July 31st, 2008

The Home Stretch & Another Endorsement!!!

With half an hour before I hit the streets again I have just received a very welcome call from Jeff Manning, President of Local 31 of the United Auto Workers, the fine folks who build General Motors vehicles up at the Fairfax plant. Jeff let me know that I've received the union's support in my race, and I could not be happier. This legislative district is heavily populated by union families of all professions, trades and crafts, and they all know that I am strongly pro-labor. They know I'll fight for strong work safety rules, decent wages and stop the further erosion of worker rights in Kansas. To Jeff and all union workers in the 24th and the rest of the state, I reaffirm to you that I've got your backs. Thanks again to every one of you!

As I write this there are five active days left in the primary campaign. Days and days of hours and hours of walking our streets and knocking on doors have me feeling I really have the wind at my back. Plenty of you have said you've already voted for me by advance ballot, and I am of course grateful for that. For those hundreds of you who have already pledged your support and your vote, I know we'll have reason to celebrate on Tuesday night. To all Democrats in the 24th District, I want you to know how happy and proud I am with all who have taken part in this primary cycle, that we have kept our respective campaigns issue-oriented, without a hint of rancor or disunity toward our common goal - winning back this district's House seat for someone who actually thinks like our mainstream neighbors. Let's hope our opposition in the Fall campaign remains as high-minded and civil as we've been.

As I travel the streets of the 24th, I'm really encouraged as I see the huge number of my yard signs, hundreds of them; in fact I was pleasantly surprised that we needed to order a second batch just to keep up with the demand! I don't see them so much as "my" signs so much as I see them as a symbol of Democratic unity...that you're supporting the most qualified and electable House candidate in this district. Still, with five days to go I remain committed to visiting with as many of you as possible before The Big Day, and of course well into the Fall campaign. I've stocked up on Gatorade and towels, ready to wear my shoe soles down to the nub. The final push begins!

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July 19th, 2008

DOOR-TO-DOOR DISPATCH:

Despite the summer heat, it's been fantastic walking the precincts of the Fightin' 24th. I've been winning back votes in areas I'd not visited since the last campaign and reaffirming support in the neighborhoods where I'd already visited at least once. What's been consistent from you when we speak with one another are the main issues on which I campaign: school funding, health care, clean energy, decent wages and work conditions and a sensible and fair tax structure. But there's one issue I've not heard much talk about on the trail...until my final house visit last night:

Bernadette is a single (divorced) working mom (customer service rep.) who lives in Overland Park's First Ward. Years ago her ex-husband was ordered to pay child support. He has rarely, if ever, bothered to do so. She's moved to our House district because of the excellent schools, compared with those on the Missouri side of the state line. But since her divorce was in Missouri, she has had to work through the Show-Me State's judicial system in order to try to collect the meager monthly sum the court has told her ex to pay in child support. Deadbeat parents...be they male or female...anger me no end. What has happened between the two parents is one thing, but their children deserve the same material support whether their parents are together or apart. Bernadette works hard for not much money, and it shouldn't be an added burden for her to jump through the many legal hoops she currently must, in order to obtain for her children what is rightfully theirs. As Kansans, we know we can do better than that, and I will do my level best to make sure that Kansas DOES better than that. Thousands of families need this support, and as lawmakers it's our duty to provide it.

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July 16th, 2008

TELEVISED FORUMS ARE NOW BEING AIRED!!!

The League of Women Voters and Johnson County Community College taped my opponent and me last week at a Q & A forum at the JuCo. It's going to be the only opportunity for you to see us discuss the issues in the same setting at the same time, and I think you will see a real difference in the way we answer the panel's questions. If you have Time Warner Cable or Everest, you'll be able to watch the forum on Channel 17, and if you are a Comcast customer it'll be on Channel 22. The forum lasts 30 minutes and here are the viewing times:

July 22nd - 7:30pm
July 16th, 18th, 23rd and 25th - 8:30pm
July 19th and 26th - 12:30pm

You can also view the forum online by clicking below:

24th House District Forum

It should automatically begin playing!

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Endorsement update: In Wednesday's Kansas City Star Neighborhood News pullout there was a very good and comprehensive article contrasting me with my opponent. As a former political correspondent myself I commend Jennifer Bhargava on a very thorough and impartial story. That said, I wish the headline didn't say we are "foes"...he and I will be on the very same team once the primary is over! Also, there's a factual error in the section where endorsements are mentioned. Kansans for Lifesaving Cures did not make ANY endorsement in this race. The organization did contribute an equal amount of money ($250.00) to my campaign and my opponent's, as they know we are in complete agreement on stem cell research...but again, there was NO endorsement, and I believe my opponent is simply too new to the process to know the difference between a contribution and a stated endorsement. Mistakes happen, and you deserve to know the facts. ALL the endorsements I have received are mine alone and are confirmed, and they are ALL local organizations.

