By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Saturday area legislators, including U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R.-Kan.; Kansas Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland; Kansas Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra; and Kansas Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, are set to join area residents in Hays for the first of three Legislative Coffee sessions organized by the Hays Chamber.
“I look forward to the opportunity to speak with Kansans and learn more about the issues and concerns impacting their lives,” Marshall said in a press release earlier this week. “I value the opportunity to hear directly from folks in Ellis County so that I can take their stories and concerns with me when I return to Washington, D.C.”
The event will begin at 8 a.m. in the Schmidt Community Commons at the Hays Public Library, 1205 Main, with coffee and scones served by Breathe Coffee House, 703B Main. Questions will begin at 8:30 a.m.
“Usually, we give folks a chance to enjoy the coffee and scones provided by brief Coffee House for that first half-hour, " said Hays Chamber President and CEO Sarah Wasinger. "And then if folks want to talk one on one with the legislators, or each other, that's kind of a good avenue for them to do that.”
The recently remodeled Hays Public Library was a good fit for the discussions, she said.
“We were excited when Sarah approached us about hosting Legislative Coffee, for the venue,” said Callie Kolacny, Hays Public Library communications coordinator. “One of our missions is information. And what better way to be informed about what's going on in the government than to give people a place to come and actually speak with our elected officials?”
With the central location of the library in downtown Hays, she said she hopes for a good turnout.
“We really hope to get a good crowd and have a lot of people come in and speak with the elected officials, because it's a great opportunity, and we're happy to be able to provide the location,” Kolacny said.
The event is sponsored by Midwest Energy and the Hays Daily News.
Questions to the legislators can be asked in person or can be submitted in advance to the Hays Chamber at [email protected].
“If you have questions specific to any of those folks, or just questions that you want to ask, in general, by all means, let us know,” Wasinger said. “If you're a little nervous as to raise your hand to ask a question or things of that nature, you can ask questions anonymously.”
She said questions can also be forwarded to individual legislators as well.
After opening remarks from the legislators, Wasinger said the session will be opened to questions, followed by closing remarks.
Two more Legislative Coffees are scheduled on the first Saturday of the month — March 5 and April 2.
Wasinger said she hopes the sessions help create a stronger working relationship between the legislators and the public.
"(There is) no better way to really understand the legislative process than to put yourself into a situation where you can comfortably interact with your legislators one on one or in a bigger group setting,” Wasinger said. “This is their home too. And I think a lot of times people sometimes maybe forget that they live work and play here and in Kansas just as we do, and so they've got a vested buy-in to make sure that they're addressing the issues that are important to the constituents in which they represent.”
For more information about the Legislative Coffee, visit the Hays Chamber website, hayschamber.com.
Cover image courtesy Pixabay