During the Lyon County Democratic Annual Picnic, candidates spoke their minds and encouraged fellow Democrats to get out and vote in this year’s election.
Following a picnic meal inside the Emporia Arts Center, Democratic candidates addressed the group, which filled the center. Linda Slattery, wife of candidate for U.S. Senate Jim Slattery, spoke first on behalf of her husband. Slattery said the economy is rocky and the deficit has increased by a third in the last eight years.
“The problems of our nation are huge and we are at the heel of it,” Slattery said.
But Slattery didn’t talk only about politics. She wanted to tell people what they didn’t know about her husband.
“I just want to tell you tonight the rest of the story,” she said.
Slattery said she has been married to Jim Slattery for 34 years. She said he grew up in poverty on a farm with no hot water. He owned two shirts and attended a two-room schoolhouse.
“His father taught him how to work and his mother taught him how to dream,” Slattery said.
Slattery said when John F. Kennedy was elected president, it changed her husband’s life. When he was in grade school, he would run home to listen to the press conferences on the radio.
“To this day, he is really moved by the idea of service,” she said.
Slattery said this is the year for change.
“I believe all of us in this room share the same principles,” she said. “We believe we can make a difference ... this is the year. This is the year ... this election really matters.”
James Bordonaro, who is running for First District U.S. House of Representatives, said this year is a historical year.
“We saw a historical presidential caucus in February,” he said. “We had a historical turnout. ... This is a critical moment in national history. The first thing we have to do is elect a Democrat president and give him a Democrat congress. ... President Bush has been a disaster for America.”
Kitty Frank of Allen, who is running for 17th District Kansas Senate, said she came within 2 percent of winning the last election.
“I don’t feel like the senator we have right now has the heart and passion for what is important to us,” Frank said.
Carol Strickland, candidate for the 76th District House, spoke not only about party unity but government unity regardless of party affiliation.
“If we are not going to work together as Democrats, Republican and unaffiliated we are not going to move Kansas forward,” Strickland said. “We have got to talk to each other. ... I think if we sit down on a state level, a federal level, we can work out the problems.”
Several local candidates for office spoke as well. Chris Bartel, who is running for Lyon County Commission, said he believes in fiscal responsibility in government.
“I’m not going to stand here and say I can save all the taxpayer dollars because if we did that there would be no government,” Bartel said. “There are projects that need our taxpayer dollars.”
Phil Winter, also a candidate for Lyon County Commission, said he brings experience to the table with this election. He worked in Lyon County government for 30 years on the legal side, he said.
“I think the finances of this county are solid,” Winter said.
While the finances of the county are solid, Winter expressed concern over the oil and gas costs and taxes and services in the county.
Open government was the topic for Mike Dorcey, candidate for Lyon County Clerk. Dorcey said he wants to make government in the county open and transparent with information available to all who want to learn.
“The power has to belong to the people,” Dorcey said. “But people need information to use this power correctly.”
Dorcey said the reduction of polling places needs to be stopped and people need to be able to get out and vote.
Dorcey said he spent more than 20 years in the military, fighting for peoples’ rights, he said.
“I don’t think I spent 20-some years in the military so we can blow it off,” he said. “This is something we fight for.”
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
There is either an error in the story or Kitty Frank misspoke. The article said that Frank said that she came within 2% of beating Jim Barnett in the last election. Frank didn't even run against Barnett last election. Sharon Karr did run, but it was much wider than 2%.
July 21, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
glarson (anonymous) says...
To clarify...
Kitty Frank is running against Sen. Jim Barnett for the 17th District.
Kitty Frank ran as a Democrat in 2004 against Republican incumbent Karent Hartenbower for Lyon County clerk.
Kitty Frank came within 2 percent of winning that last election in which she was a candidate.
Gwen Larson
Managing Editor
July 23, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
Thanks, Gwen.
July 23, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )