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More black candidates, but they garner little attention

By Staff | Sep 21, 2006

Here are today’s headlines from the 2006 election race:

Election ’06

(The Community (Wichita) Voice) Black candidates struggle for party support: For the first time in Kansas history, two African-American candidates are vying in statewide races – David Haley is running for secretary of state and Larry Wilson is seeking the position of state treasurer.
Despite this history making feat, the two men aren’t household names since their candidacies have garnered little media attention. In a state where Republicans rule, these Democrats find themselves struggling for financial support as well as struggling for the support of their party.

(KC Star) O’Connor resigns: Kay O’Connor, one of the forerunners of the Republican Party’s conservative thrust in Kansas, said Wednesday she will resign from the state Senate, probably in late October. The unexpected announcement, made in an e-mail to supporters and announced on KCTE Radio, comes at the midpoint of her second Senate term and just seven weeks after her lopsided defeat in the GOP primary for secretary of state.

Governor

(AP) Barnett calls for tighter border security: Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Barnett said Wednesday he would seek more training for state and local law enforcement to crack down on the flow of illegal immigrants coming through Kansas.

Attorney General

(LJW) Political use of churches blasted: Atty. Gen. Phill Kline’s “church efforts” memo has in part prompted a national religious organization Wednesday to tell candidates to stop using churches for campaign purposes. The Interfaith Alliance warned Republican and Democratic party leaders that candidates luring religious organizations into their campaigns was “dangerous legal territory.”

Kansas Board of Education

(Hutchinson Daily News) Willard defends Morris travel State school board member Ken Willard, R-Hutchinson, defends a board policy that allows fellow member Connie Morris to take an eight-day trip to Washington, D.C., just as she is about to leave office in December. “I don’t think it needs to be changed,” Willard said Wednesday. “I think the policy is sound.” But his election opponent and another candidate running for Morris’ board seat say they’d like to see the rules revamped regarding tax-funded travel.