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Politics 101
Former legislator teaches political basics to citizens
By: Jessica Marshall, Managing Editor
“How a bill becomes a law is significantly impacted by the voices in support or opposition to the bill and the agendas of the legislators voting on it. Join us for this informative session to learn how to follow, influence and understand the jargon that drives our democratic process.”
This is the description of Politics for Real People, a workshop that former state Rep. Stephanie Sharp-Bruyn, Lenexa, said she feels proud to teach.
“I will help people understand why politics should matter to them and walk them through the process, make it understandable. I’ll also talk about what steps they can take to make a difference,” Sharp-Bruyn said.
“It’s kind of a back-to-basics civics class or politics 101. Here’s how you contact your legislator, here’s what you tell them. I think people don’t feel that politics really makes a difference in their lives. When you look at the state level and your job, and the city level and your home and your neighborhood, those have a greater impact than the federal level does, but that’s all people hear about and see in the paper.”
Sharp-Bruyn, a former Republican representative from the 17th District, planned to teach the workshop at Shawnee Civic Centre this spring during the legislative session, but faced some scheduling difficulties. Now the workshop may have more of a political or campaign bent, she said.
“I want to open up the second half of the class for questions because people will have questions about their personal experiences. They’ll want to talk about campaigns and elections, and they do need to get their questions answered,” Sharp-Bruyn said.
“Election time is a great time to do this. I hope that in some way it will make legislators more accountable to their constituents. They’re pretty good in Johnson County because many people are involved, mostly because of education issues, but they need to know their constituents are paying attention and asking questions.”
Sharp-Bruyn said if the class has a good turnout she will teach it again.
“I’m passionate about getting people involved and making them feel enfranchised in the process. Stereotypically, politicians like to talk over people’s heads and use jargon because they think it makes them sound smart, when really it just alienates people and makes them frustrated with our government,” Sharp-Bruyn said.
“I want people to feel empowered to do something about the people who represent them in Topeka or at city hall. I think I have a talent for explaining things in a way people can understand, so if I can use that to help people get access to their government and feel like they have a say and can use their vote, that’s exciting to me.”
During her terms, Sharp-Bruyn wrote “The Sharp Record,” a newsletter about the goings-on in Topeka. She said she misses having that connection with her district and others across the state.
“It gave me the opportunity to tell people ‘Here’s what’s really going on in Topeka, and when we say this, here’s what it really means. And here’s what this bill or this initiative means for your job, your pocketbook, your family.’”
Citizens may not express interest in the political process because they are busy or maybe do not understand a certain aspect of it, Sharp-Bruyn said, and she hopes to change that.
“I know people who feel like they should be ‘better citizens’ but they say they don’t have time and no one makes it simple for them. I want to boil it down so it doesn’t take a lot of time to know what’s going on,” Sharp-Bruyn said.
“They may be self-conscious about their lack of knowledge, but people need to know they’re not bad citizens if they don’t know how a bill becomes a law. Some people are afraid to ask because they’re embarrassed they don’t know. But you should ask questions about politics and politicians. Any good politician, legislator or elected official should be open to questions, otherwise they further cement the stereotype of the disconnected, uncaring, nonrepresentative representative.”
The 90-minute workshop Politics for Real People starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 15 at Shawnee Civic Centre, 13817 Johnson Drive. To register, call 631-5200.
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This is the description of Politics for Real People, a workshop that former state Rep. Stephanie Sharp-Bruyn, Lenexa, said she feels proud to teach.
“I will help people understand why politics should matter to them and walk them through the process, make it understandable. I’ll also talk about what steps they can take to make a difference,” Sharp-Bruyn said.
“It’s kind of a back-to-basics civics class or politics 101. Here’s how you contact your legislator, here’s what you tell them. I think people don’t feel that politics really makes a difference in their lives. When you look at the state level and your job, and the city level and your home and your neighborhood, those have a greater impact than the federal level does, but that’s all people hear about and see in the paper.”
Sharp-Bruyn, a former Republican representative from the 17th District, planned to teach the workshop at Shawnee Civic Centre this spring during the legislative session, but faced some scheduling difficulties. Now the workshop may have more of a political or campaign bent, she said.
“I want to open up the second half of the class for questions because people will have questions about their personal experiences. They’ll want to talk about campaigns and elections, and they do need to get their questions answered,” Sharp-Bruyn said.
“Election time is a great time to do this. I hope that in some way it will make legislators more accountable to their constituents. They’re pretty good in Johnson County because many people are involved, mostly because of education issues, but they need to know their constituents are paying attention and asking questions.”
Sharp-Bruyn said if the class has a good turnout she will teach it again.
“I’m passionate about getting people involved and making them feel enfranchised in the process. Stereotypically, politicians like to talk over people’s heads and use jargon because they think it makes them sound smart, when really it just alienates people and makes them frustrated with our government,” Sharp-Bruyn said.
“I want people to feel empowered to do something about the people who represent them in Topeka or at city hall. I think I have a talent for explaining things in a way people can understand, so if I can use that to help people get access to their government and feel like they have a say and can use their vote, that’s exciting to me.”
During her terms, Sharp-Bruyn wrote “The Sharp Record,” a newsletter about the goings-on in Topeka. She said she misses having that connection with her district and others across the state.
“It gave me the opportunity to tell people ‘Here’s what’s really going on in Topeka, and when we say this, here’s what it really means. And here’s what this bill or this initiative means for your job, your pocketbook, your family.’”
Citizens may not express interest in the political process because they are busy or maybe do not understand a certain aspect of it, Sharp-Bruyn said, and she hopes to change that.
“I know people who feel like they should be ‘better citizens’ but they say they don’t have time and no one makes it simple for them. I want to boil it down so it doesn’t take a lot of time to know what’s going on,” Sharp-Bruyn said.
“They may be self-conscious about their lack of knowledge, but people need to know they’re not bad citizens if they don’t know how a bill becomes a law. Some people are afraid to ask because they’re embarrassed they don’t know. But you should ask questions about politics and politicians. Any good politician, legislator or elected official should be open to questions, otherwise they further cement the stereotype of the disconnected, uncaring, nonrepresentative representative.”
The 90-minute workshop Politics for Real People starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 15 at Shawnee Civic Centre, 13817 Johnson Drive. To register, call 631-5200.