By JESSICA LOVE <a href="https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2022/10/27/getting-stuck-with-payday-loans/">Courtesy Indiana Capital Chronicle</a>

Have you ever gotten your car or truck stuck in mud; and the more you try to get out, the deeper your tires sink in? I have.&nbsp;

So, I know from experience: unless 
you have the luxury of waiting for things to dry out, you’re going to 
need help – a push or a pull – to get unstuck.&nbsp;

And you’re probably going to feel 
somewhat embarrassed. I mean, technically, even though you didn’t intend
 to get stuck, no one else was behind the wheel. You either didn’t see 
the hazard ahead of you, or you thought it wouldn’t be as bad to go 
through it as it was.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Even if you didn’t have a good way 
around it, or calculated the risk and thought you could get yourself 
through it, the fact remains that it happened, and you were “at fault”. 
Thinking back, you wish you’d done anything other than the solution you 
sought – the one that caused your tires to get “sunk down deep in muck 
and mire” (for fellow Little Blue Truck fans).&nbsp;

Now imagine that the vehicle you’re 
thinking about represents your family’s financial health, and the 
process of getting “more stuck” as a result of the option chosem to 
solve your short-term problem yourself – instead of asking for help or 
not thinking you had other options – represents a payday loan. The 
“solution” now becomes a bigger problem to solve than the initial 
issue.&nbsp;

This is about where the analogy ends,
 since muddy patches don’t have business models designed to keep you 
stuck, and payday lenders do. It’s in getting people more stuck that 
profits are really made, where the interest rate ultimately racks up to 
391% in Indiana. And you really have to find a solution to your 
solution.&nbsp;

This is why I often refer to the 
payday industry as one of the most subsidized markets in existence – 
because government and nonprofit resources are so often required to bail
 people out of the disasters that payday loans cause.&nbsp;

But what if it didn’t have to be that way?&nbsp;

One path to pursue is policy change. 
At the moment, the burden is largely on Congress, and your legislative 
outreach will help make the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.indianaopportunity.net/hrl-news/2021/11/18/bipartisan-legislation-would-expand-military-lending-act-protections-on-payday-and-car-title-loans-to-all-veterans-and-consumers">Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act</a>
 – to cap all payday loans at 36% – a reality. You can also call on your
 state legislators to impose a state 36% cap. But until and even once 
legislation is passed, many Hoosiers will still need a more responsible 
way to borrow.

So, what if there was another route?&nbsp;

What if most of those in the 88% of 
polled Hoosier voters who said they would like to see Indiana have a 36%
 payday rate cap – who are in a position to provide another way – 
established a pathway to an alternative solution for their employees and
 coworkers?&nbsp;

The impact, to belabor my analogy, 
would be earth-shattering for Hoosier families who don’t have the 
resources to weather a financial shock.

One specific “bypass” – previously 
available in only 23 counties – has recently become available statewide.
 If you are a business owner, or a human resources rep, or just someone 
willing to talk to your boss about making a financially sustainable 
option available to those in your workplace, the solution that I present
 to you is the Community Loan Center program.&nbsp;

It’s an affordable, employer-based, small dollar loan program. So what’s the catch?&nbsp;

Well, as hard as it may be to believe, there really isn’t one. For <a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/UZNl6K1db0Y">companies signed up for the program</a>,
 the CLC program is provided as an employee benefit at no cost to the 
employer. Employers literally just need to: 1) confirm employment when a
 loan is applied for and 2) set up payroll deduction in accordance with 
the employee’s repayment plan. In doing so, they instantly gain 
employees that are less stressed and more present for their jobs.&nbsp;

Made available through nonprofits, 
this affordable, 12-month loan is designed to get or keep people out of 
debt instead of trapping them in it. (CLC loans can be used to pay off 
payday loans.) The reason is simple: the nonprofit providers offering 
this program would rather put their resources towards improving a 
family’s economic trajectory vs. bailing them out from the quake that 
comes from a payday loan.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just consider how you might <a target="_blank" href="https://clcofindiana.org/">bring this alternative to your workplace</a>
 – and actually help solve a colleague’s short-term financial bump in 
the road in a way that makes it manageable and gets people out of the 
muck without getting stuck.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Jessica Love is executive director for Prosperity Indiana, a statewide membership organization for individuals and organizations strengthening Hoosier communities.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666904919259.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JESSICA LOVE <a href="https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2022/10/27/getting-stuck-with-payday-loans/">Courtesy Indiana Capital Chronicle</a>Have you ever gotten your car or truck stuck in mud; and the more you try to get out, the deeper your tires sink in? I have.&nbsp;So, I know from experience: unless 
you have the luxury of waiting for things to dry out, you’re going to 
need help – a push or a pull – to get unstuck.&nbsp;And you’re probably going to feel 
somewhat embarrassed. I mean, technically, even though you didn’t intend
 to get stuck, no one else was behind the wheel. You either didn’t see 
the hazard ahead of you, or you thought it wouldn’t be as bad to go 
through it as it was.&nbsp;&nbsp;Even if you didn’t have a good way 
around it, or calculated the risk and thought you could get yourself 
through it, the fact remains that it happened, and you were “at fault”. 
Thinking back, you wish you’d done anything other than the solution you 
sought – the one that caused your tires to get “sunk down deep in muck 
and mire” (for fellow Little Blue Truck fans).&nbsp;Now imagine that the vehicle you’re 
thinking about represents your family’s financial health, and the 
process of getting “more stuck” as a result of the option chosem to 
solve your short-term problem yourself – instead of asking for help or 
not thinking you had other options – represents a payday loan. The 
“solution” now becomes a bigger problem to solve than the initial 
issue.&nbsp;This is about where the analogy ends,
 since muddy patches don’t have business models designed to keep you 
stuck, and payday lenders do. It’s in getting people more stuck that 
profits are really made, where the interest rate ultimately racks up to 
391% in Indiana. And you really have to find a solution to your 
solution.&nbsp;This is why I often refer to the 
payday industry as one of the most subsidized markets in existence – 
because government and nonprofit resources are so often required to bail
 people out of the disasters that payday loans cause.&nbsp;But what if it didn’t have to be that way?&nbsp;One path to pursue is policy change. 
At the moment, the burden is largely on Congress, and your legislative 
outreach will help make the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.indianaopportunity.net/hrl-news/2021/11/18/bipartisan-legislation-would-expand-military-lending-act-protections-on-payday-and-car-title-loans-to-all-veterans-and-consumers">Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act</a>
 – to cap all payday loans at 36% – a reality. You can also call on your
 state legislators to impose a state 36% cap. But until and even once 
legislation is passed, many Hoosiers will still need a more responsible 
way to borrow.So, what if there was another route?&nbsp;What if most of those in the 88% of 
polled Hoosier voters who said they would like to see Indiana have a 36%
 payday rate cap – who are in a position to provide another way – 
established a pathway to an alternative solution for their employees and
 coworkers?&nbsp;The impact, to belabor my analogy, 
would be earth-shattering for Hoosier families who don’t have the 
resources to weather a financial shock.One specific “bypass” – previously 
available in only 23 counties – has recently become available statewide.
 If you are a business owner, or a human resources rep, or just someone 
willing to talk to your boss about making a financially sustainable 
option available to those in your workplace, the solution that I present
 to you is the Community Loan Center program.&nbsp;It’s an affordable, employer-based, small dollar loan program. So what’s the catch?&nbsp;Well, as hard as it may be to believe, there really isn’t one. For <a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/UZNl6K1db0Y">companies signed up for the program</a>,
 the CLC program is provided as an employee benefit at no cost to the 
employer. Employers literally just need to: 1) confirm employment when a
 loan is applied for and 2) set up payroll deduction in accordance with 
the employee’s repayment plan. In doing so, they instantly gain 
employees that are less stressed and more present for their jobs.&nbsp;Made available through nonprofits, 
this affordable, 12-month loan is designed to get or keep people out of 
debt instead of trapping them in it. (CLC loans can be used to pay off 
payday loans.) The reason is simple: the nonprofit providers offering 
this program would rather put their resources towards improving a 
family’s economic trajectory vs. bailing them out from the quake that 
comes from a payday loan.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just consider how you might <a target="_blank" href="https://clcofindiana.org/">bring this alternative to your workplace</a>
 – and actually help solve a colleague’s short-term financial bump in 
the road in a way that makes it manageable and gets people out of the 
muck without getting stuck.&nbsp;&nbsp;Jessica Love is executive director for Prosperity Indiana, a statewide membership organization for individuals and organizations strengthening Hoosier communities.

COMMENTARY: Getting 'stuck' with payday loans

Voters in Northeast Kansas will soon decide the shape of the Kansas State Board of Education for the next two years. Candidates chosen by statewide primaries in August have set the stage for a general election that may alter the way KSDE has operated for, at least, the past 10 years and impact all Kansas schools.

The current board consists of four Democrats and six Republicans, but the atmosphere on the board has been bipartisan. Members’ party affiliations are not listed on the board’s Website. Meetings are facilitated by a KSDE civilian workforce.

Ten districts make up the KSDE board with five members elected every two years for four-year terms. Of the five open seats (Districts 1,3,5,7 and 9) redistricting after the 2020 census, left Democrat Janet Waugh without a district to represent and out of the race for District 1, while Republican incumbent Michelle Dombrosky in District 3 did not draw an opponent.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The August primary then became a battle among Republican candidates. One moderate Republican and two conservatives emerged winners.&nbsp;

In District 5, Republican incumbent Jean Clifford lost to Cathy Hopkins of Hays.&nbsp;Hopkins told the Fort Hays State Tiger Media Network, “We need engaged citizens. This top-down approach has been ongoing for a long time and many believe a shift must occur to see real change.” &nbsp;Hopkins will run unopposed having no Democrat opponent in the November election.

In District 7, Republican incumbent Ben Jones lost to conservative Dennis Hershberger. Hershberber’s Website says he believes getting back to basics will help every child achieve. Hershberger has no Democrat opponent and will run unopposed in the November election.&nbsp;

In District 9, incumbent and board chair, Jim Porter of Fredonia has spent more than 47 years in education serving as a superintendent for 34 years. Porter beat conservative Luke Aichele and has no Democrat opponent in the upcoming election.&nbsp;

Therefore the three Republican primary winners are presumptive election winners.

Two board seats remain contested. In District 3, conservative Republican Michelle Dombrosky, will face Democrat Sheila Albers, a retired educator from Overland Park.&nbsp;

In District 1, Democrat Jeffrey Howards, a Marine veteran and 20-year civilian military educator, will face conservative Republican Danny Zeck who operated a Ford dealership for 30 years. The Topeka Capital-Journal reported recently that Zeck asked the Leavenworth Board of Education to ban a novel about gender and sexuality.&nbsp;

Since KSDE determines policies that carry out state education laws, the outcome of the November election will impact each school in the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;If both Democrats with their elections the board will be balanced with five Democrats and five Republicans, and it’s possible that the board’s former bipartisan decision-making will continue.&nbsp; If only one Democrat or no Democrat wins, the board will be divided with new members bringing a broad conservative agenda to the table.&nbsp;

No one can predict the election outcome or the impact of this election on board policies but it seems likely the result may be more of an earthquake than a tremor.&nbsp;

Voters in Districts 1 and 3 should consider the state board election as important as the governor’s race this Nov. 8.&nbsp; Moreover, all Kansans should be concerned because a lot is riding on this election for students and teachers.&nbsp;

Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593719779701.jpeg" alt="Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education." />
 <figcaption>Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.</figcaption>
 </figure>Voters in Northeast Kansas will soon decide the shape of the Kansas State Board of Education for the next two years. Candidates chosen by statewide primaries in August have set the stage for a general election that may alter the way KSDE has operated for, at least, the past 10 years and impact all Kansas schools.The current board consists of four Democrats and six Republicans, but the atmosphere on the board has been bipartisan. Members’ party affiliations are not listed on the board’s Website. Meetings are facilitated by a KSDE civilian workforce.Ten districts make up the KSDE board with five members elected every two years for four-year terms. Of the five open seats (Districts 1,3,5,7 and 9) redistricting after the 2020 census, left Democrat Janet Waugh without a district to represent and out of the race for District 1, while Republican incumbent Michelle Dombrosky in District 3 did not draw an opponent.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The August primary then became a battle among Republican candidates. One moderate Republican and two conservatives emerged winners.&nbsp;In District 5, Republican incumbent Jean Clifford lost to Cathy Hopkins of Hays.&nbsp;Hopkins told the Fort Hays State Tiger Media Network, “We need engaged citizens. This top-down approach has been ongoing for a long time and many believe a shift must occur to see real change.” &nbsp;Hopkins will run unopposed having no Democrat opponent in the November election.In District 7, Republican incumbent Ben Jones lost to conservative Dennis Hershberger. Hershberber’s Website says he believes getting back to basics will help every child achieve. Hershberger has no Democrat opponent and will run unopposed in the November election.&nbsp;In District 9, incumbent and board chair, Jim Porter of Fredonia has spent more than 47 years in education serving as a superintendent for 34 years. Porter beat conservative Luke Aichele and has no Democrat opponent in the upcoming election.&nbsp;Therefore the three Republican primary winners are presumptive election winners.Two board seats remain contested. In District 3, conservative Republican Michelle Dombrosky, will face Democrat Sheila Albers, a retired educator from Overland Park.&nbsp;In District 1, Democrat Jeffrey Howards, a Marine veteran and 20-year civilian military educator, will face conservative Republican Danny Zeck who operated a Ford dealership for 30 years. The Topeka Capital-Journal reported recently that Zeck asked the Leavenworth Board of Education to ban a novel about gender and sexuality.&nbsp;Since KSDE determines policies that carry out state education laws, the outcome of the November election will impact each school in the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If both Democrats with their elections the board will be balanced with five Democrats and five Republicans, and it’s possible that the board’s former bipartisan decision-making will continue.&nbsp; If only one Democrat or no Democrat wins, the board will be divided with new members bringing a broad conservative agenda to the table.&nbsp;No one can predict the election outcome or the impact of this election on board policies but it seems likely the result may be more of an earthquake than a tremor.&nbsp;Voters in Districts 1 and 3 should consider the state board election as important as the governor’s race this Nov. 8.&nbsp; Moreover, all Kansans should be concerned because a lot is riding on this election for students and teachers.&nbsp;Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Down-ballot races could shift education agenda

