Laura Kellys 13 years in the state legislature has helped prepare her to be governor. As the minority leader of the states Ways and Means Committee, Kelly has fought for fiscal sanity, all along standing as a staunch opponent to former Gov. Sam Brownbacks disastrous tax policy.
(The only tax cut on Kellys radar is that on food.)
Because of Kellys leadership, the legislatures reversal of his tax cut experiment has helped the states economy to regain ground. Our credit rating has climbed from negative to stable, in the last six months, according to both the S&P and Moodys financial institutions who credited our renewed focus on fiscal responsibility.
As a state senator Kelly was instrumental in holding the Department of Children and Families accountable for reports of missing children from foster homes, those being kept overnight in department offices, and a generally inept system.
Kelly was also instrumental in creating and securing funding for Early Childhood Development Block Grants. The federal funds help indigent families send their children to preschool, enabling them to be on par with their peers when kindergarten begins.
And yet, some say that experience is a liability.
Greg Orman, the independent, touts his absence from elective politics as a virtue in that he would waltz into Cedar Crest with no political agenda.
In his one term as Secretary of State, Republican Kris Kobach has turned an otherwise stolid department into a circus, making sure the spotlight is always on him.
Of all the gubernatorial candidates on Tuesdays ballot, Democrat Laura Kelly is the only who has served in the state legislature, working one-on-one with lawmakers of both parties.
AS MUCH could be said for Democrat Paul Davis, the former minority leader of the House.
During his 11 years in the Kansas Legislature, 2003-2014, Davis dealt with budget shortfalls during the Great Recession while still working to protect education and a statewide transportation plan.
In 2014, Davis ran for governor, narrowly losing to incumbent Gov. Sam Brownback.
Davis is now running for retiring Lynn Jenkins 2nd District seat in Congress.
His opponent is Republican Steve Watkins, truly a newcomer to politics.
