Month: July 2014

Republicans announce support for Democratic governor candidate

The Democratic candidate for Kansas governor, Paul Davis, today announced that 104 Republicans had endorsed him.

Davis issued a news release that stated he had bipartisan support from moderate Kansans.

On the list of endorsements were such prominent Republicans as former U.S. Rep. Jan Meyers, Overland Park; former state Sen. Lana Oleen, Manhattan, former Senate majority leader; former state Sen. Steve Morris, Hugoton, former Senate president; former state Rep. Robert Miller, Wellington, former House Speaker; former Lt. Gov. Shelby Smith, Wichita; former Kansas GOP chairman Bill Falstad, Fredonia; former Kansas GOP chairman Al Shank, Liberal; and former Sen. Dick Bond, Overland Park, former Kansas Senate president.

The only Wyandotte County resident on the list was former Rep. Ray Cox, Bonner Springs.

The group cited Brownback’s tax plan, cuts to schools, and budgeting as reasons for their decision.

“This election should not be about electing a Republican or a Democrat as governor. It must be about electing a moderate, commonsense Kansan as governor,” said Dick Bond, former state Senate president. “I have been a Republican all my life and don’t intend to change. But I am proud today to support Paul Davis and Jill Docking for Kansas’ sake.”

Incumbent Gov. Sam Brownback’s campaign responded with a statement. John Milburn, communications director for the Sam Brownback re-election campaign, issued the following statement in response to Tuesday’s announcement from the Paul Davis campaign:

“Gov. Brownback is focused on leading Kansas by growing the economy, investing in education for future generations, and preserving the bedrock values of hard work, faith and family. Under Gov. Brownback’s leadership Kansas has created 53,400 new private sector jobs, Kansas kids have 676 more certified teachers in the classroom, and recently provided $84 million in property tax relief for hard-working families.”

Today is last day to register to vote before primary election

Today is the last day to register to vote before the primary election Aug. 5.

Residents of Wyandotte County may go to the Wyandotte County election office, 850 State Ave., before 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, to register to vote. They also may register to vote online by visiting https://www.kdor.org/voterregistration/Default.aspx.

Residents must re-register to vote if they change their name, address or party affiliation.

Those registering to vote for the first time in Kansas must submit evidence of U.S. citizenship to register to vote, including a document such as a birth certificate in the United States, U.S. passport, or U.S. naturalization document.

Voter registration is closed for 21 days before an election, then it reopens the day after the election.

Residents may see if they are registered to vote by visiting VoterView: https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/.

For more information, visit www.electionwycokck.org or call 913-573-8500.

KCKCC infielders Barnhart, Holroyd to SW Oklahoma State

Two KCKCC standouts, second baseman Amanda Holroyd, left, of Tonganoxie and Hanna Barnhart of Bishop Ward, will continue their softball careers at Southwestern Oklahoma State this fall. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s middle infield duo of shortstop Hanna Barnhart and second baseman Amanda Holroyd will continue their softball careers at Southwestern Oklahoma State.

An NCAA Division II member in Weatherford, Okla., near Oklahoma City, Southwestern has an enrollment of approximately 5,000 students and competes in the Great American Conference.

Both Barnhart and Holroyd earned post-season honors after helping the Lady Blue Devils finish 31-13 the past season.

Barnhart was a first team selection on the All-Jayhawk Conference team and Holroyd and Barnhart were both named to the All-District second team.

A Bishop Ward grad, Barnhart hit .400 with 17 doubles and 26 RBI.

Holyrod, a graduate of Tonganoxie, was second in runs batted in with 45 while hitting .397 with 18 extra base hits.

“I’m very excited for both Hanna and Amanda; it’s great to see two local standouts move on from our program to a Division II program,” said KCKCC coach Kacy Tillery. “Both are hard workers both on the field and in the classroom and will have no problems in being successful at Southwestern.”

The two Blue Devil standouts were recruited by Barbara Burnett, the new Southwestern Oklahoma coach hired this spring from Independence Community College, like KCKCC a member of the Jayhawk Conference.

“She liked how we played and offered us scholarships,” Holroyd said.

“They are going to a coach and program that expects a lot out of their student athletes but that is normal for both Amanda and Hanna because they expect a lot out of themselves,” Tillery said. “It’s going to be hard to replace these two because of all they have done for our program, Both are great people and it’s been my privilege to have been able to coach them and see them grow as student-athletes as well as off the field as young adults.”

Barnhart said she and Holroyd were not recruited as a duo but both are looking forward to continuing to play together at the NCAA Division II level.

“It just happened to work out that way,” Barnhart said. Barnhart will major in health science and Holroyd in psychology.

Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.