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There is only one candidate for Kansas governor who deserves a vote from conservatives in 2010: Republican U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback.
The other candidates are Joan Heffington, a Republican, and state Sen. Tom Holland, a Democrat.
Experience
The candidates are leagues apart when it comes to experience. Brownback, who started early in leadership, has represented Kansas 14 years on the U.S. Senate - and this is only one of several distinguished political posts he has occupied.
Heffington, the other Republican candidate, has no political experience.
Holland, the Democratic candidate, is also behind Brownback when it comes to leadership experience. According to his campaign website, he has served in the Kansas House of Representatives six years and in the Kansas Senate one year.
From Brownback's campaign website:
"He was state president of Future Farmers of America, student body president at Kansas State University and president of his class at the University of Kansas Law School...
"Sam served as a White House Fellow in the first Bush Administration and was the youngest Secretary of Agriculture in Kansas history. When he was 38, he was elected to the House of Representatives from the 2nd Congressional District covering Eastern Kansas. In 1996, he was elected to the U.S. Senate seat once held by Bob Dole."
Abortion voting record
Brownback's voting record is consistently pro-life. His votes on abortion issues can be viewed on the Project Vote Smart website.
Holland votes consistently pro-choice, as can be seen by his voting record on the Project Vote Smart website. He even voted against banning partial-birth abortion. He voted against preventing teens from crossing state lines without their parents to avoid parental consent laws. And he voted against identifying the unborn as persons when violent crimes have been perpetrated.
Fiscal voting record
The Project Vote Smart website, among other things, contains ratings of politicians by interest groups. Brownback's ratings by conservative groups under the category "Budget, Spending and Taxes" are far superior to Holland's ratings.
Campaign focus
Brownback is running an issues-based campaign which is focused on "Kansas economy," "Kansas education," "Kansas values," and "Kansas government."
Holland's campaign is focused on discrediting Brownback. At press time, the majority of entries on Holland's campaign website home page targeted Brownback.
These are a few of the goals listed on Joan Heffington's campaign website:
- Introduce a “No Child Left Alone” Act so that working parents can adjust their start/stop times to take their children to and from school (families first!)
- Review all complaints against judges, courts, police, schools, etc. & ensure settlement without litigation
- Introduce a justice amendment offering effective assistance of counsel in a civil matter to those who can’t afford it
- Repeal the War Powers Act so that Congress and the people must vote on decisions to go to war
Voter participation
In order to vote, citizens must register at least 15 days prior to election day. Online voter registration is available. Advance voting is also available.
The primary election is August 3. The general election is November 2.
It is critical that conservatives become informed and make their votes count in the Republican primaries as well as general elections. Not every Republican is pro-life, making the primaries a critical tool for selecting the right Republicans. Pro-life legislation has not been passed in Kansas since 1998, and political corruption has prevented abortion laws from being enforced. Conservative voters can put a stop to this.
For additional 2010 election candidate analysis and other local Republican news, subscribe to this Examiner page. The author can be reached at ReitzMary@ymail.com.
Comments
You for got to mention to the people of kansas If Joan heffington is elected, there will be no personal property tax on homes for senior citizen over 65 years of age.
I did not forget to mention that. She had quite a few goals on her website, and I selected a few. It is quite an assumption to think she would be successful in getting a bill passed that would exempt those over 65 from paying property taxes. She would not be successful with that. The governorship is not a dictatorship. Laws are passed via votes by our legislators. People should consider that there are many wealthy people over the age of 65; it would not make sense to exempt them from paying property tax. This state is already in enough financial trouble as it is, and I find that a number of Heffington's goals would only drain the coffers more. Helping people in need is a worthy goal, but money does not grow on trees, and our tax revenue is not some big pot of gold that materializes out of nowhere. I don't know Joan Heffington, and I'm sure she is a fine person, but we need someone who has experience with the serious issues this state is facing as a whole.
And let's be realistic. No insult to Joan Heffington intended, but she is not going to be elected. This will earn her some name recognition only.
It always amazing me people who vote think they know it all. For instance, voting for career politicians who have wrecked this country and has put us in economic crises. Do you call that experience? There are not allot of wealthy people over 65. Poll shows that clearly.I guess the election is not the candidates, but the rich vs. middle class and the poor. Eliminating property tax over 65, the saving senior citizens save will jump-start our economy in health care, construction and energy, meaning “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs” for the people of Kansas. Bback only has experience in lying to Kansans and if you like to be lied to, vote for Bback. He has more lies for your pleasure. Bback has not offered any answers to recover our economy crises. Joan has offered a solution and legislators will pass it if it brings economic stimulus to Kansas. Seniors over 65, who have money, will have more to help start the economy rather than paying taxes.I have never heard of the rich who like to paying taxes.
Sounds like you think you know it all ;) No, I don't know it all; none of us do, really. But this is my forum for sharing my take on things to try to influence people on what I consider to be important. I'm very grateful we still have a right to do that in this country. As for "career politicians," why is that some kind of buzzword people think they can throw out there as a take-it-to-the-bank way to discredit someone? Indiscriminately throwing out the word "lies" (thank you for not using exclamation points) is really popular too. I don't get it. Really, this is a waste of words for both of us. Heffington will not be elected; there's no chance of it.
