Snavely For Kansas Blog

WIthin the last three weeks I have received three mailers from my opponent.  The first one came directly to my mailbox.  Apparently he is not paying attention to his mailing list.  The other two, I received from a Republican insider…My Mom.  I must be doing something right in my campaign because my opponent sure is paying a lot of attention to me.  In his latest mailer, he uses a baseball analogy to compare me to being the rookie of a baseball that shouldn’t be put up to bat in a clutch game.  What an absurd notion to suggest that I shouldn’t be given the opportunity to serve based on being new.  My opponent fails to realize that I possess far more legislative experience (based on my time on the Spring Hill City Council) than he had when he challenged then Speaker Pro Tempore John Ballou.  Did the people of the 43rd District expect my opponent to take over Mr. Ballou’s spot in the House Leadership?  It would have been a very naive notion. 

My opponent’s mailer also suggests that he is “able to work with leaders of every political background”, which is also a false claim.  I have checked his record and he has NEVER crossed party lines to introduce bipartisan legislation.  His general disdain of anyone outside of his party was apparent in his last legislative update to the Spring Hill City Council.  The entire time that he was giving his “legislative update” to the council, he refused to even look at me and give me the respect that I deserve as a member of a City Council within his district.  I sit on a politically diverse council, outnumbered 5 to 1, and we still manage to get things done.  My opponent should remember back to the days when he served in a public office prior to being elected to the state house (Oh, thats right…he had NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE) before he tries to cast doubt on my abilities to get things done in Topeka.

I was very honored to have the opportunity to debate the issues.  My opponent proved time and again that he is out of touch with the working people of this state.  He continued to question my position that gridlock exists in Topeka.  I have proof that it does exist.  He came before the Spring Hill City Council to give his legislative update and made it into a political speech.  In his remarks, he blamed the members of his own party (the ones that don’t prescribe to partisanship) for the House not getting work done.  I would be naive if I didn’t understand that their will be political bickering on some issues, but the very fact that my opponent is denying that he cannot even get along with members of his own party tells me that serious change is needed.  Only the residents of our great district suffer for his inability to bring people together to provide meaningful legislation.

Recently, I walked up to a lady working on her yard and asked her if she worked for her money?  She laughed, and then asked what I meant.  I had to explain to her that my opponent believes that “essentially there is not a single individual in the state that works for the state minimum wage”.  I would really like to know what planet this man lives on?  Apparently, my opponent hasn’t been talking with voters. 

I had a nice chat with another lady at the “Festival on the Trails” in Gardner who works at the local Waffle House.  She told me that her employer pays her the state minimum wage (she earns tips too, but that is all her doing).  I guess that lady just made a liar out of my opponent.  To make matters worse, she doesn’t have health insurance (which is a whole other issue). 

On the issues page of my website, I mention that my opponent believes that  ”Forcing employers to pay more to such workers who contribute little leads to fewer job opportunities for those who most need a job.”  Wow, my opponent certainly has a problem with the working people of Kansas.  That statement completely alienates the hard working people around Kansas.  With Legislators like this, working people don’t need any more enemies.  I know, I know…”less than 2% of the workforce earns minimum wages” (according to my opponent’s website), but never mind the whole dignity factor.  Being able to provide for your family, put food on the table, and a roof over your head goes along way in improving your economic situation.

According to my opponent, “If states enact a minimum wage much higher than the federal minimum wage some workers may lose eligibility for transfer payments such as home heating assistance, student loans and grants.”  Heaven forbid, if we move people off welfare and into a good paying jobs.  My opponent is clearly out of touch with the working families of the 43rd District.

My opponent made his position clear on education.  He wants to cut the budget.  In an attempt to create more accountability among school districts, our legislature decided to put restrictions in the current school funding formula.  These restrictions require school districts to spend a certain percentage of state funding in certain areas.  This deprives local school boards the ability to be flexible in dispersing funding as they best see fit for their particular needs.  I believe the basic premise behind our education system was local control.  I believe that the school boards should be able to utilize funds from one area in another area if the actual need arises.  My opponent claims to be Pro-Education, but he has voted against every major education-related bill (funding all-day kindergarten, etc.). 

