My name is Jim Barrett. The purpose of this letter is to support Dr. Ed Hammond as the best candidate for election to the Kansas House of Representatives from District 111. I was employed by Fort Hays State University from the fall of 2007 until June of 2018. I taught in the Advanced Education Programs Department for four years and served as the Chair of that Department for my last seven years at FHSU. The last two of those years, Dr. Hammond served as a half-time faculty member in that department.
Dr. Hammond obviously has many leadership qualities as demonstrated through the years of his highly successful guidance of Fort Hays State University. I observed one quality that highly impressed me that I believe makes him the best candidate for the 111th. Dr. Hammond had two all-campus meetings each year when he would lay out the objectives for the year and provide feedback on the progress toward those objectives. During those meetings, Dr. Hammond would articulate the conditions in the United States, our region and Kansas in particular and link them to what Fort Hays State University needed to do to continue to grow and be successful. That ability to see the big picture as a framework through which to create a vision and direction for the University was demonstrated yearly.
I am confident that Dr. Hammond will continue to analyze information from the US, Kansas, and 111th District, and use that to create a framework of advocacy that benefits all of the 111th as well as Kansas. He is a skilled communicator, a tactful negotiator and someone who not only knows what is right, but has the fortitude to use those skills and beliefs to work for what is right for those he represents.
I am going to vote for Dr. Ed Hammond as representative for the 111th District and encourage you to vote for him as well.
Dr. Jim Barrett, Professor Emeritus, Fort Hays State University