes a woman’s right to choose. Women do not end pregnancies for the joy of it, and leadership in Topeka spend more time on women’s rights versus the economy, jobs, and items benefiting all ALL Kansans. If Kansas Legislators want to get serious about reducing or eliminating abortion, they need to protect clinics that provide free birth control and other services to women. The Colorado model is the gold standard on supporting women and their choices and what Kansas should follow.

7. Why should voters choose you over your opponents?

My global business leadership and multi-million-dollar budget management and expertise is what is needed in Topeka. I believe in advocacy over politics as usual and given my experience with some of the largest accounting companies across the globe, I know what it is to listen to constituents and professionally represent ALL.

I am a U.S. Veteran who has a passion for service to country and community, and actually demonstrate my advocacy and work in the community every day as Kansas Director, Objective Zero, working to end suicide among veterans and service members, and as a Board Member of Veterans Community Partnership. I am nationally certified Victim Advocate and I never shy away from needed work in my community regardless of political party or socioeconomic status. I am not a political insider who is beholden to anyone in Topeka. If elected, I would be the first ever female veteran elected to the Kansas Legislature.

This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 3:32 PM.