In his race for state representative, Democrat Ed Hammond&nbsp;has been critical of the support of the Kansas Chamber PAC for Representative Barb Wasinger. The Kansas Chamber is an enthusiastic and dedicated supporter of Representative Wasinger because she shares our commitment to “continually strive&nbsp;to improve the economic climate for the benefit of every business and citizen and to&nbsp;safeguard&nbsp;our system of free, competitive enterprise.”&nbsp;Representative Wasinger&nbsp;held&nbsp;this perspective&nbsp;before she ran for office&nbsp;and her votes in&nbsp;Topeka&nbsp;have stayed true to this worldview.&nbsp;

Like she was when she served as Ellis County Commissioner,&nbsp;Representative&nbsp;Wasinger&nbsp;is a thoughtful legislator who has gained the respect of her colleagues across the state for her willingness to dig into issues on behalf of her constituents.&nbsp;As a member of the House Tax Committee&nbsp;last year, Representative Wasinger was critical to the passage of&nbsp;SB&nbsp;50 which provided $284 million in tax relief to middle class families and&nbsp;job creators across the state.&nbsp;This bill&nbsp;would allow Kansans to fully benefit from the Trump tax cuts. Unfortunately,&nbsp;Governor Kelly&nbsp;vetoed this tax relief&nbsp;and the Democrats in the legislature voted in lock step to sustain the veto. A veto override requires 84 House votes and Representative Wasinger was one of the exactly 84 Representatives to override the Governor’s veto. Without Representative Wasinger in Topeka, Kansas families would have a higher tax burden today.&nbsp;

Along with President Reagan, Representative Wasinger understands that “as government expands, liberty contracts.” That is why&nbsp;she works tirelessly to fight bureaucratic red tape. She knows that entrepreneurs and small businesses can flourish when they are able to focus on providing&nbsp;products and&nbsp;services and not&nbsp;on unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.&nbsp;As a leader on this issue, Representative Wasinger was asked to carry HCR 5014 on the House floor. This legislation was supported by groups ranging from the Kansas Cooperative Council and Kansas Agribusiness Retailers to the Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Livestock Association as a key step to promoting a healthy regulatory environment. Additionally, Representative Wasinger was a driving force in the passage of SB 34 that requires state agencies to review all rules and regulations every five years and allows them to “fast track’ the repeal of outdated or unneeded regulations.&nbsp;

When Representative Wasinger sees a problem, she searches for a limited-government solution.&nbsp;This is why&nbsp;she was a strong advocate for HB 2279 bi-partisan legislation that allowed Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to practice to the full extent of their education and training. Representative Wasinger was not&nbsp;afraid to take on well-connected special interests to pass this legislation. This reform has been critical to&nbsp;increasing&nbsp;affordability and&nbsp;access to health care&nbsp;in the twenty-five other states that have adopted it.

The Kansas Chamber&nbsp;represents small,&nbsp;medium&nbsp;and large employers across the state of Kansas.&nbsp;Because of her commitment to fighting for a fair tax structure, a healthy regulatory environment&nbsp;and free-market solutions, the Kansas Chamber PAC is pleased to support Representative Wasinger. With her, Hays is represented by a strong and respected leader in Topeka.

Christie Kriegshauser,&nbsp;Kansas Chamber Senior Director of Political Affairs

In his race for state representative, Democrat Ed Hammond&nbsp;has been critical of the support of the Kansas Chamber PAC for Representative Barb Wasinger. The Kansas Chamber is an enthusiastic and dedicated supporter of Representative Wasinger because she shares our commitment to “continually strive&nbsp;to improve the economic climate for the benefit of every business and citizen and to&nbsp;safeguard&nbsp;our system of free, competitive enterprise.”&nbsp;Representative Wasinger&nbsp;held&nbsp;this perspective&nbsp;before she ran for office&nbsp;and her votes in&nbsp;Topeka&nbsp;have stayed true to this worldview.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Like she was when she served as Ellis County Commissioner,&nbsp;Representative&nbsp;Wasinger&nbsp;is a thoughtful legislator who has gained the respect of her colleagues across the state for her willingness to dig into issues on behalf of her constituents.&nbsp;As a member of the House Tax Committee&nbsp;last year, Representative Wasinger was critical to the passage of&nbsp;SB&nbsp;50 which provided $284 million in tax relief to middle class families and&nbsp;job creators across the state.&nbsp;This bill&nbsp;would allow Kansans to fully benefit from the Trump tax cuts. Unfortunately,&nbsp;Governor Kelly&nbsp;vetoed this tax relief&nbsp;and the Democrats in the legislature voted in lock step to sustain the veto. A veto override requires 84 House votes and Representative Wasinger was one of the exactly 84 Representatives to override the Governor’s veto. Without Representative Wasinger in Topeka, Kansas families would have a higher tax burden today.&nbsp;Along with President Reagan, Representative Wasinger understands that “as government expands, liberty contracts.” That is why&nbsp;she works tirelessly to fight bureaucratic red tape. She knows that entrepreneurs and small businesses can flourish when they are able to focus on providing&nbsp;products and&nbsp;services and not&nbsp;on unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.&nbsp;As a leader on this issue, Representative Wasinger was asked to carry HCR 5014 on the House floor. This legislation was supported by groups ranging from the Kansas Cooperative Council and Kansas Agribusiness Retailers to the Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Livestock Association as a key step to promoting a healthy regulatory environment. Additionally, Representative Wasinger was a driving force in the passage of SB 34 that requires state agencies to review all rules and regulations every five years and allows them to “fast track’ the repeal of outdated or unneeded regulations.&nbsp;When Representative Wasinger sees a problem, she searches for a limited-government solution.&nbsp;This is why&nbsp;she was a strong advocate for HB 2279 bi-partisan legislation that allowed Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to practice to the full extent of their education and training. Representative Wasinger was not&nbsp;afraid to take on well-connected special interests to pass this legislation. This reform has been critical to&nbsp;increasing&nbsp;affordability and&nbsp;access to health care&nbsp;in the twenty-five other states that have adopted it.The Kansas Chamber&nbsp;represents small,&nbsp;medium&nbsp;and large employers across the state of Kansas.&nbsp;Because of her commitment to fighting for a fair tax structure, a healthy regulatory environment&nbsp;and free-market solutions, the Kansas Chamber PAC is pleased to support Representative Wasinger. With her, Hays is represented by a strong and respected leader in Topeka.Christie Kriegshauser,&nbsp;Kansas Chamber Senior Director of Political Affairs

LETTER: Wasinger worthy regardless of unwarranted criticism

The&nbsp;Tiger Sports Hall of Fame&nbsp;induction ceremony&nbsp;is one of my favorite campus events.&nbsp;This&nbsp;annual event&nbsp;was established in 1986 to honor former Fort Hays State University athletes, coaches, administrators, and community members who have made extraordinary contributions&nbsp;to Tiger athletics.

The&nbsp;ceremony&nbsp;never disappoints.&nbsp;In story after story,&nbsp;I couldn’t help but marvel&nbsp;at&nbsp;our hall of famers’ perseverance, grit,&nbsp;and&nbsp;remarkable&nbsp;triumphs&nbsp;over adversity. The room is filled with&nbsp;fellowship&nbsp;and&nbsp;shared&nbsp;admiration,&nbsp;and the stories bring laughter, smiles, and tears. In fact, there is always a box of tissues&nbsp;at the podium.

Another aspect of the program I love is that the inductee chooses who will present themto the attendees. Often the presenters are former coaches and teammates. Just as frequently,&nbsp;they are sons, daughters, and,&nbsp;this&nbsp;year, a mom. I loved that!

2022 Hall of Fame inductee Jon Nelson, track and field/cross country (1970-74), was&nbsp;introduced&nbsp;by his daughter. They shared stories of Coach&nbsp;Alex&nbsp;Francis&nbsp;who was knownfor his&nbsp;one-liners, including “beat someone.”

Fred Campbell, men’s basketball (1984-1986),&nbsp;was unable to join us due to an injury. He&nbsp;sent a beautiful letter about how much he was looking forward to returning to Fort Hays State University and what his time here meant to him.&nbsp;Fred&nbsp;promised to return in the near future. He remains in my thoughts and prayers as he goes through&nbsp;his&nbsp;surgery and healing journey.

Steve&nbsp;Broxterman, track and field (1986-88),&nbsp;was&nbsp;introduced&nbsp;by his son,&nbsp;who told several heartfelt stories&nbsp;detailing&nbsp;how his dad overcame&nbsp;adversity several times – two of those stories had to do with earning his way to the&nbsp;national championships in the high jump. The first time he earned a spot&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;national championship, he was a student at Highland Community College in northeast Kansas. The championships that year were in Dodge City. A bus breakdown led to him arriving too late to compete in his event.

Steve went on to continue his career at FHSU, qualifying for the NAIA National Championships in both his junior and senior years.&nbsp;Just prior to the&nbsp;competition&nbsp;in his senior year,&nbsp;Steve&nbsp;blew a hole in his shoe&nbsp;during practice.&nbsp;He&nbsp;did not have a spare pair.So, Steve&nbsp;looked around for&nbsp;somebody&nbsp;who he thought might be&nbsp;the kindest of his competitors&nbsp;and&nbsp;spotted an Emporia State athlete. He&nbsp;asked&nbsp;that competitor&nbsp;if he could wear his shoes.&nbsp;The ESU athlete&nbsp;agreed&nbsp;to share his shoes. Round after round,&nbsp;the&nbsp;two athletes&nbsp;shared one pair of shoes.&nbsp;<a></a>This&nbsp;amazing demonstration of&nbsp;the spirit of sportsmanship&nbsp;in action&nbsp;is&nbsp;a great&nbsp;example of what it means to have&nbsp;the heart of a champion.

What I remember most about Greg Yost’s introduction&nbsp;(football 1987-90)&nbsp;was his aggressive,&nbsp;detailed, and dedicated&nbsp;approach to&nbsp;the game.&nbsp;A&nbsp;teammate described the ferocity&nbsp;of his tackles, saying when Greg&nbsp;walked off of the field,&nbsp;his helmet&nbsp;often carried paint streaks&nbsp;from&nbsp;his&nbsp;opponents’ helmets. Greg was also known&nbsp;to spend a lot of time watching the film&nbsp;on his&nbsp;opponents so he could&nbsp;recognize plays and player tendencies ahead of time.&nbsp;That way,&nbsp;he&nbsp;always knew he could stay one&nbsp;step ahead of his opponents.&nbsp;

Damian Evans, men’s basketball (1990-92), was raised by a single parent&nbsp;in Chicago.&nbsp;<a></a>His mom, a tough&nbsp;and&nbsp;loving&nbsp;woman,&nbsp;guided by faith, poured all she had into raising her children.&nbsp;She&nbsp;prepared them to&nbsp;lift themselves up and pay it forward. You can see how her determination fueled the excellence that drove Damian to succeed.&nbsp;He is&nbsp;an&nbsp;excellent&nbsp;example of the work ethic we often talk about as core to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Tiger&nbsp;Nation.

Derek Pomeroy, baseball (1992-93), was introduced by athletic director Curtis&nbsp;Hammeke.&nbsp;Hammeke&nbsp;recruited and coached&nbsp;Derek&nbsp;at FHSU, who would become a key contributor to the winning baseball program Curtis was building. Derek talked a lot about the importance of&nbsp;establishing&nbsp;a winning culture with the right people on the team – reminding me of the well-known saying that you have to get the right people on the bus.

The event concluded with the celebration of Shelby White, women’s golf (2004-07). Shelby was unable to&nbsp;attend. Her sister accepted the award on her behalf.

