Dr. Elizabeth Ann Sanders, a member of the Johnson County League of Women voters, asked the candidates in State Board of Education District 2 candidate forum: “Using the moderate-conservative continuum, how would you characterize … the majority of your political views, and please explain that characterization.”
In Kansas, the furthest left you can be politically is a “moderate.” The world “Liberal” in Kansas only refers to a city in southwest Kansas, and has nothing to do with political philosophy.
Dr. Sanders is a very smart woman and has served as the Olathe North High School principal, and currently is the director of continuing education at Baker University. But, the word “liberal” simply is not in her vocabulary. The political range in her mind is NOT from conservative to liberal, but rather only only conservative to “moderate.”
Local Kansas City author Jack Cashill explained in his writings: “there are no liberals in Kansas,” e.g., see Jack’s recent WorldNetDaily article about Kathleen Sebelius, “Why Obama’s would-be VP won’t be” for more explanation of this Kansas phenomenon. Kansas only has conservatives and “moderates”. There are no liberals.
In his recent book, “Superior, Nebraska: the common sense values of America’s Heartland” National Review Online author Denis Boyles explains Kansas “is filled with ‘moderate’ Republicans who would be liberal Democrats anyplace else…”
The stage was set for the LWV-JCCC Candidate Forum between Brandon Kenig and Mary Ca Ralstin. See this video online or see the entire TV schedule of forums here.
The League of Women Voters usually chooses someone that is politically “neutral” to be the moderator. In Kansas someone that is politically “neutral” is often a Democratic Party activist.
Diane Kuhn is the LWV President of Kansas and has been the JoCO LWV Co-President and Secretary, and has been a long-time board member.
In 2002 Diane Kuhn, a registered Republican, and her husband, Dale, a registered Democrat used the corporation at their home address, Tillin, Inc., to give $500 to Democrat Kathleen Sebelius for Governor. In 2006 Diane gave $50 to Democratic candidate Paul Morrison for Attorney General, and her husband gave $250 to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. As a registered Republican, Kuhn has no known political contributions to Republicans.
As a LWV leader, Kuhn wrote letters to the Kansas City Star, which were published about her views supporting non-partisan elections and being against TABOR (Taxpayer Bill of Rights).
Kuhn is a perfectly “neutral” person to serve as moderator in a LWV Candidate Forum.
The candidates for State Board of Education in District 2 were Brandon Kenig (left) and Mary Ca Ralstin (right). A future Meadowlark article will feature “Republican for Moore” Ralstin.
The panelists asking questions, from left-to-right above, were:
- Renee Dinsmore, JoCo LWV, Democrat
- Ann Sanders, JoCo LWV, Democrat
- Jerry Magliano, JCCC Faculty, Republican
With a Democrat moderator, having two Democrats and one Republican to interview Republican candidates is what one might expect for fairness from the LWV. The ratio of two Democrats to one Republican is about right in Johnson County that is about 50% Republican and 21% Democratic.
Little is known about the political background of Renee Dinsmore, except she’s been voting in Johnson County for about five years.
Ann Sanders was introduced as a member of the LWV, but her extensive background in education should have been highlighted in her introduction. She served on the Board of Directors of the Unified School Administrators of Kansas, and also was part of an executive committee of the Kansas Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development.
Oddly, Dr. Sanders let taxpayers pay for her E-mail account when she was president of the LWV:
Why should a taxpayer-funded E-mail account, e.g., sandersa@olatheschools.com, be used with a political organization? Why is any use of a government-funded E-mail account allowed for non-government purposes?
Jerry Magliano is a JCCC Professor, Personal Computer & Web Applications, and advisor to College Republicans but “currently, the College Republicans on campus have no members.”
Here’s an outline of the questions asked and the topics discussed:
| Approx Time |
Panelist: Question/Response |
| 0:18 | Kuhn: Welcome |
| 0:59 | Ralstin: Opening Statement |
| 2:40 | Kenig: Opening Statement |
| 4:17 | Magliano: “What makes you more qualified than your opponent to deal with education issues?” |
| 6:34 | Sanders: “Using the Moderate-Conservative continuum, how would you characterize … the majority of your political views and please explain that characterization |
| 9:01 | Dinsmore: “What changes, if any, would you propose to make the No Child Left Behind requirements more workable for Kansas schools?” |
| 11:30 | Magliano: “…only 75% of entering high school freshman actually graduate … what kind of strategies do you think at the State Board of Education might be implemented to try to improve the graduation rate of high school students?” |
| 14:19 | Sanders: “What should be the components of a comprehensive, if at all, sex education program in public school systems?” |
| 17:20 | Dinsmore: “California has implemented an exit exam as a high school graduation requirement. Is that something you’d consider for Kansas schools? Why or why not? |
| 18:42 | Magliano: “… do you see how the state board of education might stimulate more interest on the part of school districts” for a more interdisciplinary approach to teaching to compete better in a global economy? |
| 22:10 | Sanders: “… define the roles and responsibilities, as you see it, for not only the State Board, the Kansas Department of Ed , and the local education agencies? Where do you see those defining lines between those?” |
| 25:39 | Dinsmore: “What types of programs do you think are appropriate for quality early learning in the pre-K age children?” |
| 27:00 | Kuhn: Closing |
See the online video for the candidates’ responses.
Related:
- Why did Richard Voss represent the League of Women Voters at Candidate Forum For Senate 37?, Kansas Meadowlark, July 20, 2008.
- JoCo League of Women Voters doesn’t believe in transparency in their candidate forums?, Kansas Meadowlark, July 19, 2008.
Tags: Brandon Kenig, Johnson County League of Women Voters, Kansas Primary Election 2008, Mary Ca Ralstin, State Board of Education District 2
