By LORI BLAKE
Candidate for Kansas House of Representatives 69th District
Last year, I decided to run for the State House in the 69th district. Over three decades as a small business owner and administrator in public education, disability supports and child abuse prevention, I have learned families are the foundation for society. After thirteen years on the Southeast of Saline School Board, I want to share my knowledge and experience supporting high quality education and representing the real needs of local families to change policy. I’m running for the Democratic nomination. But I have a confession: the Democrat label doesn’t quite describe me.
Though registered as a Democrat when I was younger, over the years I’ve also registered as a Republican, and I’ve voted for both Democrats and Republicans many times. As a school board member advocating to our legislators, I quickly became frustrated by the gridlock caused by our two party system and their inability to collaborate to solve problems. I chose to unaffiliate and tried to distance myself from both major parties because I think politics at the state and national level have gotten nasty. And too often, these same politicians forget there are local leaders elected to make decisions that are local issues. We are not a one-size fits all state. Much of the focus in Topeka should be sent back to our city, county and school boards. These people understand their communities and their values best.
Both parties are too dominated by their extremes and people with narrow agendas that the average person doesn’t care much about. People like me, who just want government to focus on setting policy that betters people’s lives, tend to stay away from running for office. Picking one of the major party banners doesn’t quite feel right.
But this year something different is stirring here in Kansas: the United Kansas Party. It’s a new political party that wants to lift the voices and values of moderates—people who value collaboration, compromise and understand a single mind can’t arrive at the best solution due to their limited experience. We are stronger when we work together. We should seek to create a culture of civility over ideological wars focused on beating the “other side.”
What makes United Kansas different from other third parties is that it wants to be a constructive party, not one that runs its own fringe candidates, dividing the vote. It’s focused on reviving fusion voting, an old practice here in Kansas that used to be common until the early 1900s.
Fusion voting is when two or more parties each nominate the same candidate, but voters get to express their support for that candidate on the ballot line that most closely matches their values. Fusion will let people like me express our support in the general election in a way that will make moderation more of a political force to be reckoned with.
So, my neighbors, get ready for something new (or rather, something old that is coming back). The United Kansas Party is planning to nominate a number of candidates this year, in order to give moderates like me a boost. I hope you’ll consider this shift. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll help launch our state to the stars out of difficulty.
The views and opinions expressed in this editorial article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Salina Post or Eagle Communications. The editorial is intended to stimulate critical thinking and debate on issues of public interest and should be read with an open mind. Readers are encouraged to consider multiple sources of information and to form their own informed opinions.