I left the event filled with so much joy. The&nbsp;authentic stories&nbsp;I heard reinforced for me&nbsp;why the student-athlete experience is so valuable. They are champions of this university, and decade after decade,&nbsp;we&nbsp;always&nbsp;look to our student-athletes to tell our university story&nbsp;through&nbsp;how they practice and play, their character on and off the field, and their success in the classroom&nbsp;and&nbsp;in their professional lives after college.&nbsp;These pages of our “family album” are anchored in our culture and values&nbsp;– it is what makes us Fort Hays State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president</figcaption>
 </figure>The&nbsp;Tiger Sports Hall of Fame&nbsp;induction ceremony&nbsp;is one of my favorite campus events.&nbsp;This&nbsp;annual event&nbsp;was established in 1986 to honor former Fort Hays State University athletes, coaches, administrators, and community members who have made extraordinary contributions&nbsp;to Tiger athletics.The&nbsp;ceremony&nbsp;never disappoints.&nbsp;In story after story,&nbsp;I couldn’t help but marvel&nbsp;at&nbsp;our hall of famers’ perseverance, grit,&nbsp;and&nbsp;remarkable&nbsp;triumphs&nbsp;over adversity. The room is filled with&nbsp;fellowship&nbsp;and&nbsp;shared&nbsp;admiration,&nbsp;and the stories bring laughter, smiles, and tears. In fact, there is always a box of tissues&nbsp;at the podium.Another aspect of the program I love is that the inductee chooses who will present themto the attendees. Often the presenters are former coaches and teammates. Just as frequently,&nbsp;they are sons, daughters, and,&nbsp;this&nbsp;year, a mom. I loved that!2022 Hall of Fame inductee Jon Nelson, track and field/cross country (1970-74), was&nbsp;introduced&nbsp;by his daughter. They shared stories of Coach&nbsp;Alex&nbsp;Francis&nbsp;who was knownfor his&nbsp;one-liners, including “beat someone.”Fred Campbell, men’s basketball (1984-1986),&nbsp;was unable to join us due to an injury. He&nbsp;sent a beautiful letter about how much he was looking forward to returning to Fort Hays State University and what his time here meant to him.&nbsp;Fred&nbsp;promised to return in the near future. He remains in my thoughts and prayers as he goes through&nbsp;his&nbsp;surgery and healing journey.Steve&nbsp;Broxterman, track and field (1986-88),&nbsp;was&nbsp;introduced&nbsp;by his son,&nbsp;who told several heartfelt stories&nbsp;detailing&nbsp;how his dad overcame&nbsp;adversity several times – two of those stories had to do with earning his way to the&nbsp;national championships in the high jump. The first time he earned a spot&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;national championship, he was a student at Highland Community College in northeast Kansas. The championships that year were in Dodge City. A bus breakdown led to him arriving too late to compete in his event.Steve went on to continue his career at FHSU, qualifying for the NAIA National Championships in both his junior and senior years.&nbsp;Just prior to the&nbsp;competition&nbsp;in his senior year,&nbsp;Steve&nbsp;blew a hole in his shoe&nbsp;during practice.&nbsp;He&nbsp;did not have a spare pair.So, Steve&nbsp;looked around for&nbsp;somebody&nbsp;who he thought might be&nbsp;the kindest of his competitors&nbsp;and&nbsp;spotted an Emporia State athlete. He&nbsp;asked&nbsp;that competitor&nbsp;if he could wear his shoes.&nbsp;The ESU athlete&nbsp;agreed&nbsp;to share his shoes. Round after round,&nbsp;the&nbsp;two athletes&nbsp;shared one pair of shoes.&nbsp;<a></a>This&nbsp;amazing demonstration of&nbsp;the spirit of sportsmanship&nbsp;in action&nbsp;is&nbsp;a great&nbsp;example of what it means to have&nbsp;the heart of a champion.What I remember most about Greg Yost’s introduction&nbsp;(football 1987-90)&nbsp;was his aggressive,&nbsp;detailed, and dedicated&nbsp;approach to&nbsp;the game.&nbsp;A&nbsp;teammate described the ferocity&nbsp;of his tackles, saying when Greg&nbsp;walked off of the field,&nbsp;his helmet&nbsp;often carried paint streaks&nbsp;from&nbsp;his&nbsp;opponents’ helmets. Greg was also known&nbsp;to spend a lot of time watching the film&nbsp;on his&nbsp;opponents so he could&nbsp;recognize plays and player tendencies ahead of time.&nbsp;That way,&nbsp;he&nbsp;always knew he could stay one&nbsp;step ahead of his opponents.&nbsp;Damian Evans, men’s basketball (1990-92), was raised by a single parent&nbsp;in Chicago.&nbsp;<a></a>His mom, a tough&nbsp;and&nbsp;loving&nbsp;woman,&nbsp;guided by faith, poured all she had into raising her children.&nbsp;She&nbsp;prepared them to&nbsp;lift themselves up and pay it forward. You can see how her determination fueled the excellence that drove Damian to succeed.&nbsp;He is&nbsp;an&nbsp;excellent&nbsp;example of the work ethic we often talk about as core to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Tiger&nbsp;Nation.Derek Pomeroy, baseball (1992-93), was introduced by athletic director Curtis&nbsp;Hammeke.&nbsp;Hammeke&nbsp;recruited and coached&nbsp;Derek&nbsp;at FHSU, who would become a key contributor to the winning baseball program Curtis was building. Derek talked a lot about the importance of&nbsp;establishing&nbsp;a winning culture with the right people on the team – reminding me of the well-known saying that you have to get the right people on the bus.The event concluded with the celebration of Shelby White, women’s golf (2004-07). Shelby was unable to&nbsp;attend. Her sister accepted the award on her behalf.I left the event filled with so much joy. The&nbsp;authentic stories&nbsp;I heard reinforced for me&nbsp;why the student-athlete experience is so valuable. They are champions of this university, and decade after decade,&nbsp;we&nbsp;always&nbsp;look to our student-athletes to tell our university story&nbsp;through&nbsp;how they practice and play, their character on and off the field, and their success in the classroom&nbsp;and&nbsp;in their professional lives after college.&nbsp;These pages of our “family album” are anchored in our culture and values&nbsp;– it is what makes us Fort Hays State University.

Heart of a Tiger: My evening with Tiger Hall of Famers

You don’t have to look far to see the impact Ed Hammond has had on the local community and on tens of thousands of students over his more than 30 years of service to Kansas. In his time leading Fort Hays State University, Ed transformed the campus, was an innovator in online education, and strategically grew the university while managing expenses and keeping costs affordable for students to achieve their dreams of higher education.&nbsp;

I wanted to share parts of the story you probably haven’t heard. At FHSU, I served as Vice President of the Student Government Association from 2009-2010 and as President from 2010-2012. Over those years, I worked closely with President Hammond in Hays and in Topeka to fight for higher education and had a front-row seat to the leadership qualities that made him so effective in his previous role – and will make him a great representative of the 111th House District.&nbsp;

One of the first times I attended a meeting of the Kansas Board of Regents with Ed, it was the height of the Great Recession. College leaders around the state were struggling to justify more&nbsp;hikes in tuition and fees to skeptical Regents for their approval. But not Ed. He walked up to the microphone and said “Fort Hays State University will be raising tuition $2.75 per credit hour. Any questions?”&nbsp;

The room fell silent. The&nbsp;board thanked President Hammond - and he sat down.&nbsp;

Kirk Schulz, the recently hired President of Kansas State University, was up next. He walked to the microphone and shook his head, “President Wefald told me never to follow a presentation from Ed Hammond.”&nbsp;

That was just the first of many moments I saw where Ed was a few steps ahead and had a commanding presence in Topeka. He knew Kansans needed access to affordable education. Families were struggling to make ends meet and FHSU&nbsp;could meet the moment for them. These efforts&nbsp;built goodwill both from the Regents and the Legislature.&nbsp;

Later that year, I came to Ed with an idea some of the students had been kicking around: we wanted to restrict smoking on campus. We knew it was going to be a contentious issue. I sat in his office on the third floor of Sheridan Hall and told him what we had in mind and asked for his feedback. He considered it for a moment and said without hesitation, “If you can pass this through Student Senate, I will support it.”&nbsp;

We put the issue before the Student Senate and it passed by one vote. Ed approved the policy shortly after – we were the first campus in Kansas to pass such a policy. The issue immediately ignited a firestorm of criticism from some faculty, students, and staff. Heated letters were written to the local&nbsp;newspapers and media outlets all over Kansas covered the issue. Even though it had only passed by one vote, Ed stood by his word and faithfully executed the policy we had requested.&nbsp;

Ed and I didn’t agree on everything and on more than a few occasions we had heated disagreements over certain issues around campus. Through those disagreements, we respected the roles we each had to play in the process and knew we could put those differences aside to move FHSU forward. It is that honesty we should all value in those who serve our communities and something that is desperately needed in our elected officials.&nbsp;

After my time in Student Government had come to an end, I spent the summer interning in Kansas City and went straight from Kansas City to a semester internship in Washington, D.C. I was 22 and money was tight, as it is for any young adult gaining experience in the Capitol.&nbsp;&nbsp;

One day during the internship, I received&nbsp;a note that Ed was in town and wanted to get dinner. He took me over to The Monocle, a steakhouse across from Capitol Hill that I could have never afforded back then. We sat and chatted for over an hour about how things were going on campus and what I was learning in my&nbsp;internship. He didn’t have to take time out of his trip to visit with me – in fact, when we finished dinner, he took off for a meeting with Bob Dole. I have&nbsp;always appreciated that he made time that evening for a student instead of his&nbsp;many&nbsp;other options in DC.&nbsp;

That’s the kind of leader Ed is - and will be – as a Representative of the 111th District. He puts his people first and will fight tirelessly for you in the legislature. When he says he is going to support something, he is going to do it and he’s also going to be honest with you about why.&nbsp;&nbsp;

I know because I have seen him do it.&nbsp;

As I watch my three-year-old daughter grow up and prepare to enter the Kansas public education system, I want leaders like Ed in Topeka fighting to invest in her generation. All Kansans will benefit from his service and I hope you will join me in supporting his candidacy.&nbsp;

You don’t have to look far to see the impact Ed Hammond has had on the local community and on tens of thousands of students over his more than 30 years of service to Kansas. In his time leading Fort Hays State University, Ed transformed the campus, was an innovator in online education, and strategically grew the university while managing expenses and keeping costs affordable for students to achieve their dreams of higher education.&nbsp;But you know that story already.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>I wanted to share parts of the story you probably haven’t heard. At FHSU, I served as Vice President of the Student Government Association from 2009-2010 and as President from 2010-2012. Over those years, I worked closely with President Hammond in Hays and in Topeka to fight for higher education and had a front-row seat to the leadership qualities that made him so effective in his previous role – and will make him a great representative of the 111th House District.&nbsp;One of the first times I attended a meeting of the Kansas Board of Regents with Ed, it was the height of the Great Recession. College leaders around the state were struggling to justify more&nbsp;hikes in tuition and fees to skeptical Regents for their approval. But not Ed. He walked up to the microphone and said “Fort Hays State University will be raising tuition $2.75 per credit hour. Any questions?”&nbsp;The room fell silent. The&nbsp;board thanked President Hammond - and he sat down.&nbsp;Kirk Schulz, the recently hired President of Kansas State University, was up next. He walked to the microphone and shook his head, “President Wefald told me never to follow a presentation from Ed Hammond.”&nbsp;That was just the first of many moments I saw where Ed was a few steps ahead and had a commanding presence in Topeka. He knew Kansans needed access to affordable education. Families were struggling to make ends meet and FHSU&nbsp;could meet the moment for them. These efforts&nbsp;built goodwill both from the Regents and the Legislature.&nbsp;Later that year, I came to Ed with an idea some of the students had been kicking around: we wanted to restrict smoking on campus. We knew it was going to be a contentious issue. I sat in his office on the third floor of Sheridan Hall and told him what we had in mind and asked for his feedback. He considered it for a moment and said without hesitation, “If you can pass this through Student Senate, I will support it.”&nbsp;We put the issue before the Student Senate and it passed by one vote. Ed approved the policy shortly after – we were the first campus in Kansas to pass such a policy. The issue immediately ignited a firestorm of criticism from some faculty, students, and staff. Heated letters were written to the local&nbsp;newspapers and media outlets all over Kansas covered the issue. Even though it had only passed by one vote, Ed stood by his word and faithfully executed the policy we had requested.&nbsp;Ed and I didn’t agree on everything and on more than a few occasions we had heated disagreements over certain issues around campus. Through those disagreements, we respected the roles we each had to play in the process and knew we could put those differences aside to move FHSU forward. It is that honesty we should all value in those who serve our communities and something that is desperately needed in our elected officials.&nbsp;After my time in Student Government had come to an end, I spent the summer interning in Kansas City and went straight from Kansas City to a semester internship in Washington, D.C. I was 22 and money was tight, as it is for any young adult gaining experience in the Capitol.&nbsp;&nbsp;One day during the internship, I received&nbsp;a note that Ed was in town and wanted to get dinner. He took me over to The Monocle, a steakhouse across from Capitol Hill that I could have never afforded back then. We sat and chatted for over an hour about how things were going on campus and what I was learning in my&nbsp;internship. He didn’t have to take time out of his trip to visit with me – in fact, when we finished dinner, he took off for a meeting with Bob Dole. I have&nbsp;always appreciated that he made time that evening for a student instead of his&nbsp;many&nbsp;other options in DC.&nbsp;That’s the kind of leader Ed is - and will be – as a Representative of the 111th District. He puts his people first and will fight tirelessly for you in the legislature. When he says he is going to support something, he is going to do it and he’s also going to be honest with you about why.&nbsp;&nbsp;I know because I have seen him do it.&nbsp;As I watch my three-year-old daughter grow up and prepare to enter the Kansas public education system, I want leaders like Ed in Topeka fighting to invest in her generation. All Kansans will benefit from his service and I hope you will join me in supporting his candidacy.&nbsp;Tyler Thompson, Kansas City

LETTER: Hammond offers the leadership Kansas needs

When examining and thinking through for whom you’ll be voting for in this upcoming election, it’s important to know the values of the person receiving your vote. It’s essential that each individual representing you at the State Capital holds true to the values of Kansas – and I’m proud to say that my longtime friend and your State Representative, Barb Wasinger, has proven true to those Kansas values upon which we were all raised on. Do not be tricked by the Democrat who may campaign as a “moderate” but will be a rubberstamp for every liberal policy of Joe Biden’s White House.

