by Mary Rupert
Carl Brewer, a Democratic candidate for governor, today named Chris Morrow as his lieutenant governor running mate.
Brewer, a former mayor of Wichita, made the announcement in an eight-stop tour throughout Kansas, including Breit’s Stein and Deli, 412 N. 5th St., Kansas City, Kansas.
He filed this morning in Topeka and also made the announcement of his running mate, a former mayor of Gardner, Kansas, in front of the Brown vs. Board of Education mural in the Capitol at Topeka. It signifies the progress that has been made, he said.
“It also signifies how much farther we have to go, that we have not been. That’s part of what’s driving me, is the progress that we have not been,” Brewer said this morning during a campaign speech at Breit’s.
There are several candidates running for governor in the primary, which will be Aug. 7.
Brewer said he never thought in his lifetime that one day Kansas would be discussing whether it should be funding taking care of children or those who can’t take care of themselves.
Brewer said he wants to make sure everyone has a place at the table.
“The state of Kansas is broken now and all of us are seeing it now,” Brewer said.
“You need to get involved or bring about change,” he said. “I chose to bring about change.” That requires everyone to join in a partnership, he added.
Brewer said the state needs to address its financial position, education and health care issues.
“A lot of times in Topeka, they don’t understand how their decisions are affecting our families, our lives, every day,” Brewer said. “We understand.”
Brewer has been working since age 16. He served in the Kansas Army National Guard, and was a captain and company commander. He was a sheet metal worker in the aircraft industry, where he worked for 32 years, later becoming a union steward, then moved into management at Spirit Aviation.
“We have to make sure our next governor knows how to work both aisles and how to work with all people,” said LaVonta Williams, a former Wichita city council member who introduced Brewer. Brewer led Wichita through the recent recession, she said.
Starting the day out in front of the Brown vs. Board mural today was a reminder that they still have to be moving the state forward in an equitable manner for everybody, Morrow said.
Morrow, who grew up in Roeland Park, about three blocks from Kansas City, Kansas, said there is no one in Kansas more qualified to be governor than Brewer. Morrow mentioned Brewer’s experience in being mayor of Wichita, the largest city in the state, and experience in building consensus and working for the betterment of their communities.
“Carl didn’t pick me to fill some hole on the ticket, but because we are consistently on the same page on the issues,” he said.
“There’s so much that we’re going to need to do to get Kansas back on track,” Morrow said. “I look forward to continuing this ride through to November and beyond.”
“We can change the way the rest of the world sees the state of Kansas,” Brewer said.
Brewer also asked volunteers to work on voter registration and getting voters to the polls.
For more information on Brewer’s campaign issues, visit www.brewerforkansas.com/.
To reach Mary Rupert, editor, email [email protected].