It is no secret that I am a Teacher and that I have been endorsed by the KNEA, Olathe-NEA, Kansas Families United for Education, and the the Kansas Association of School Boards for my no nonsense approach to education.  Educating our children should be the top priority of our state because our future economic well-being is so closely related to improved graduation rates, etc.  Studies have proven a direct link between the education level of the people to the overall success of a society.

  My opponent considers the KNEA a left-wing radical group that wants nothing more than to somehow bring down the moral fabric of society.  The KNEA’s priority is to provide a quality public education for every child.  I am not here to defend the KNEA’s position, but I am here to defend the hardworking men and women of my profession that deserve a legislator that won’t pull the rug out from beneath them in terms of their compensation, their ability to provide the very best possible education for every child, their right to bargain collectively, and in terms of their retirement.  I do not know a single Teacher that does their job for the pay, but rather the satisfaction of knowing that they helped a student learn. 

I am not opposed to parents who choose to send their children to private schools or who choose to home-school.  What I am opposed to, is public funding of private schools (vouchers).  I am not sure where my opponent is coming from when he talks about failing schools.  All three school districts (Gardner, Olathe, and Spring Hill)  in the 43rd District have outstanding programs and serve as models to others around the state of what is right with our education system.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to see me square off with my opponent, then use the following link, http://video.jccc.edu/ to go to the Johnson County Community College Video Website to watch.  The forum may be seen on the JCCC Channel on Thursdays from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. through the last week of October or on November 3 @ 12:15 p.m.  I provided the link above in case you don’t have access to the JCCC Community Channel like our great folks in Spring Hill.  Let me know what you think of the debate.  Take Care!

I wanted to take the opportunity to thank those individuals that took time out of their busy schedules to participate in our democracy today.  I am humbled by the amount of support that I received today.  We have a lot of doors to knock on and voters to meet before November 4.    Let’s keep up the great work. 

I will be spending time up at the fair booth this week, but I am going door-to-door in the early evening before heading up there.  If you stop by and I am not up there, then please leave me a message and I will get back to you soon. 

I am looking forward to discussing the issues with the voters and confronting my opponent on his lack of leadership in the last session.

I am proud that I have received the following endorsements:

Kansas National Education Association

Kansas Families United for Public Education

E-PAC (Kansas Association of School Boards an United School Administrators)

Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus

Mainstream Coalition

Tri County Labor Council

UAW, Local 31

Hey everyone,

I think this theme is very appropriate because it falls right into line with my campaign theme.  During the parade we will be touting that Independence Day is my favorite holiday.  I am truly proud to be an American and a native of the 43rd District.  We will make sure that all the parade goers know who is from around here.  I need many volunteers to ride on a float and walk with me to show everyone that we are strong and a new perspective is needed from our district. 

Please be behind Wheat Ridge Middle School no later than 10:00.  I will be there around 8:30 if you want to come keep me company.   You may find directions at http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Gardner&state=KS&zipcode=66030&cat=Wheat+Ridge+Middle+school#a/maps/l:Wheatridge+Middle+School:318+E+Washington+St:Gardner:KS:66030:US:38.812839:-94.922663:address:/m::12:38.812839:-94.922663:0::/io:0:::::f:EN:M:/e.

I will have T-shirts available to the first 25 volunteers.  Wear a blue or red t-shirt in case we have a lot of volunteers.   I Look forward to seeing you there.

Fair Goers,

I am happy to say that the JOCO Fair is finally here.  Please stop by the booth located in the Commercial Building across from the Goat Stalls.  You cannot miss my banner or yard signs hanging from the rafters.  We will have information for all the democrat candidates running in Johnson County.  I am finding a lot of support from Republicans and Independents, so do not be afraid to stop by.  We will have a place for you to sign up to receive a yard sign as well as email updates.  In addition, we are also having a drawing to win some meals out.  Don’t miss your chance to have an evening out after the fair.  I look forward to seeing you there.  You might even have the chance to meet Spike, the bearded dragon (If my son allows him out of the house)!  Don’t forget to drink plenty of liquids before you head out to the fair…its a scorcher.

Scott

Kansas can be at the forefront of energy technology and environmental policy if we take a more proactive approach. Wisconsin (my wife’s home state) established environmental controls after the air quality deteriorated. Kansas should be setting standards now so we can all continue to breath a little easier. Let’s leave all possible energy sources on the table to investigate their benefits and limitations.