Barb will fight to keep your families safe, the economy strong, and ensure the schools in Hays and the surrounding area are locally controlled.&nbsp;

Barb Wasinger’s integrity, understanding, and commitment to the people of Hays will be unrivaled in Topeka, and that’s why she has my heartfelt full and total support and endorsement. U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, M.D., R-Kan.

When examining and thinking through for whom you’ll be voting for in this upcoming election, it’s important to know the values of the person receiving your vote. It’s essential that each individual representing you at the State Capital holds true to the values of Kansas – and I’m proud to say that my longtime friend and your State Representative, Barb Wasinger, has proven true to those Kansas values upon which we were all raised on. Do not be tricked by the Democrat who may campaign as a “moderate” but will be a rubberstamp for every liberal policy of Joe Biden’s White House.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Barb will fight to keep your families safe, the economy strong, and ensure the schools in Hays and the surrounding area are locally controlled.&nbsp;Barb Wasinger’s integrity, understanding, and commitment to the people of Hays will be unrivaled in Topeka, and that’s why she has my heartfelt full and total support and endorsement. U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, M.D., R-Kan.

LETTER: Wasinger has proven true to Kansas values

It is that
time of year again– election season.

Kansas is
a beautiful state–full of wonderful places to explore and people to meet. But during
election season it is easy to become distracted and
forget the good that is in
front of us. Endless
negativity can cause us to forget
that we have much to be proud of.

Our right to vote should be a point of pride. Kansas'
voting process has a
time-honored reputation for working together to hold safe and secure elections. Every
individual vote matters here. Together, this is how we declare our values and shape
our future.

This year, we
have the opportunity to select judicial, executive and
legislative candidates:
representatives for state
legislature, state school board, county commission, judges and many other important positions. All statewide officeholders, U.S. Senate and Congress, and amendments to alter
Kansas’ Constitution are also on the ballot. All of these choices determine whether or not
our communities will be
stronger and healthier.

It is
up to us to decide what matters most as
we cast our ballots. I suggest you think about local impact as you choose leaders. It is
always important to work together to magnify the strength of our neighborhoods and create connections. This is especially
true in the voting booth. 

Do not
let the political rhetoric
of some persuade you that we cannot find our way
forward. We need representation that shares
our best Kansas’ qualities: leaders that work
hard, know their neighbors and pitch in to
help as needed. Look for people you would enjoy chatting with in
local coffee shops or grocery stores. Find candidates that take your phone calls and listen to your
concerns, rather than promoting themselves and their positions.

In the polling booth, make sure your vote builds
connections. Elect leaders that care about you and
your community.

Cast your
vote by November 8. You can request a ballot be mailed
to you so that you can return it by mail or drop it in
a ballot drop off box, vote in
person at an early voting site,
or vote at your designated polling place on November 8.
Use one of the many options to get it done.

Remember
to vote and make election season
something to take pride in once
again.

<a href="https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/VoterView">&nbsp;https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/VoterView</a>

Kris Rogers&nbsp;has been a leader in Democratic politics and an educator in her professional career. She is the wife of State Treasurer Lynn Rogers.

It is that
time of year again– election season.Kansas is
a beautiful state–full of wonderful places to explore and people to meet. But during
election season it is easy to become distracted and
forget the good that is in
front of us. Endless
negativity can cause us to forget
that we have much to be proud of.Our right to vote should be a point of pride. Kansas'
voting process has a
time-honored reputation for working together to hold safe and secure elections. Every
individual vote matters here. Together, this is how we declare our values and shape
our future.This year, we
have the opportunity to select judicial, executive and
legislative candidates:
representatives for state
legislature, state school board, county commission, judges and many other important positions. All statewide officeholders, U.S. Senate and Congress, and amendments to alter
Kansas’ Constitution are also on the ballot. All of these choices determine whether or not
our communities will be
stronger and healthier.It is
up to us to decide what matters most as
we cast our ballots. I suggest you think about local impact as you choose leaders. It is
always important to work together to magnify the strength of our neighborhoods and create connections. This is especially
true in the voting booth. Do not
let the political rhetoric
of some persuade you that we cannot find our way
forward. We need representation that shares
our best Kansas’ qualities: leaders that work
hard, know their neighbors and pitch in to
help as needed. Look for people you would enjoy chatting with in
local coffee shops or grocery stores. Find candidates that take your phone calls and listen to your
concerns, rather than promoting themselves and their positions.In the polling booth, make sure your vote builds
connections. Elect leaders that care about you and
your community.Cast your
vote by November 8. You can request a ballot be mailed
to you so that you can return it by mail or drop it in
a ballot drop off box, vote in
person at an early voting site,
or vote at your designated polling place on November 8.
Use one of the many options to get it done.Remember
to vote and make election season
something to take pride in once
again.<a href="https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/VoterView">&nbsp;https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/VoterView</a>Kris Rogers WichitaKris Rogers&nbsp;has been a leader in Democratic politics and an educator in her professional career. She is the wife of State Treasurer Lynn Rogers.

LETTER: The importance of voting   

America will soon be heading to the polls again. If you’re like millions of your fellow Americans, you’re feeling a little anxious about the outcomes. Elections create anxiety and make us feel small because they cause us to face this truth: There’sso much&nbsp;that’s out of our control.&nbsp;We get one vote. That’s it. But regardless of the outcome, I promise the world&nbsp;will&nbsp;keep turning. Don’t let anxiety and fear steal your joy, mental health or determination to do what’s right during this season. Here are a few ways to deal with election anxiety as we head toward November 8. &nbsp;

You&nbsp;must&nbsp;vote. You have to. Voting is your opportunity to let your voice be heard. It’s your responsibility to participate in making this country a better place—for yourself, your family and your neighbors. Take ownership of your life and your future by casting your ballot.

Voting is one of our sacred rights as citizens of this country. Even if our democracy is flawed at times (and it is), we get to carry on a legacy that was hard won by generations of courageous women and men before us. The only way this democracy stops working is if the people stop participating.

Have you heard the term&nbsp;doomscrolling? It’s the habit of mindlessly scrolling through the latest videos, articles and tweets, searching for the next shocking headline. We’ve all been there—it feels like being caught on a hamster wheel of death and destruction. And that’s not much of an exaggeration, because a steady diet of catastrophic news—especially when you can’t do much about it—is bad for your health. Information that creates fear, panic and stress triggers a complex physiological reaction. Your heart rate and blood pressure spike, and stress hormones flood your body. It’s hard to sleep, focus, rest and breathe.

On the side of each electronic device is an off button. Use it.

By now, you know who you’re voting for (and by the way—everyone around you does too, so there’s no need to keep arguing and adding to the noise). You don’t have to keep flooding your brain with the latest arguments and opinions and predictions. Just put down the phone. Protect yourself by setting boundaries for when and how often you’ll access media of any kind.

Very few of us will ever make a big splash in Washington, D.C., but you&nbsp;can&nbsp;make a difference in your neighborhood, town and state. In fact, you can make more of an impact on this level than you realize. Decisive action helps reduce anxiety because it empowers you to focus on what you can control.&nbsp;

Read up on your local candidates. Learn what they stand for, and talk to people in your community about them. Who are the judges, representatives, senators, school board members and city commissioners on your ballot? Their time in office will directly impact your streets, your kids’ classrooms, and how local businesses are run. &nbsp;

You don’t have to hold political office to model what it means to be a good citizen. And if you haven’t noticed, we’re in need of some good citizens! Whether we realize it or not, our families, coworkers, internet friends and real friends are watching us. They’re paying attention to our bickering, our complaining and our mindless fixation on our screens.

Being a good citizen looks like getting intentional about kindness. Tip your waiter or waitress obnoxiously. Be grateful with salespeople. Let folks over in traffic. If you’re in a season of financial blessing, pay for someone’s groceries. Take your dog for a walk and pick up trash in your neighborhood while you’re out.&nbsp;

Specific to the election, I’m going to take my son with me when I vote. I want him to sit in that line with me. He’s 12—it will be painful for all of us—but it’s important to me that he has memories seared in his heart and mind about how important this was for his dad and for our country.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Make time for rest, kindness . . . and play

Make time to just be a human being. Laugh. Plan a super hot surprise date for your spouse. Get your friends together to kick a soccer ball around. Take your family on a walk around the neighborhood and wave at people in crosswalks.

Let’s choose to be kind over the next couple of weeks. We’re better than how we’ve been acting.

Connect with others and value your community

I want you to think of valuing your community in two ways. First, when you’re feeling anxious, it’s a sign that you’re feeling disconnected. Spend time with those who support and love you—your spouse, your children and your friends. Talk about your fears and listen to the fears of others. Seek to listen first and explain second.

Next, I want you to value people who don’t align with you politically. No matter who wins, we’re going to pump gas next to each other at the same stations. We’re going to wait in the same carpool lines to get our kids from school. We’re going to share meals next to each other at restaurants. Let’s be with one another as human beings and choose not to go on the offensive.

Folks, we must choose to move forward, united as one group of people, doing the best we can.

Dr. John Delony&nbsp;is a mental health expert with&nbsp;PhDs in Counselor Education &amp; Supervision and Higher Education Administration&nbsp;from Texas Tech University. Prior to joining Ramsey Solutions in 2020, John worked as a senior leader, professor and researcher at multiple universities. He also spent two decades in crisis response, walking with people through severe trauma. Now as a Ramsey Personality, he teaches on relationships and emotional wellness. Follow John on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/johndelony" target="_blank">Twitter</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/johndelony/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/JohnDelony/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/johndelony" target="_blank">YouTube</a>&nbsp;or online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.johndelony.com/" target="_blank">www.johndelony.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666892697608.jpeg" alt="Dr. John Delony" />
 <figcaption>Dr. John Delony</figcaption>
 </figure>America will soon be heading to the polls again. If you’re like millions of your fellow Americans, you’re feeling a little anxious about the outcomes. Elections create anxiety and make us feel small because they cause us to face this truth: There’sso much&nbsp;that’s out of our control.&nbsp;We get one vote. That’s it. But regardless of the outcome, I promise the world&nbsp;will&nbsp;keep turning. Don’t let anxiety and fear steal your joy, mental health or determination to do what’s right during this season. Here are a few ways to deal with election anxiety as we head toward November 8. &nbsp;You have to voteYou&nbsp;must&nbsp;vote. You have to. Voting is your opportunity to let your voice be heard. It’s your responsibility to participate in making this country a better place—for yourself, your family and your neighbors. Take ownership of your life and your future by casting your ballot.Voting is one of our sacred rights as citizens of this country. Even if our democracy is flawed at times (and it is), we get to carry on a legacy that was hard won by generations of courageous women and men before us. The only way this democracy stops working is if the people stop participating.Limit your media intakeHave you heard the term&nbsp;doomscrolling? It’s the habit of mindlessly scrolling through the latest videos, articles and tweets, searching for the next shocking headline. We’ve all been there—it feels like being caught on a hamster wheel of death and destruction. And that’s not much of an exaggeration, because a steady diet of catastrophic news—especially when you can’t do much about it—is bad for your health. Information that creates fear, panic and stress triggers a complex physiological reaction. Your heart rate and blood pressure spike, and stress hormones flood your body. It’s hard to sleep, focus, rest and breathe.On the side of each electronic device is an off button. Use it.By now, you know who you’re voting for (and by the way—everyone around you does too, so there’s no need to keep arguing and adding to the noise). You don’t have to keep flooding your brain with the latest arguments and opinions and predictions. Just put down the phone. Protect yourself by setting boundaries for when and how often you’ll access media of any kind.Get involved locallyVery few of us will ever make a big splash in Washington, D.C., but you&nbsp;can&nbsp;make a difference in your neighborhood, town and state. In fact, you can make more of an impact on this level than you realize. Decisive action helps reduce anxiety because it empowers you to focus on what you can control.&nbsp;Read up on your local candidates. Learn what they stand for, and talk to people in your community about them. Who are the judges, representatives, senators, school board members and city commissioners on your ballot? Their time in office will directly impact your streets, your kids’ classrooms, and how local businesses are run. &nbsp;Set an exampleYou don’t have to hold political office to model what it means to be a good citizen. And if you haven’t noticed, we’re in need of some good citizens! Whether we realize it or not, our families, coworkers, internet friends and real friends are watching us. They’re paying attention to our bickering, our complaining and our mindless fixation on our screens.Stop.Being a good citizen looks like getting intentional about kindness. Tip your waiter or waitress obnoxiously. Be grateful with salespeople. Let folks over in traffic. If you’re in a season of financial blessing, pay for someone’s groceries. Take your dog for a walk and pick up trash in your neighborhood while you’re out.&nbsp;Specific to the election, I’m going to take my son with me when I vote. I want him to sit in that line with me. He’s 12—it will be painful for all of us—but it’s important to me that he has memories seared in his heart and mind about how important this was for his dad and for our country.&nbsp;&nbsp;Make time for rest, kindness . . . and playMake time to just be a human being. Laugh. Plan a super hot surprise date for your spouse. Get your friends together to kick a soccer ball around. Take your family on a walk around the neighborhood and wave at people in crosswalks.Let’s choose to be kind over the next couple of weeks. We’re better than how we’ve been acting.Connect with others and value your communityI want you to think of valuing your community in two ways. First, when you’re feeling anxious, it’s a sign that you’re feeling disconnected. Spend time with those who support and love you—your spouse, your children and your friends. Talk about your fears and listen to the fears of others. Seek to listen first and explain second.Next, I want you to value people who don’t align with you politically. No matter who wins, we’re going to pump gas next to each other at the same stations. We’re going to wait in the same carpool lines to get our kids from school. We’re going to share meals next to each other at restaurants. Let’s be with one another as human beings and choose not to go on the offensive.Folks, we must choose to move forward, united as one group of people, doing the best we can.We need each other.Dr. John Delony&nbsp;is a mental health expert with&nbsp;PhDs in Counselor Education &amp; Supervision and Higher Education Administration&nbsp;from Texas Tech University. Prior to joining Ramsey Solutions in 2020, John worked as a senior leader, professor and researcher at multiple universities. He also spent two decades in crisis response, walking with people through severe trauma. Now as a Ramsey Personality, he teaches on relationships and emotional wellness. Follow John on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/johndelony" target="_blank">Twitter</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/johndelony/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/JohnDelony/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/johndelony" target="_blank">YouTube</a>&nbsp;or online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.johndelony.com/" target="_blank">www.johndelony.com</a>.

