Our endorsements

QUESTION No. 1: VOTE NO to election of judges. See Sept. 17 Memo column at sun
publications.com. More columns to follow.

QUESTION No. 2: VOTE YES for Education and Research Triangle. See Sept. 17 Memo at sunpublications.com. More columns to follow.

U.S. SENATOR: PAT ROBERTS: Pat Who? We rarely see our senatorial ghost. But the work he does in Washington is first-rate. An old-fashioned traditional Republican, a la Bob Dole, Roberts is as solid as a rock.

U.S. HOUSE: DENNIS MOORE: See Oct. 8 Memo at sunpublications.com.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY: RICK GUINN: Tough call, but Guinn’s experience gives him the edge. See Sept. 10 Memo at sunpublications.com.

STATE SCHOOL BOARD: SUE STORM: Sue would bring a legislative background to the state school board, a perspective that would be unique and is badly needed. In particular, her leadership on the House Education Committee would bring a tremendous depth of knowledge to the state school board.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER 2nd District: JIM ALLEN: Incumbent John Segale has been OK as a commissioner, and we are not sorry we endorsed him for his first run. But when a superstar like former Shawnee Mayor Jim Allen comes along, you have to make way for him.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER 3rd District: DAVE LINDSTROM: Lindstrom is one of our favorite commissioners. He is independent-minded, diligent, thoughtful, and very knowledgeable. No other commissioner, except the chair, puts in more hours. A very successful businessman, Lindstrom brings valuable expertise to the commission.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER 6th District: CALVIN HAYDEN: We know Hayden doesn’t stand a chance. For some reason, the folks in Olathe keep re-electing the worst public official in the county, John Toplikar. Hopefully, some day soon he will retire.

STATE SENATE 7th District: DAVID WYSONG: David Wysong is an extraordinarily effective state senator. He has been ranked first among all Senate Republicans in his support of education. He also stood alone among the Johnson County delegation to oppose the polluting coal-fired plants. Wysong deserves a landslide victory.

STATE SENATE 8th District: TIM OWENS: We have watched Owens as an Overland Park city councilman for 24 years and have always been impressed with his judgment and the disciplined way he went about his work. That same discipline has earned him the rank of colonel in the Army reserves. He also is a highly decorated Vietnam vet. Owens is the equivalent of a top gun in everything he pursues.

STATE SENATE 9th District: RON WIMMER: From 1991 to 2005, Olathe School Superintendent Ron Wimmer guided the Olathe School District to become one of the best in the nation. He would bring that same kind of leadership and concern for education to the state Legislature.

STATE SENATE 10th District: PETE ROMAN: Please save us from Roman’s opponent, Mary Pilcher Cook. Cook is a former legislator and proved during her tenure that she is so far right, she literally is on the fringes. We beg the voters of this district to elect Pete Roman.

STATE SENATE 11th District: JOHN VRATIL: We said it in the primary, and we will repeat it here. Vratil is the best legislator in Topeka. His knowledge of public education and the school formulas that determine how our districts are funded has made him the expert in school finance. We hope he sticks around for many terms to come.

STATE SENATE 23rd District: KARIN BROWNLEE: When anti-tax legislator Brownlee signed on as co-chair of the Research and Education Triangle, she shocked the community and demonstrated that there are always exceptions, and that some taxes are acceptable if they are for the right cause. Sen. Brownlee has earned our respect and admiration.

STATE SENATE 37th District: Bond Faulwell: Although he faces a tremendous uphill battle in this race, Faulwell is the kind of state senator we need. He opposes the coal-fired power plant proposal and understands the need to take care of deferred maintenance at our state’s universities.

STATE REPRESENTATIVES

16th: JIM YONALLY

17th: JILL QUIGLEY

18th: CINDY NEIGHBOR

19th: JOHN SKUBAL

20th: KEVIN YODER

21st: KAY WOLF

22nd: LISA BENLON

23rd: AUGUST BOGINA III

24th: RONNIE METSKER

25th: TERRIE HUNTINGTON

27th: BECKY ANSLEY

28th: PAT COLLOTON

29th: SHERYL SPALDING

30th: RON WORLEY

48th: MARVIN KLEEB

Contact Steve Rose at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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