Having served our district since 2013, I have weathered numerous attacks over the course of several elections. But, even when I viewed an opponent’s agenda as foreign to our traditional Kansas values, I never felt the need to use their name in so much as a social media post. Neither have I felt it necessary to respond to claims made by opponents through local news outlets, no matter how outrageous or personal the attacks were. My neighbors — those I’ve served for years — know my reputation and I believe it needs no defense. It has not, then, been an easy decision to write this letter.
Throughout my time serving you all on the Abilene City Commission, I have learned first-hand what effective, pragmatic leadership looks like. The foundation and continued knowledge of that stems largely from watching, listening, and emulating our very own Representative John Barker.