DELONY: Election anxiety   

While Ed Hammond says he supports students, comments made during&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7fyXoJppI4">a debate</a>&nbsp;with state Rep. Barb Wasinger earlier this month suggests that his commitment to protecting girls leaves something to be desired.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Specifically, Hammond refused to say that he would support a ban on biological males competing in girls’ sports. Across the country, we have seen girls lose out on opportunities because they’ve had to compete against those with an unfair physical advantage.&nbsp;

In the 2018-2019 season, University of Pennsylvania transgender swimmer Lia Thomas&nbsp;<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220318183249/https:/www.swimcloud.com/swimmer/314430/rankings/">was ranked</a>&nbsp;as the NCAA’s 87th Division 1 male swimmer but took the 31st spot after competing against girls. What’s more, Thomas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-ncaa-news-what-rank-did-lia-thomas-stand-at-while-competing-in-the-mens-swimming-division/">went from</a>&nbsp;holding 554th in the 200-yd freestyle to claiming fifth place now and moved from 65th place in the 200 yard freestyle to number one today.&nbsp;

This is not an isolated example, as former Connecticut high school track athlete Selina Soule is suing her state after having been made to face off against biologically male competitors. She&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/connecticut-track-athlete-sues-state-transgender-policy-womens-sports-being-robbed">told</a>&nbsp;Fox News, "I lost out on qualifying spots for the meets, better placement and possibly even scholarship opportunities. It was a very frustrating and heartbreaking thing to have to go through.”

The simple truth is that male and female bodies are inherently different: they develop differently and have different capabilities, which is the whole reason why male and female athletes compete in different divisions. Then there’s the fact that female athletes shouldn’t have to share a locker room and change clothes in front of someone of the opposite sex.&nbsp;

Hammond said at 1:02:58 in his debate with Wasinger that it is “common sense” to let the Kansas State High School Activities Association make decisions regarding transgender issues “on a case-by-case basis.” That isn’t good enough for our girls.&nbsp;

Wasinger understands this, which is why she sponsored “The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” a bill which&nbsp;<a href="https://nypost.com/2022/04/16/kansas-gov-laura-kelly-vetoes-gop-bill-banning-trans-athletes/">was vetoed</a>&nbsp;in April by Gov. Laura Kelly. At one point in the debate, Wasinger said, “I want to know why it’s OK to discriminate against young women.” That’s a question the rest of us should be asking too.&nbsp;

While Ed Hammond says he supports students, comments made during&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7fyXoJppI4">a debate</a>&nbsp;with state Rep. Barb Wasinger earlier this month suggests that his commitment to protecting girls leaves something to be desired.&nbsp;&nbsp;Specifically, Hammond refused to say that he would support a ban on biological males competing in girls’ sports. Across the country, we have seen girls lose out on opportunities because they’ve had to compete against those with an unfair physical advantage.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In the 2018-2019 season, University of Pennsylvania transgender swimmer Lia Thomas&nbsp;<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220318183249/https:/www.swimcloud.com/swimmer/314430/rankings/">was ranked</a>&nbsp;as the NCAA’s 87th Division 1 male swimmer but took the 31st spot after competing against girls. What’s more, Thomas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-ncaa-news-what-rank-did-lia-thomas-stand-at-while-competing-in-the-mens-swimming-division/">went from</a>&nbsp;holding 554th in the 200-yd freestyle to claiming fifth place now and moved from 65th place in the 200 yard freestyle to number one today.&nbsp;This is not an isolated example, as former Connecticut high school track athlete Selina Soule is suing her state after having been made to face off against biologically male competitors. She&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/connecticut-track-athlete-sues-state-transgender-policy-womens-sports-being-robbed">told</a>&nbsp;Fox News, "I lost out on qualifying spots for the meets, better placement and possibly even scholarship opportunities. It was a very frustrating and heartbreaking thing to have to go through.”The simple truth is that male and female bodies are inherently different: they develop differently and have different capabilities, which is the whole reason why male and female athletes compete in different divisions. Then there’s the fact that female athletes shouldn’t have to share a locker room and change clothes in front of someone of the opposite sex.&nbsp;Hammond said at 1:02:58 in his debate with Wasinger that it is “common sense” to let the Kansas State High School Activities Association make decisions regarding transgender issues “on a case-by-case basis.” That isn’t good enough for our girls.&nbsp;Wasinger understands this, which is why she sponsored “The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” a bill which&nbsp;<a href="https://nypost.com/2022/04/16/kansas-gov-laura-kelly-vetoes-gop-bill-banning-trans-athletes/">was vetoed</a>&nbsp;in April by Gov. Laura Kelly. At one point in the debate, Wasinger said, “I want to know why it’s OK to discriminate against young women.” That’s a question the rest of us should be asking too.&nbsp;Eugenia Spady, Hays&nbsp;

LETTER: Protecting females in sports a crucial issue

When I’m asked&nbsp;how&nbsp;to&nbsp;best&nbsp;describe&nbsp;State Representative Barb Wasinger one word comes immediately to mind. Tenacious!

​From the day Barb Wasinger set foot in the statehouse it was clear she&nbsp;was a leader. &nbsp;For most new legislators it takes time to get their feet under them but with Barb it was different. &nbsp;Barb jumped in and immediately became an effective advocate for the people of Hays and Ellis County.

​Barb quickly earned the trust of House leadership and because of that she serves on several important committees including Taxation and Financial Institutions&nbsp;&amp; Rural Development. &nbsp;Even more impressive is that after only two years in office she was named Vice Chair of the Higher Education Budget committee where she is a powerful voice for Fort Hays State University.

​She was also Chair of the Joint Rules and Regulations and is currently it’s Vice Chair. &nbsp;Barb took the lead to get the Constitutional Amendment (HCR 5014) dealing with the out-of-control bureaucracy to the ballot.

​She is a tenacious legislator who is not afraid to do the hard work to&nbsp;actually make&nbsp;things happen&nbsp;in the Statehouse. &nbsp;Whether working on&nbsp;a&nbsp;project for House Leadership or her constituents, Barb is single-minded. &nbsp;She will not let up until the job is done.&nbsp;

The people of Ellis County need to know what an effective, tremendous asset she is for them in Topeka.

​We have big plans for her next year! &nbsp;

Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, 100th District, House Majority Leader

When I’m asked&nbsp;how&nbsp;to&nbsp;best&nbsp;describe&nbsp;State Representative Barb Wasinger one word comes immediately to mind. Tenacious!​From the day Barb Wasinger set foot in the statehouse it was clear she&nbsp;was a leader. &nbsp;For most new legislators it takes time to get their feet under them but with Barb it was different. &nbsp;Barb jumped in and immediately became an effective advocate for the people of Hays and Ellis County.​Barb quickly earned the trust of House leadership and because of that she serves on several important committees including Taxation and Financial Institutions&nbsp;&amp; Rural Development. &nbsp;Even more impressive is that after only two years in office she was named Vice Chair of the Higher Education Budget committee where she is a powerful voice for Fort Hays State University.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>​She was also Chair of the Joint Rules and Regulations and is currently it’s Vice Chair. &nbsp;Barb took the lead to get the Constitutional Amendment (HCR 5014) dealing with the out-of-control bureaucracy to the ballot.​She is a tenacious legislator who is not afraid to do the hard work to&nbsp;actually make&nbsp;things happen&nbsp;in the Statehouse. &nbsp;Whether working on&nbsp;a&nbsp;project for House Leadership or her constituents, Barb is single-minded. &nbsp;She will not let up until the job is done.&nbsp;The people of Ellis County need to know what an effective, tremendous asset she is for them in Topeka.​We have big plans for her next year! &nbsp;I give her my strongest endorsement.Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, 100th District, House Majority Leader

LETTER: House leader — big plans for Wasinger

By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau I recently had to fire up the furnace for the first time this season. As painful as it was to switch the thermostat from the off position to heat, Mother Nature forced my hand with a hard freeze about two weeks early. In my mind there’s nothing better than waking up in a chilly house. On the flip side, there’s nothing worse than being awoken by a freezing house. The acorns falling on my roof for the past few weeks were one of the first signals this day was coming. Despite the drought, the oak tree north of my house has had a productive year. We’ve endured what can best be described as an intermittent hailstorm since late August. The seeds land with a thud before rolling into the gutter. Some of the larger acorns get a significant enough bounce off the hipped roof to make it to the patio, which adds an extra bit of excitement to each step once the little ovals are covered by leaves. The leaves and acorns will require some extra work over the coming weeks to remove. Like switching on the heat, raking leaves, disconnecting hoses and cleaning gutters are just some of the season’s many routines. In a couple of weeks my wife and I will participate in what’s become another fall tradition, voting early. Like any good idiosyncratic custom, this habit developed accidentally rather than on purpose. We’ll go out to breakfast on the Saturday before Election Day. On our way home we’ll stop by the county annex building to cast our ballots. I don’t remember exactly how this particular routine got started, but it ranks high on the list for why fall is my favorite season. Even if I’m not fully satisfied with the slate of candidates, I get to talk over the choices with my wife at our favorite breakfast place. Of course, voting early does involve a little risk. There’s always the chance of late-breaking news happening in the hours between Saturday morning and Tuesday evening that would change my vote in a particular race. I think the odds of that happening are up there with delaying my vote, getting busy on the second Tuesday of November and not voting, only to see a race end in a tie all because I didn’t cast my ballot. Both are plausible if highly unlikely scenarios. After voting, we’ll likely spend the rest of the day working outside, picking up acorns that have bounced off the roof and raking leaves into giant piles. At least one of us will probably try to watch a little football and possibly sneak in an afternoon nap. In some ways, elections are the easiest way we control our own governance. The hard work comes later, when you have to ensure winning candidates stick to their campaign promises if you voted for them. Tougher still is convincing someone you didn’t vote for to reconsider their position. That work will come in a different season. Whether you’re starting a tradition or sticking to an old routine, fall is voting season. I encourage you to make the most of it and cast your ballot anytime between now and Nov. 8.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574694551876.png" alt="Greg Doering&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Greg Doering&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau I recently had to fire up the furnace for the first time this season. As painful as it was to switch the thermostat from the off position to heat, Mother Nature forced my hand with a hard freeze about two weeks early. In my mind there’s nothing better than waking up in a chilly house. On the flip side, there’s nothing worse than being awoken by a freezing house. The acorns falling on my roof for the past few weeks were one of the first signals this day was coming. Despite the drought, the oak tree north of my house has had a productive year. We’ve endured what can best be described as an intermittent hailstorm since late August. The seeds land with a thud before rolling into the gutter. Some of the larger acorns get a significant enough bounce off the hipped roof to make it to the patio, which adds an extra bit of excitement to each step once the little ovals are covered by leaves. The leaves and acorns will require some extra work over the coming weeks to remove. Like switching on the heat, raking leaves, disconnecting hoses and cleaning gutters are just some of the season’s many routines. In a couple of weeks my wife and I will participate in what’s become another fall tradition, voting early. Like any good idiosyncratic custom, this habit developed accidentally rather than on purpose. We’ll go out to breakfast on the Saturday before Election Day. On our way home we’ll stop by the county annex building to cast our ballots. I don’t remember exactly how this particular routine got started, but it ranks high on the list for why fall is my favorite season. Even if I’m not fully satisfied with the slate of candidates, I get to talk over the choices with my wife at our favorite breakfast place. Of course, voting early does involve a little risk. There’s always the chance of late-breaking news happening in the hours between Saturday morning and Tuesday evening that would change my vote in a particular race. I think the odds of that happening are up there with delaying my vote, getting busy on the second Tuesday of November and not voting, only to see a race end in a tie all because I didn’t cast my ballot. Both are plausible if highly unlikely scenarios. After voting, we’ll likely spend the rest of the day working outside, picking up acorns that have bounced off the roof and raking leaves into giant piles. At least one of us will probably try to watch a little football and possibly sneak in an afternoon nap. In some ways, elections are the easiest way we control our own governance. The hard work comes later, when you have to ensure winning candidates stick to their campaign promises if you voted for them. Tougher still is convincing someone you didn’t vote for to reconsider their position. That work will come in a different season. Whether you’re starting a tradition or sticking to an old routine, fall is voting season. I encourage you to make the most of it and cast your ballot anytime between now and Nov. 8."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Routines of fall

In these ridiculously partisan times,&nbsp;it may be a stretch to expect&nbsp;voters to look to the&nbsp;issues&nbsp;when&nbsp;checking a ballot&nbsp;box&nbsp;in the upcoming weeks, but that’s exactly what I’m&nbsp;asking&nbsp;you to do.