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July 14th 2008

Thank You MainStream Coalition!

What a HUGE turnout at this year's endorsed candidates' picnic held by the MainStream Coalition...Once again I was privileged to be one of their featured guests, having been blessed with their endorsment a bit more than a week ago. It was so encouraging to see people both from the Democratic and Republican parties talking about the same goals and everything we have in COMMON rather than what divides us. To have MainStream's endorsement not just in the primary but also for the November election is a real boost to my campaign, and I am again honored to have them in my corner.

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Red, White & YOU!!!

The Independence Day festivities are now behind us, with the city of Mission capping things off the other night at a fine little festival at Broadmoor Park. The A-Team was there of course, passing out stickers, buttons and info cards. It was great to see again so many of you who I've already met by going door to door. The same can be said for the wonderful fireworks we saw on the 4th at Bishop Miege High School. Again I met hundreds of you from both parties, and I look forward to seeing you in the neighborhood during the Autumn campaign.

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Signs, Signs, Everywhere A Sign!

As the primary campaign gets down to the wire, naturally you're going to see more and more signs in people's yards; mostly for my campaign and a few for the other candidates in this race. To those of you who have asked and consented to have my sign in your yard I greatly appreciate your having done so. To all of you, I thought I'd share with you my own personal code of conduct regarding yard signs:

1. I will NEVER place my sign in anyone's yard unless I have their express consent.
2. I will NEVER place a yard sign anywhere it does not belong, either by city ordinance or neighborhood covenants. If a sign is not in its rightful place, it is absolutely not the work of me or my staff.
3. My campaign staff and I will immediately begin to remove signs the day after the election, and hold them in reserve until Autumn.

Over the past few days, it seems that, in a few locations, my opponent's signs have suddenly appeared next to mine. I can only express my thanks to the homeowners who have either remained in my corner or come back. While it is true that it's the votes that count more than how many signs we can place; it's important to send the message to the conservative opponent we face in the Fall that as Democrats, we are a united group, with the common goal of putting the best, most electable candidate on the November ballot. It's clear, now, by your responses at your doorstep, the yard signs we've been able to post, and the many endorsements I am privileged to have, that I will be your candidate on November 4th. But first, I need to win on August 5th...so again I thank you for your vote, and the valuable real estate you all have loaned me for advertising space!

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July 3rd, 2008

ANDY COMPLETES ENDORSEMENT SWEEP!!!

Today I received the good news that I have received a resounding endorsement from Kansas Families for Education. If you've seen yard signs and bumper stickers around town urging you to "Elect Candidates Who Will Fund Our Schools" then you know that's only a small part of the work they do. KFE's staff and volunteers work tirelessly to make sure that LITERALLY no child is left behind, and that the constitutional mandate to adequately and equitably provide a quality public education is met by the Kansas Legislature. In 2006 they actually broke precedent by endorsing my candidacy, having never given the nod to a challenger to a friendly incumbent. This primary season they have once again decided I am the ONE Democrat in this race who can best articulate our shared vision, and I am again proud to receive their endorsement.

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NEW CAMPAIGN CHIEF!!!

I'm proud to announce that LouAnn Kempf has joined the A-Team in the newly-created post of Campaign Manager. LouAnn has most recently worked side-by-side with my great friend Lee Jones as he works to unseat Pat Roberts from the U.S. Senate seat he has occupied for far too long. LouAnn will be overseeing the day-to-day nuts and bolts of the campaign, leaving me to do the job you expect from me, which is meeting face-to-face with as many of you as possible. LouAnn joins Volunteer Coordinator Anne Pritchett at a critical time in this campaign, as the intensity and pace quickly ratchets up to the August 5th Primary. I am proud to have both of them to keep the A-Team a well oiled machine.

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July 2nd, 2008

MAINSTREAM COALITION ENDORSES ANDY!!!

I am THRILLED to announce that today I received the endorsement of the MAINstream Coalition's Political Action Committee. This is as much a validation as it is a vote of support from Kansas and Missouri's most moderate group of political stalwarts. MAINstream is consisted of both Democratic and Republican members, deeply rooted in the notion that moderation and tolerance are the best values we bring to the political process, and that a strict separation of church and state must be maintained. I am proud to be their only choice in this primary race, and I reaffirm my commitment to the values that we all hold dear, the values that the vast majority of us share be it in our home lives, our spiritual lives, or those precious and ennobling few moments we spend at the ballot box.

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June 27th, 2008

ENDORSEMENT UPDATE!!!

I just received word this afternoon that once again the Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus has endorsed me. In 2006 I was the ONLY candidate in my race to warrant consideration, and this year it appears lightning has struck twice! The GKCWPC is an organization consisting both of Democrats and Republicans, so having their endorsement again reinforces that mine is the only true Moderate campaign in this district and the one that clearly has the broad-based appeal to win in November. Please remember though: I can't win in November unless I FIRST win on August 5th, so I appreciate everything you have done and will continue to do to work toward my vistory in the primaries. Keep looking in on the AndyBlog for more announcements and endorsements!

