Former Gov. Carlin among those mobilizing support for Clinton in Kansas

Former Gov. John Carlin will be among the Democrats leading efforts to support Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in the Sunflower State.

The Clinton campaigned unveiled its Kansas Leadership Council, a group of 33 prominent Democrats who will head up grassroots efforts in support of the former U.S. secretary of state’s presidential bid ahead of the March 5 caucus.

Carlin, who served as governor from 1979 to 1987, is joined on the list by state Rep. Carolyn Bridges, D-Wichita, and former state Sen. Jean Schodorf, who represented Wichita as a Republican for 12 years before losing in the GOP primary in 2012. Schodorf has since switched parties and now is secretary of the Kansas Democratic Party.

“Since day 1 of her campaign, Hillary Clinton has been laying out bold policy proposals like her comprehensive infrastructure plan that will create good-paying jobs and meet a real need,” Carlin said in a statement released by the campaign. “Hillary is the candidate we need as our next president, and I’m ready to help lead her efforts in Kansas.”

Carlin was appointed archivist of the United States during Bill Clinton’s presidency in 1995. He oversaw the National Archives and Records Administration for 10 years. Carlin now teaches at Kansas State University.

Bridges touted Clinton’s support of paid family leave, equal pay for women and women’s access to health care, calling Clinton a leader who will “bring women’s rights into the 21st century.”

Another Wichitan on the council is Julie Burkhart, the founder and CEO of Trust Women Foundation, which operates the South Wind Women’s Center, the only clinic that provides abortions in Wichita.

The list of supporters also includes former state party chairwoman Joan Wagnon and state Reps. John Wilson, D-Lawrence; Sydney Carlin, D-Manhattan; and Valdenia Winn, D-Kansas City.

There will be 37 delegates up for grabs when the Democrats hold their caucus in Kansas. It will require at least 2,382 delegates to win the party’s nomination.

This story was originally published December 1, 2015 at 9:00 PM with the headline "Former Gov. Carlin among those mobilizing support for Clinton in Kansas."