And when you look&nbsp;closely&nbsp;at&nbsp;the key issues of the economy, healthcare,&nbsp;and education, you’re going to want to vote for Ed Hammond&nbsp;to represent the 111th&nbsp;District&nbsp;(including Hays and Victoria)&nbsp;in the Kansas Legislature.

Let’s start with the economy and healthcare together since they both&nbsp;are intertwined with the issue of Medicaid&nbsp;expansion. Five years ago, a bipartisan&nbsp;Kansas Legislature passed Medicaid&nbsp;expansion, but then-Governor Brownback vetoed it.

Kansas legislators&nbsp;no doubt passed this measure&nbsp;because, quite frankly, it’s the right thing to do&nbsp;—&nbsp;and&nbsp;every surrounding state must agree:&nbsp;Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado have all passed Medicaid&nbsp;expansion, and their residents benefit, while Kansas residents do not.&nbsp;And economists note that, because of the tax benefits,&nbsp;states&nbsp;that pass expansion&nbsp;either see&nbsp;no deficit&nbsp;in&nbsp;their bottom line&nbsp;or, in some cases, even see a positive economic impact.

Without expansion, who&nbsp;even&nbsp;qualifies for Medicaid&nbsp;coverage in Kansas? Only the poorest of the poor.&nbsp;Currently,&nbsp;for a parent supporting two children,&nbsp;the salary cap&nbsp;for eligibility&nbsp;is a mere $8,500/year,&nbsp;and the wage cap is $4/hour.&nbsp;Yes, you read that right.&nbsp;It’s absurd and even negligent. This tough economy hurts&nbsp;everyone, but especially the poor—&nbsp;and without Medicaid&nbsp;expansion, they suffer even more.

“Our current representative&nbsp;[Barb Wasinger]&nbsp;has chosen not to advocate for expansion and in fact has actively participated in blocking it. The time is now to have Medicaid expansion,”&nbsp;candidate Ed Hammond says.

Were he to be elected, another&nbsp;benefit would hit close to home:&nbsp;fair and equitable state funding for Fort Hays State University, which is a&nbsp;significant&nbsp;employer and economic force in the 111th&nbsp;District.&nbsp;As a former president of FHSU, Hammond would be&nbsp;a knowledgeable and effective advocate.&nbsp;During his campaign, he has outlined&nbsp;how&nbsp;the current state-funding model is outdated and costs FHSU&nbsp;$20&nbsp;million-30 million a year.You can believe that, if elected, he will fight for our university, and the economic and educational&nbsp;boon will benefit the entire district.

Hammond will also fight for full funding for special education and K-12 schools. The current legislature, of which the incumbent is a part, has essentially robbed Peter to pay Paul. They fully funded the&nbsp;operational&nbsp;side of school budgets but then&nbsp;shortchanged the&nbsp;educational&nbsp;side, leaving special education 20% short of its necessary funding.&nbsp;So where will that money come from?&nbsp;It&nbsp;must&nbsp;come from somewhere because schools are required by law to meet the needs of disabled students.&nbsp;Hammond points out that&nbsp;this shortfall “puts pressure on local school district mill levies&nbsp;—&nbsp;equivalent to 5 mills in Hays and 3.5 in Victoria.”

Regardless of your own political party,&nbsp;if you care about the economy, the health of&nbsp;our state’s&nbsp;most vulnerable&nbsp;citizens, and&nbsp;the education of our children&nbsp;and FHSU students, then Ed Hammond deserves your vote.&nbsp;When he was president, he led Fort Hays State University&nbsp;through periods of great innovation, expansion, and financial stability. Let’s have him do the same for the State of Kansas.

In these ridiculously partisan times,&nbsp;it may be a stretch to expect&nbsp;voters to look to the&nbsp;issues&nbsp;when&nbsp;checking a ballot&nbsp;box&nbsp;in the upcoming weeks, but that’s exactly what I’m&nbsp;asking&nbsp;you to do.And when you look&nbsp;closely&nbsp;at&nbsp;the key issues of the economy, healthcare,&nbsp;and education, you’re going to want to vote for Ed Hammond&nbsp;to represent the 111th&nbsp;District&nbsp;(including Hays and Victoria)&nbsp;in the Kansas Legislature.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Let’s start with the economy and healthcare together since they both&nbsp;are intertwined with the issue of Medicaid&nbsp;expansion. Five years ago, a bipartisan&nbsp;Kansas Legislature passed Medicaid&nbsp;expansion, but then-Governor Brownback vetoed it.Kansas legislators&nbsp;no doubt passed this measure&nbsp;because, quite frankly, it’s the right thing to do&nbsp;—&nbsp;and&nbsp;every surrounding state must agree:&nbsp;Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado have all passed Medicaid&nbsp;expansion, and their residents benefit, while Kansas residents do not.&nbsp;And economists note that, because of the tax benefits,&nbsp;states&nbsp;that pass expansion&nbsp;either see&nbsp;no deficit&nbsp;in&nbsp;their bottom line&nbsp;or, in some cases, even see a positive economic impact.Without expansion, who&nbsp;even&nbsp;qualifies for Medicaid&nbsp;coverage in Kansas? Only the poorest of the poor.&nbsp;Currently,&nbsp;for a parent supporting two children,&nbsp;the salary cap&nbsp;for eligibility&nbsp;is a mere $8,500/year,&nbsp;and the wage cap is $4/hour.&nbsp;Yes, you read that right.&nbsp;It’s absurd and even negligent. This tough economy hurts&nbsp;everyone, but especially the poor—&nbsp;and without Medicaid&nbsp;expansion, they suffer even more.“Our current representative&nbsp;[Barb Wasinger]&nbsp;has chosen not to advocate for expansion and in fact has actively participated in blocking it. The time is now to have Medicaid expansion,”&nbsp;candidate Ed Hammond says.Were he to be elected, another&nbsp;benefit would hit close to home:&nbsp;fair and equitable state funding for Fort Hays State University, which is a&nbsp;significant&nbsp;employer and economic force in the 111th&nbsp;District.&nbsp;As a former president of FHSU, Hammond would be&nbsp;a knowledgeable and effective advocate.&nbsp;During his campaign, he has outlined&nbsp;how&nbsp;the current state-funding model is outdated and costs FHSU&nbsp;$20&nbsp;million-30 million a year.You can believe that, if elected, he will fight for our university, and the economic and educational&nbsp;boon will benefit the entire district.Hammond will also fight for full funding for special education and K-12 schools. The current legislature, of which the incumbent is a part, has essentially robbed Peter to pay Paul. They fully funded the&nbsp;operational&nbsp;side of school budgets but then&nbsp;shortchanged the&nbsp;educational&nbsp;side, leaving special education 20% short of its necessary funding.&nbsp;So where will that money come from?&nbsp;It&nbsp;must&nbsp;come from somewhere because schools are required by law to meet the needs of disabled students.&nbsp;Hammond points out that&nbsp;this shortfall “puts pressure on local school district mill levies&nbsp;—&nbsp;equivalent to 5 mills in Hays and 3.5 in Victoria.”Regardless of your own political party,&nbsp;if you care about the economy, the health of&nbsp;our state’s&nbsp;most vulnerable&nbsp;citizens, and&nbsp;the education of our children&nbsp;and FHSU students, then Ed Hammond deserves your vote.&nbsp;When he was president, he led Fort Hays State University&nbsp;through periods of great innovation, expansion, and financial stability. Let’s have him do the same for the State of Kansas.Cheryl Hofstetter Duffy, Hays

LETTER: Republican or Democrat, vote for Ed Hammond

In the Oct. 12 forum between Rep. Barb Wasinger and challenger Ed Hammond, Rep. Wasinger advocated for a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would give the Legislature the authority to revoke or suspend regulations adopted by state agencies.&nbsp; She said this amendment is meant to keep unelected bureaucrats from creating unnecessary or overreaching regulations.&nbsp; However, this amendment is an unnecessary power grab by the Legislature.

Remember, the executive branch agencies develop regulations based on laws passed by the Legislature.&nbsp; There is already a well-established process for developing regulations, which requires approvals from the Director of the Budget, Secretary of Administration, and the Attorney General, followed by public comment at a hearing.&nbsp; Rep. Wasinger’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations can also provide comments on proposed regulations, which have equal weight to those provided at the public hearing.&nbsp; This regulatory process is much more transparent than the Legislature’s and doesn’t involve the sneaky tactics of “Gut and Go” and votes after midnight, commonly used by the Legislature.

Rep. Wasinger’s example of regulations that went too far were new Workers Compensation regulations proposed by the Department of Labor.&nbsp; She asked the Attorney General to review them a second time, but didn’t say whether the regulations eventually were adopted.&nbsp; If they weren’t, that would show the current regulatory process worked and that the constitutional amendment is unnecessary.&nbsp; If they were, then shame on Attorney General Derek Schmidt for doing a poor job of reviewing them during the formal regulatory process.

The Legislature can already revoke regulations by passing laws, but this Constitutional amendment would just make it easier for them – no need to come up with the votes for a veto-proof majority if the Governor disagrees with them.

Giving the Legislature the power to revoke regulations by a simple majority would create regulatory uncertainty.&nbsp; What would happen if the Legislature revoked a regulation?&nbsp; The constitutional amendment on the ballot doesn’t address this.&nbsp; Would the previous regulation be in effect?&nbsp; Or, would there be no regulations in that area?&nbsp; If the latter, that could be dangerous and chaotic.

So, please vote no on this constitutional amendment.

In the Oct. 12 forum between Rep. Barb Wasinger and challenger Ed Hammond, Rep. Wasinger advocated for a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would give the Legislature the authority to revoke or suspend regulations adopted by state agencies.&nbsp; She said this amendment is meant to keep unelected bureaucrats from creating unnecessary or overreaching regulations.&nbsp; However, this amendment is an unnecessary power grab by the Legislature.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Remember, the executive branch agencies develop regulations based on laws passed by the Legislature.&nbsp; There is already a well-established process for developing regulations, which requires approvals from the Director of the Budget, Secretary of Administration, and the Attorney General, followed by public comment at a hearing.&nbsp; Rep. Wasinger’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations can also provide comments on proposed regulations, which have equal weight to those provided at the public hearing.&nbsp; This regulatory process is much more transparent than the Legislature’s and doesn’t involve the sneaky tactics of “Gut and Go” and votes after midnight, commonly used by the Legislature.Rep. Wasinger’s example of regulations that went too far were new Workers Compensation regulations proposed by the Department of Labor.&nbsp; She asked the Attorney General to review them a second time, but didn’t say whether the regulations eventually were adopted.&nbsp; If they weren’t, that would show the current regulatory process worked and that the constitutional amendment is unnecessary.&nbsp; If they were, then shame on Attorney General Derek Schmidt for doing a poor job of reviewing them during the formal regulatory process.The Legislature can already revoke regulations by passing laws, but this Constitutional amendment would just make it easier for them – no need to come up with the votes for a veto-proof majority if the Governor disagrees with them.Giving the Legislature the power to revoke regulations by a simple majority would create regulatory uncertainty.&nbsp; What would happen if the Legislature revoked a regulation?&nbsp; The constitutional amendment on the ballot doesn’t address this.&nbsp; Would the previous regulation be in effect?&nbsp; Or, would there be no regulations in that area?&nbsp; If the latter, that could be dangerous and chaotic.So, please vote no on this constitutional amendment.Helen Hands, Hays

LETTER: Amendment an unnecessary power grab by Legislature

Throwing money at a problem is not leadership or an answer.&nbsp;But State Representative Barb&nbsp;Wasinger’s&nbsp;democratic opponent thinks otherwise.