Televised Debates in July!!!

The League of Women Voters of Johnson County are once again producing a series of pre-recorded candidate forums, and I will be featured in one of them. The taping day is July 9th, to be shown on Time Warner Cable Channel 17 at various times to be listed later. The forum will be 30 minutes long.
This is going to be the only opportunity for you to see me and my opponent answer the same tough questions in the same place and time. I have looked forward to this ever since the last one in which I participated in 2006. Be sure to tune in!

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June 26th, 2008

THE PRIMARY HEATS UP (and so does the weather!)...

No doubt about it; this is going to be a fascinating election season. The A-Team, my dedicated volunteer group, are hard at work...and my four to five hours a day of knocking on doors have me both exhausted/energized and GREATLY encouraged. Those of you with whom I have been visiting are tired of being deceived by the Conservative Republicans and eager to see me take on their appointed "incumbent" in the Fall. I'm glad and grateful to have your votes again (and so many key yard sign locations!) and look forward to moving on past the August 5th primary and on to the BIG victory in November. I appreciate your help in getting me there!

ENDORSEMENTS... The first round of endorsements have come out and I am proud to say that I have again been given the nod by the Greater Kansas City chapter of Democracy for America, as well as the Kansas Democratic Progressive Caucus. As a middle-path Democrat it is an even greater honor to have such broad-based support from both the moderate and progressive sectors of our party. I expect more endorsements by next week. Just a reminder that in 2006 I received a perfect 100 score from the MAINstream Coalition and was endorsed by Kansas Familes for Education, The Sierra Club, the Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus along with numerous labor groups including Tri-County AFL-CIO, Laborers' Union 1290 and the United Auto Workers. I will be proud to again have the endorsement of all these groups, but the biggest endorsement I could hope for is your own. You know that experience DOES matter, that a LONG history of community involvement and years of meeting and knowing one's neighbors are the key qualities that make a State Representative effective and electable. There's no shortcut for that!

PARTY DOWN(stairs)!!!!!
Mark your calendar for 7:30 pm on Thursday, July 10th; come party with folks like you who are in my corner, and meet with me after a long day of doorknocking (I promise to look and smell fresh as a daisy). We'll be downstairs at the Lucky Brewgrille in the Mission Mart on Johnson Drive. It'll be free to anyone who wants to come, however we're suggesting a $25.00 donation to the campaign. It'll be a fun night, and I promise no long-winded speeches!!!

Don't forget I'm still at Toto's Monday Wednesday and Friday mornings; c'mon down...

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June 3rd, 2008

FILING DAY!!!

This morning I was first in line at the Secretry of State's office in Topeka to file my Declaration of Candidacy. By the time anyone else (my opponent and his dad included!) got around to filing I had already done the rounds of the Statehouse Media offices where I reacquainted myself with several old colleagues from the "golden" days when I was a legislative correspondent myself. Some things at the Statehouse are as constant as the sunrise...the world's slowest elevators, Don's snack counter and the stream of schoolkids being herded through to see Kansas's government in action (or inaction? It was a slow day today!).
I also visited my friends in the House and Senate Minority Leaders' offices; it's always a bit like going back home...but as Thomas Wolfe once told us, you really can't do that...not completely. My old Statehouse office has literally disappeared! It was removed to make way for a new staircase from the first floor down to the walkway tunnels downstairs. I always liked that office; it was right next to the state document center and a stone's throw from all the newspaper vending machines, and I now look forward to a new office there next January!

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November 10th, 2007

THE CAMPAIGN RESUMES!!!

If you'd told me this time last year that I'd be back in the fight I'd have had a hearty laugh...but my goodness how things quickly changed in the month following the election! I'm back in the fight and ready to bring a MODERATE tone and approach back to the 24th District after a bizarre and unpleasant series of events brought on by the far right wing. This is finally the year we can resoundingly reject such a narrow and extreme agenda. I come into the race ready to champion a reasoned, moderate and compassionate approach to governance. I know you feel the same way and I hope I can count on your support once again. So....... Come join me at Toto's Coffeehouse, 6915 Johnson Drive, on Wednesday evening, November 14th from 6-8pm to help kick off the campaign. It also just happens to be the day I turn 50, and while I usually celebrate my birthdays quietly with Jill and the rest of the family, I am delighted to have you celebrate with me!

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October 22nd, 2007

OFFICE HOURS ARE BACK!!!

With a year and a month to go until we officially bring this nation and this state back to middle ground, I'm already hard at work on getting things underway. One of the things we did that really worked well last year was spending weekday mornings meeting with you face to face over a hot cuppajoe at Toto's Coffeehouse. It worked so well that we're back! I'm at Toto's Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 7:30-9:30 with my usual jumbo tank o'coffee, ready to listen. I look forward to meeting with you!