Mary: don’t stop now. Tell the unemployed how Brownback will create new jobs since you want to influence the voters. . The people of Kansas are all ears………… and waiting. Copies are sent to other newspapers to assure this is not erased.
Brownback deserves “nothing” from republican conservatives. I am a conservative. The only thing Brownback deserves is to be put out of office. He is responsible for our economic crises and the death of Kansas soldiers for voting for a war in Iraq on false information. How can Sam show his face to the parents of dead Kansas soldiers? Face it, veterans are not going to vote for Sam Brownback, not the way the governments has been treating them when they return home and Sam is responsible. Conservative want a new face and Joan Heffington does not have the experience in corruption and lying that you call experience. Her LTC is Pastor Mark Holick.
Smart voter, a new venue for your comments: www.examiner.com/examiner/x-48251-Topeka-Republican-Examiner~y2010m7d10-US-Sen-Sam-Brownbacks-opponent-for-KS-governor-Joan-Heffington-raises-eyebrows
When I read those articles, I didn't know whether to laugh hysterically or cry from embarrassment because Heffington is running as a Republican, so I did both.
I don't like to be inflammatory in my language, but this was really over the top.
Joan Huffington is using the alias "Smart Voter". Joan be brave and admit it.
Come on, admit it you are working for Sam Brownback and he is paying you to advertise / blog for him. Admit you need Brownback ‘money to keep your company going and this is the way you keep your business open by trying to influence voters. I guess you don’t want to join the unemployment line. So Brownback is creating jobs for journalist temporary. Try to get that 1.5 million of advertisement money he has.
Yeah. I laughed too when Brownback ran for president. The people did NOT want him. He has nothing to offer. That boy just doesn’t get it!!!!!!
As smart as you think you are, you can look up my IP address and find out who is smart voter. Or, am I wrong.
Brownback, Brownback: Take all of your money away including your rich supporters and you will be crying for unemployment. I have seen dumb, but your are the dumbest. Remember your are the cause of this deficit by supporting the Iraq war based on false intelligence. You’re not a leader, you are a “follower”. I am a republican and you are no senator let alone trying to run for governor in Kansas.
This is great :-D I think I get paid for every comment left! Keep 'em coming.
Nope. Examiner.com won't pay me for comments. But Sen. Brownback said he'd pay me $100 for each comment! He monitors this article daily, even hourly when he has the chance. He even said he'd give me a $50 Target gift card for particularly witty responses!
And he even said he'd still pay me if you, me, and him are the only ones still looking at this article! He really wants to win this race you know.
Let the games begin. I appreciate your being paid.It shows Brownback is bringing employment to the news media. I guess the news media is more important than the people of Kansas. Hmmm Interesting! Anyway, the people of Kansas are all ears..... and are waiting to hear how Brownback is going to create jobs for the average citizen.
"smartvoter" = Gubernatorial candidate Joan Heffington. I'm sure the $100 payment from Brownback was a joke, but since you believe and have publically stated that GW Bush tried to have you poisoned with a steroid cocktail it probably sounds credible. Just one question? How's the fundraising going?
I guess you like to play. But remember, Brownback is interviewing for a job. So, it is the voter’s responsibility to know more than Brownback. I think Obama made that clear when the General was replaced in afganastand. Brownback say nothing and the Kansas people will give you a reply to your application come August 3, 2010.
ICC Underwriter’s poll show Brownback has a 50 % chance of winning the primary based on recent polls taken from over 5, 000 Kansans. Kansas voters were unaware of Joan Heffington was running for Kansas Governor and voters only thought Brownback was the presumptive winner. The newspapers had a lot to do with it. Our poll show the republicans have a choice and do not have to support their parties loyalty, since there are two republicans running for Governorship. What is interesting, the women and the veterans are voting for Joan Heffington as well as the senior citizens. One voter conveyed, when I am in the voting booth, the word Brownback comes to mind because of name recognition, but, I am a women and I will vote for a women over a man anytime. If I were Brownback, I would be worried. A 50 /50 chance to win the primary is anyone’s game.
Joan thanks for pointing out that Brownback has actually gained ground and that only 4% want another choice meaning 96% are very satisfied with the choice they have. You would get further if you admit who you are on this site and others because at least people would see you're involved and could feel they are hearing from you directly. New Poll: Brownback ahead in Kan. Governor’s Race
By Rasmussen Reports | Published: 9:44 AM 07/06/2010
Republican Sam Brownback still holds an overwhelming lead over his Democratic opponent Tom Holland in the contest for governor of Kansas.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state finds Brownback, who is retiring from the U.S. Senate to run for governor, with 59% support. Holland, a state senator, earns 31% of the vote. Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate, and five percent (5%) more are undecided.
But this marks virtually no change in a race that in May found Brownback ahead 58% to 27%. In March,
I think you got your figures mixed up. A 50/50 chance to win is not good odds. “That is a toss of a coin”. I am a betting man and the odds are not good. I think you should count again. It is not what some outside agency says; they want money too and will say anything for that “Brownback money.” Or, what you think. It is what the voters think. Remember Brownback is paying you and now the voters know that. Thank you for showing the voters there is corruption in the news media and they can be bought for a price. Joan is right. There is certainly corruption in our legal system as well as politics and in the media.
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