We have heard a lot from Ed Hammond over the last month. &nbsp;Unfortunately, even though he has said a lot,&nbsp;he hasn’t told us much about himself, his positions, or his beliefs. &nbsp;He has mostly spent his time telling us why his opponent is&nbsp;bad and&nbsp;wrong&nbsp;while&nbsp;not giving us much of an understanding of his ideas and solutions.

We know his position on education. &nbsp;He believes schools should have an open checkbook that allows them to spend as much money as needed to provide a good education. &nbsp;The problem is that Kansas’s checkbook is not limitless,&nbsp;and money doesn’t guarantee a good education. &nbsp;Barb knows we&nbsp;must&nbsp;ensure every dollar is spent wisely and gets to the teacher and the classroom. &nbsp;

Ed Hammond wants a blank check for public schools and universities without restrictions or guidance to ensure that money&nbsp;reaches&nbsp;the teachers, students, and classrooms.&nbsp;&nbsp;Funding is not the only problem with&nbsp;schools and&nbsp;special education. &nbsp;Does he have a plan on how he&nbsp;will&nbsp;help&nbsp;fix the existing system? &nbsp;If he does,&nbsp;it would be great to hear that plan. &nbsp;

Barb&nbsp;has been consistently&nbsp;pro-education, pro-student, and pro-teacher.&nbsp;She&nbsp;wants each young person in our state to&nbsp;receive&nbsp;a high-quality education. &nbsp;She wants to see every single student be&nbsp;prepared&nbsp;for&nbsp;success when they&nbsp;leave our schools. &nbsp;Money is part of that solution,&nbsp;but only if it is well spent&nbsp;with an understanding that it is not limitless. &nbsp;

We&nbsp;would like to hear where Ed stands on other issues that are very important to us too. &nbsp;Education is only part of the legislative agenda, and&nbsp;many other issues will be proposed and debated this year. &nbsp;I have even&nbsp;searched his website for answers to&nbsp;abortion and&nbsp;defunding the police, for example,&nbsp;and&nbsp;found none.&nbsp;These issues in my opinion need to be on the forefront of the debate.&nbsp;

Since&nbsp;education&nbsp;is&nbsp;the only topic that Ed wants to discuss, we would like to know how he will vote on these two issues which affect our schools and&nbsp;their&nbsp;athletic programs. &nbsp;This year we are excited to be celebrating&nbsp;fifty&nbsp;years since the&nbsp;historic&nbsp;passing&nbsp;of&nbsp;Title&nbsp;IX.&nbsp;Title IX&nbsp;has been&nbsp;an&nbsp;incredible&nbsp;game-changer&nbsp;for women’s athletics and activities. &nbsp;We&nbsp;would like to hear how he will continue to protect women’s athletics&nbsp;in our state. &nbsp;Will he ensure that females only have to compete against other females and that they will have privacy in their&nbsp;own&nbsp;locker rooms? &nbsp;Will he ensure that only other female athletes break the records they worked so hard to set? &nbsp;We would like to hear his view on this issue as it affects many of our daughters.

The other thing we would like to know is how he is going to vote in the upcoming vote on the KSHSAA Multiplier. Is he for punishing private schools&nbsp;(primarily catholic schools)&nbsp;by forcing them to play up a classification? &nbsp;The current proposal&nbsp;to&nbsp;be voted on in the Kansas legislature will force many private schools to play up a classification against much bigger schools. &nbsp;These schools are being punished for being successful against schools of a similar size.&nbsp;They are putting kids at risk in sports like football and wrestling by making them compete against much bigger schools.&nbsp;Public schools&nbsp;with the same success level&nbsp;against their similar-sized peers do not receive a bump. &nbsp;Why is one group of schools treated differently? &nbsp;The voters would like to hear how Ed Hammond will vote&nbsp;on&nbsp;this proposal as it affects our community and schools. &nbsp;

Ed Hammond states that K&nbsp;-&nbsp;12, Fort Hays State and&nbsp;HaysMed&nbsp;are the largest employers in the area, what he forgets to mention&nbsp;is&nbsp;they are all tax dollar funded and&nbsp;other than&nbsp;HaysMed&nbsp;they do not&nbsp;produce actual income. They take the wealth from the citizens in tax&nbsp;dollars,&nbsp;but&nbsp;no one has mentioned this.&nbsp;

Though I feel Medicaid expansion is important, if it wouldn’t have been for the unrelated abortion debate derailing the bipartisan effort in the 2022 session, it probably would have passed.

Although Kansas has not implemented the ACA’s Medicaid expansion, the state did implement the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/medicaid-postpartum-coverage-extension-tracker/">American Rescue Plan&nbsp;provision</a>&nbsp;that allows states to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months (postpartum Medicaid coverage previously ended 60 days after the baby was born). In Kansas, the postpartum Medicaid coverage extension&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/governor-kelly-announces-approved-expansion-of-medicaid-coverage-to-kansas-mothers-postpartum/">took effect in April 2022</a>.

These are just a few examples of the many things Ed has not told us about his beliefs and how he will vote on issues. &nbsp;If we elect someone to represent us, we need to know what&nbsp;they&nbsp;stand&nbsp;for and how&nbsp;they&nbsp;will represent us on all the issues&nbsp;and not just education.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Throwing money at a problem is not leadership or an answer.&nbsp;But State Representative Barb&nbsp;Wasinger’s&nbsp;democratic opponent thinks otherwise.We have heard a lot from Ed Hammond over the last month. &nbsp;Unfortunately, even though he has said a lot,&nbsp;he hasn’t told us much about himself, his positions, or his beliefs. &nbsp;He has mostly spent his time telling us why his opponent is&nbsp;bad and&nbsp;wrong&nbsp;while&nbsp;not giving us much of an understanding of his ideas and solutions.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>We know his position on education. &nbsp;He believes schools should have an open checkbook that allows them to spend as much money as needed to provide a good education. &nbsp;The problem is that Kansas’s checkbook is not limitless,&nbsp;and money doesn’t guarantee a good education. &nbsp;Barb knows we&nbsp;must&nbsp;ensure every dollar is spent wisely and gets to the teacher and the classroom. &nbsp;Ed Hammond wants a blank check for public schools and universities without restrictions or guidance to ensure that money&nbsp;reaches&nbsp;the teachers, students, and classrooms.&nbsp;&nbsp;Funding is not the only problem with&nbsp;schools and&nbsp;special education. &nbsp;Does he have a plan on how he&nbsp;will&nbsp;help&nbsp;fix the existing system? &nbsp;If he does,&nbsp;it would be great to hear that plan. &nbsp;Barb&nbsp;has been consistently&nbsp;pro-education, pro-student, and pro-teacher.&nbsp;She&nbsp;wants each young person in our state to&nbsp;receive&nbsp;a high-quality education. &nbsp;She wants to see every single student be&nbsp;prepared&nbsp;for&nbsp;success when they&nbsp;leave our schools. &nbsp;Money is part of that solution,&nbsp;but only if it is well spent&nbsp;with an understanding that it is not limitless. &nbsp;We&nbsp;would like to hear where Ed stands on other issues that are very important to us too. &nbsp;Education is only part of the legislative agenda, and&nbsp;many other issues will be proposed and debated this year. &nbsp;I have even&nbsp;searched his website for answers to&nbsp;abortion and&nbsp;defunding the police, for example,&nbsp;and&nbsp;found none.&nbsp;These issues in my opinion need to be on the forefront of the debate.&nbsp;Since&nbsp;education&nbsp;is&nbsp;the only topic that Ed wants to discuss, we would like to know how he will vote on these two issues which affect our schools and&nbsp;their&nbsp;athletic programs. &nbsp;This year we are excited to be celebrating&nbsp;fifty&nbsp;years since the&nbsp;historic&nbsp;passing&nbsp;of&nbsp;Title&nbsp;IX.&nbsp;Title IX&nbsp;has been&nbsp;an&nbsp;incredible&nbsp;game-changer&nbsp;for women’s athletics and activities. &nbsp;We&nbsp;would like to hear how he will continue to protect women’s athletics&nbsp;in our state. &nbsp;Will he ensure that females only have to compete against other females and that they will have privacy in their&nbsp;own&nbsp;locker rooms? &nbsp;Will he ensure that only other female athletes break the records they worked so hard to set? &nbsp;We would like to hear his view on this issue as it affects many of our daughters.The other thing we would like to know is how he is going to vote in the upcoming vote on the KSHSAA Multiplier. Is he for punishing private schools&nbsp;(primarily catholic schools)&nbsp;by forcing them to play up a classification? &nbsp;The current proposal&nbsp;to&nbsp;be voted on in the Kansas legislature will force many private schools to play up a classification against much bigger schools. &nbsp;These schools are being punished for being successful against schools of a similar size.&nbsp;They are putting kids at risk in sports like football and wrestling by making them compete against much bigger schools.&nbsp;Public schools&nbsp;with the same success level&nbsp;against their similar-sized peers do not receive a bump. &nbsp;Why is one group of schools treated differently? &nbsp;The voters would like to hear how Ed Hammond will vote&nbsp;on&nbsp;this proposal as it affects our community and schools. &nbsp;Ed Hammond states that K&nbsp;-&nbsp;12, Fort Hays State and&nbsp;HaysMed&nbsp;are the largest employers in the area, what he forgets to mention&nbsp;is&nbsp;they are all tax dollar funded and&nbsp;other than&nbsp;HaysMed&nbsp;they do not&nbsp;produce actual income. They take the wealth from the citizens in tax&nbsp;dollars,&nbsp;but&nbsp;no one has mentioned this.&nbsp;Though I feel Medicaid expansion is important, if it wouldn’t have been for the unrelated abortion debate derailing the bipartisan effort in the 2022 session, it probably would have passed.Although Kansas has not implemented the ACA’s Medicaid expansion, the state did implement the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/medicaid-postpartum-coverage-extension-tracker/">American Rescue Plan&nbsp;provision</a>&nbsp;that allows states to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months (postpartum Medicaid coverage previously ended 60 days after the baby was born). In Kansas, the postpartum Medicaid coverage extension&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/governor-kelly-announces-approved-expansion-of-medicaid-coverage-to-kansas-mothers-postpartum/">took effect in April 2022</a>.These are just a few examples of the many things Ed has not told us about his beliefs and how he will vote on issues. &nbsp;If we elect someone to represent us, we need to know what&nbsp;they&nbsp;stand&nbsp;for and how&nbsp;they&nbsp;will represent us on all the issues&nbsp;and not just education.&nbsp;&nbsp;Joe Wilkerson , Catharine

LETTER: Education spending, Title IX and KSHSSA 

In this month's Hays Chamber&nbsp;of Commerce&nbsp;candidate forum, Democrat Ed Hammond&nbsp;brought up the issue of “dark money” being spent in the&nbsp;state&nbsp;representative race between&nbsp;incumbentState Representative Barb Wasinger and him. &nbsp;Dark money seems to be&nbsp;a&nbsp;big&nbsp;bugaboo for&nbsp;Democrat&nbsp;Hammond&nbsp;(Hammond was a registered Republican until May&nbsp;of this year when hea dmittedly approached the Democrat party&nbsp;&nbsp;to run for office).

A close second, however,&nbsp;is&nbsp;his&nbsp;disdain&nbsp;for the Kansas Chamber’s&nbsp;audacity to support&nbsp;various Kansas&nbsp;candidates&nbsp;with a campaign contribution. Apparently, giving the maximum dollar donation of $500 to candidates somehow&nbsp;beholdens&nbsp;them to vote for every issue the Kansas Chamber champions.

I was curious about his comments, so I decided to evaluate his claims.&nbsp;What I found&nbsp;truly illustrates&nbsp;the&nbsp;sort of&nbsp;blatant hypocrisy that&nbsp;has infiltrated our politics&nbsp;for far too long&nbsp;and eroded our trust&nbsp;in our institutions.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2020,&nbsp;Democrat Barbara Bollier,&nbsp;who ran against&nbsp;now&nbsp;U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, was the beneficiary of&nbsp;over&nbsp;$20 Million dollars of campaign contributions,&nbsp;the majority of which came&nbsp;from out-of-state contributors&nbsp;and&nbsp;Super PACs, exactly&nbsp;what Hammond&nbsp;would&nbsp;describe as dark money. &nbsp;This year, Democrat Governor Laura Kelly is the recipient of millions of dollars of out of state money and dark money campaign donations.&nbsp;I have yet to see any opposition to the dark money being spent on behalf of Democrat Kelly either.&nbsp;

Indeed,&nbsp;a quick review of Hammond’s own financial disclosures shows&nbsp;he&nbsp;has&nbsp;too&nbsp;taken&nbsp;PAC&nbsp;money. His disclosures&nbsp;also show he has taken money&nbsp;from&nbsp;representatives of the Kansas Medical Society,&nbsp;a proponent of Obamacare expansion, a program&nbsp;he is more than happy to vocally support.&nbsp;Hammond,&nbsp;local,&nbsp;state&nbsp;and national Democrats&nbsp;are apparently perfectly fine&nbsp;with taking the “right kind”&nbsp;money from&nbsp;PACs&nbsp;or special interests when&nbsp;it works in their&nbsp;favor but promote a&nbsp;narrative&nbsp;about how corrupt Republicans are for accepting similar contributions.

More interesting is Hammond’s incessant railing against the Kansas Chamber and its&nbsp;purported&nbsp;terrible influence on candidates he and other state and local Democrats oppose. &nbsp;You see, according to them, if a candidate takes a donation from the Kansas Chamber,&nbsp;that candidate is automatically considered corrupted and state representatives and senators who do so&nbsp;are&nbsp;deemed to be incapable of&nbsp;voting for an issue&nbsp;which in their view is&nbsp;in the best interests&nbsp;of the people they serve.

But here is the most interesting aspect of Hammond’s&nbsp;claims. &nbsp;He served on the Board of&nbsp;Directors of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce&nbsp;for&nbsp;a number of&nbsp;years.&nbsp;How&nbsp;is it&nbsp;acceptable to take a seat on the Kansas Chamber’s board,&nbsp;then&nbsp;turn around and bash it every chance he gets for being a bad influence on Kansas legislators?

I don’t know about everyone else, but&nbsp;from&nbsp;my perspective&nbsp;Democrat Hammond’s criticism of dark money and the Kansas Chamber rings hollow and represents the height of hypocrisy. &nbsp;I believe in our political system, and I believe we can do better. That is why I am voting for&nbsp;Representative Barb Wasinger.&nbsp;I believe our&nbsp;community&nbsp;needs someone who we know lives her values, says what she means, and is focused on real issues that Kansas voters care about.&nbsp;

In this month's Hays Chamber&nbsp;of Commerce&nbsp;candidate forum, Democrat Ed Hammond&nbsp;brought up the issue of “dark money” being spent in the&nbsp;state&nbsp;representative race between&nbsp;incumbentState Representative Barb Wasinger and him. &nbsp;Dark money seems to be&nbsp;a&nbsp;big&nbsp;bugaboo for&nbsp;Democrat&nbsp;Hammond&nbsp;(Hammond was a registered Republican until May&nbsp;of this year when hea dmittedly approached the Democrat party&nbsp;&nbsp;to run for office).A close second, however,&nbsp;is&nbsp;his&nbsp;disdain&nbsp;for the Kansas Chamber’s&nbsp;audacity to support&nbsp;various Kansas&nbsp;candidates&nbsp;with a campaign contribution. Apparently, giving the maximum dollar donation of $500 to candidates somehow&nbsp;beholdens&nbsp;them to vote for every issue the Kansas Chamber champions.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>I was curious about his comments, so I decided to evaluate his claims.&nbsp;What I found&nbsp;truly illustrates&nbsp;the&nbsp;sort of&nbsp;blatant hypocrisy that&nbsp;has infiltrated our politics&nbsp;for far too long&nbsp;and eroded our trust&nbsp;in our institutions.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2020,&nbsp;Democrat Barbara Bollier,&nbsp;who ran against&nbsp;now&nbsp;U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, was the beneficiary of&nbsp;over&nbsp;$20 Million dollars of campaign contributions,&nbsp;the majority of which came&nbsp;from out-of-state contributors&nbsp;and&nbsp;Super PACs, exactly&nbsp;what Hammond&nbsp;would&nbsp;describe as dark money. &nbsp;This year, Democrat Governor Laura Kelly is the recipient of millions of dollars of out of state money and dark money campaign donations.&nbsp;I have yet to see any opposition to the dark money being spent on behalf of Democrat Kelly either.&nbsp;Indeed,&nbsp;a quick review of Hammond’s own financial disclosures shows&nbsp;he&nbsp;has&nbsp;too&nbsp;taken&nbsp;PAC&nbsp;money. His disclosures&nbsp;also show he has taken money&nbsp;from&nbsp;representatives of the Kansas Medical Society,&nbsp;a proponent of Obamacare expansion, a program&nbsp;he is more than happy to vocally support.&nbsp;Hammond,&nbsp;local,&nbsp;state&nbsp;and national Democrats&nbsp;are apparently perfectly fine&nbsp;with taking the “right kind”&nbsp;money from&nbsp;PACs&nbsp;or special interests when&nbsp;it works in their&nbsp;favor but promote a&nbsp;narrative&nbsp;about how corrupt Republicans are for accepting similar contributions.More interesting is Hammond’s incessant railing against the Kansas Chamber and its&nbsp;purported&nbsp;terrible influence on candidates he and other state and local Democrats oppose. &nbsp;You see, according to them, if a candidate takes a donation from the Kansas Chamber,&nbsp;that candidate is automatically considered corrupted and state representatives and senators who do so&nbsp;are&nbsp;deemed to be incapable of&nbsp;voting for an issue&nbsp;which in their view is&nbsp;in the best interests&nbsp;of the people they serve.But here is the most interesting aspect of Hammond’s&nbsp;claims. &nbsp;He served on the Board of&nbsp;Directors of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce&nbsp;for&nbsp;a number of&nbsp;years.&nbsp;How&nbsp;is it&nbsp;acceptable to take a seat on the Kansas Chamber’s board,&nbsp;then&nbsp;turn around and bash it every chance he gets for being a bad influence on Kansas legislators?I don’t know about everyone else, but&nbsp;from&nbsp;my perspective&nbsp;Democrat Hammond’s criticism of dark money and the Kansas Chamber rings hollow and represents the height of hypocrisy. &nbsp;I believe in our political system, and I believe we can do better. That is why I am voting for&nbsp;Representative Barb Wasinger.&nbsp;I believe our&nbsp;community&nbsp;needs someone who we know lives her values, says what she means, and is focused on real issues that Kansas voters care about.&nbsp;Chris McGowne, Hays

LETTER: The two faces of Ed Hammond

Abortion rights may not be on the ballot, but&nbsp;they&nbsp;will undoubtedly&nbsp;influence&nbsp;the&nbsp;November&nbsp;election.&nbsp;

You’ve probably heard a lot of people try to&nbsp;extrapolate&nbsp;from&nbsp;the August 2nd&nbsp;results to forecast&nbsp;what will happen on November 8th.&nbsp;

Doing so is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

November is a different election with different&nbsp;motivations&nbsp;for voter turnout. The question of abortion rights is not on the ballot for a direct democratic vote the way it was in August.

Between 20 and 30 percent of “No” voters in August were registered Republicans.&nbsp;On the issue of abortion alone, those Republicans voted that it should remain&nbsp;legal,&nbsp;but this issue isn’t a priority for many Republicans when there are other issues at play&nbsp;in the election.

In national polling, abortion is battling with inflation as the top political issue of the midterms.

In the polls, Republicans are more likely to say inflation is the most important issue, while Democrats and independents&nbsp;still seem to be mostly&nbsp;mobilized by&nbsp;abortion rights.

So, if the August results can’t tell us who will win the general election, what can they tell us?

Turnout is likely to remain higher than previous midterm elections and it is likely due to increased turnout among specific demographics of voters.

Women, especially young women, had a massive surge in turnout in August.

In the months leading up to the election, women made up&nbsp;a majority of&nbsp;first-time registered voters. Also, the number of women registering to vote increased about 35 percent over the summer&nbsp;compared to previous years. There was only a 9 percent increase among men.

Furthermore, women cast&nbsp;56 percent of all votes on the amendment.&nbsp;The&nbsp;12 point&nbsp;gender gap in turnout&nbsp;was&nbsp;larger than any recent election and more than double the 2018 gender gap.

Additionally,&nbsp;21 percent of all voters in August were young people — those under the age of 35. In the 2018 primary, only 14% of ballots were cast by this same age group.

Turnout among Latino voters was also higher than&nbsp;in&nbsp;any other midterm election. In fact, it was higher turnout than we’ve ever seen from Latino voters&nbsp;with the exception of&nbsp;the 2020 presidential election.

Now that these&nbsp;citizens have voted, many of them for the first time, they’re more likely to vote again in the future because with each election they become more familiar with the voting process.&nbsp;Familiarity&nbsp;makes it&nbsp;easier&nbsp;for voters&nbsp;to navigate an increasingly complex system.

In general, these turnout&nbsp;trends are good news&nbsp;for the Democratic Party, which&nbsp;holds&nbsp;a majority of&nbsp;women, young people, and Latino voters within its coalition.&nbsp;But it’s far from a guaranteed victory for any of the statewide Democrats on the ballot.

We will likely once again see elevated turnout from the most ardent pro-life voters. While abortion is not on the ballot, the six judicial retention elections could dramatically alter the makeup of the Kansas Supreme Court — the very court that made the decision, in&nbsp;Hodes and&nbsp;Nauser&nbsp;v. Kansas, that abortion rights are protected by the state constitution.&nbsp;

Pro-life&nbsp;activists&nbsp;are certainly motivated&nbsp;to mobilize&nbsp;their&nbsp;voters&nbsp;against retaining these justices. A new slate of justices could potentially overturn the decision on the&nbsp;Hodes&nbsp;case if they were politically inclined to do so.&nbsp;

There’s a lot we don’t know about what will happen in November. Many statewide races are too close to call. And analyzing the August 2nd&nbsp;results can set some general expectations, but it can’t give us the answers.

The results of the November 8th&nbsp;election are between Kansas voters and the ballot box.

Alexandra Middlewood, PhD&nbsp;is an Assistant&nbsp;Professor of Political Science at&nbsp;Wichita State&nbsp;University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633377761670.jpeg" alt="Alexandra Middlewood, PhD&nbsp;is an Assistant&nbsp;Professor of Political Science at&nbsp;Wichita State&nbsp;University." />
 <figcaption>Alexandra Middlewood, PhD&nbsp;is an Assistant&nbsp;Professor of Political Science at&nbsp;Wichita State&nbsp;University.</figcaption>
 </figure>Abortion rights may not be on the ballot, but&nbsp;they&nbsp;will undoubtedly&nbsp;influence&nbsp;the&nbsp;November&nbsp;election.&nbsp;You’ve probably heard a lot of people try to&nbsp;extrapolate&nbsp;from&nbsp;the August 2nd&nbsp;results to forecast&nbsp;what will happen on November 8th.&nbsp;Doing so is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.November is a different election with different&nbsp;motivations&nbsp;for voter turnout. The question of abortion rights is not on the ballot for a direct democratic vote the way it was in August.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Between 20 and 30 percent of “No” voters in August were registered Republicans.&nbsp;On the issue of abortion alone, those Republicans voted that it should remain&nbsp;legal,&nbsp;but this issue isn’t a priority for many Republicans when there are other issues at play&nbsp;in the election.In national polling, abortion is battling with inflation as the top political issue of the midterms.In the polls, Republicans are more likely to say inflation is the most important issue, while Democrats and independents&nbsp;still seem to be mostly&nbsp;mobilized by&nbsp;abortion rights.So, if the August results can’t tell us who will win the general election, what can they tell us?It’s mostly about voter turnout.Turnout is likely to remain higher than previous midterm elections and it is likely due to increased turnout among specific demographics of voters.Women, especially young women, had a massive surge in turnout in August.In the months leading up to the election, women made up&nbsp;a majority of&nbsp;first-time registered voters. Also, the number of women registering to vote increased about 35 percent over the summer&nbsp;compared to previous years. There was only a 9 percent increase among men.Furthermore, women cast&nbsp;56 percent of all votes on the amendment.&nbsp;The&nbsp;12 point&nbsp;gender gap in turnout&nbsp;was&nbsp;larger than any recent election and more than double the 2018 gender gap.Additionally,&nbsp;21 percent of all voters in August were young people — those under the age of 35. In the 2018 primary, only 14% of ballots were cast by this same age group.Turnout among Latino voters was also higher than&nbsp;in&nbsp;any other midterm election. In fact, it was higher turnout than we’ve ever seen from Latino voters&nbsp;with the exception of&nbsp;the 2020 presidential election.Now that these&nbsp;citizens have voted, many of them for the first time, they’re more likely to vote again in the future because with each election they become more familiar with the voting process.&nbsp;Familiarity&nbsp;makes it&nbsp;easier&nbsp;for voters&nbsp;to navigate an increasingly complex system.In general, these turnout&nbsp;trends are good news&nbsp;for the Democratic Party, which&nbsp;holds&nbsp;a majority of&nbsp;women, young people, and Latino voters within its coalition.&nbsp;But it’s far from a guaranteed victory for any of the statewide Democrats on the ballot.We will likely once again see elevated turnout from the most ardent pro-life voters. While abortion is not on the ballot, the six judicial retention elections could dramatically alter the makeup of the Kansas Supreme Court — the very court that made the decision, in&nbsp;Hodes and&nbsp;Nauser&nbsp;v. Kansas, that abortion rights are protected by the state constitution.&nbsp;Pro-life&nbsp;activists&nbsp;are certainly motivated&nbsp;to mobilize&nbsp;their&nbsp;voters&nbsp;against retaining these justices. A new slate of justices could potentially overturn the decision on the&nbsp;Hodes&nbsp;case if they were politically inclined to do so.&nbsp;There’s a lot we don’t know about what will happen in November. Many statewide races are too close to call. And analyzing the August 2nd&nbsp;results can set some general expectations, but it can’t give us the answers.The results of the November 8th&nbsp;election are between Kansas voters and the ballot box.Alexandra Middlewood, PhD&nbsp;is an Assistant&nbsp;Professor of Political Science at&nbsp;Wichita State&nbsp;University.

Opinion