Topeka has 16 candidates running for Kansas Legislature. Here's your guide to Aug. 2 election.
With voting underway with advance and mail ballots, Topeka area voters have started the process of choosing their representatives in the Statehouse for the next two years.
Shawnee County has 16 candidates running for eight seats in the Kansas House of Representatives. If you don't know what district you live in, enter your address at openstates.org.
Not all races are contested in the Aug. 2 primary election, but The Capital-Journal reached out to all candidates. Answers to our questionnaire and submitted photos are below. Responses were lightly edited for style and length.
Kansas House District 50
Fred C. Patton, an incumbent Republican, didn't respond. He is running uncontested.
Voters guide: District 53 is only Topeka legislative race with contested primaries for Republicans and Democrats
Voters guide: Topeka House District 55 will have new representative for first time since 1997
Kansas House District 52
1. Tell voters about yourself:
Derik Flerlage (pronounced "Flur-log"), Democrat: As a former public health official, a current senior health administrator, and a husband and dad of 3 — I am interested in solving problems. Whether that is a high stress medical situation, a meeting with a business owner, or talking with my family at the dinner table — I want to know two things: what are the problems and how can I fix them? I am tired of partisan politics. These days it seems like our legislature is only interested in attacking the other side. In my opinion, an elected official should be someone that listens and respects many different views and opinions. After all, there is often more than one solution to a problem. As a candidate for Kansas House of Representatives for District 52, I am looking to bring Kansas kindness to produce positive change. A vote for Derik is a vote for kind leadership.
Max Stucky Halley, Democrat: Didn't respond.
Jesse Borjon, Republican incumbent: Didn't respond.
More: In GOP primary for Kansas treasurer, Caryn Tyson and Steven Johnson tout legislative experience
2. There are many substantive issues debated on education in the Statehouse (expansion of school choice, school safety, academic performance of schools, special education funding). Which of these do you feel is the most important and how would you address it?
Flerlage: Academic performance. The effects of the COVID pandemic are still being felt and investment in our children is a must to assist them as they transition to adulthood. This includes fully funding all aspects, improving tutoring programs, including educators in state legislative discussions with full transparency, and leaving decisions as local as possible with the elected local boards of education.
3. What is the state of the Kansas economy and what is the biggest thing state lawmakers can do to make it better?
Flerlage: The economy continues to show growth after the COVID-19 pandemic. A focus on retention to keep young talent in the state is needed as well as finding ways to keep farm operations family owned and our state friendly to small and large businesses.
4. Yes or no: Do you support a ban on abortion without any exception for rape, incest or preserving the life of the mother?
Flerlage: No.
5. Yes or no: Do you support a ban on abortion with only an exception for saving the life of a mother?
Flerlage: No.
6. Yes or no: Do you support a ban on abortion with an exception for rape and incest, in addition to saving the life of the mother?
Flerlage: No.
7. Yes or no: Would you support moving up the implementation of the elimination of the state sales tax on food, currently scheduled to take full effect on Jan. 1, 2025?
Flerlage: Yes.
8. Yes or no: Do you support a proposal to end state income taxes on retirement income?
Flerlage: Yes.
9. Yes or no: Do you support expanding Medicaid in Kansas?
Flerlage: Yes.
10. Yes or no: Do you support legalizing medical marijuana in the form of edibles, topicals or other non-smokable products?
Flerlage: Yes.
11. Yes or no: Do you support the legalization of recreational marijuana?
Flerlage: Yes.
12. Are there any other legislative issues that you would like to address? If you feel the need, you may use this space to explain any yes or no answers from above.
Flerlage: As a born and raised Catholic, abortion has been a topic I've dealt with from a very young age. At the foundation of it all, I do not believe that the government should be involved in personal health decisions. It's an incredibly complex moral issue that shouldn't be mandated. Advocacy from pro-life groups could continue if they choose to do so while continued improvement of sex education and contraceptive access is critical.
With some tax revenue going away (food, potentially retirement), we should continue seeking new revenue streams like legalizing marijuana and continued implementation of legalized sports gambling.
In general, we must approach politics differently. Kansas can be a beacon of change for the rest of the country to prove that we can have meaningful and productive discussions even where we disagree. Let's elect leaders that are "Kansas kind."
13. Where can voters learn more about you?
Flerlage: Website: www.DerikForKansas.com; Email: Derik4Kansas@gmail.com; Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DerikForKansas; Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DerikFler.
More: Kansas abortion amendment debate features misleading claims. Here's a Value Them Both fact check.
Kansas House District 53
District 53 is the only race with contested primaries on both the Republican and Democratic side. The two Democrats are Joe Cheray and Kirk R. Haskins. The two Republicans are Connie Burns and Bruce Williamson.
Voters Guide: District 53 is only Topeka legislative race with contested primaries for Republicans and Democrats
Kansas House District 54
Lyndon Johnson, a Democrat, has dropped out of the race since filing because he plans to move to Nebraska for family reasons. Despite withdrawing, his name will still appear on the primary ballot.
Ken Corbet, an incumbent Republican, didn't respond. He is running uncontested in the GOP primary.
Kansas House District 55
District 55 has a contested primary on the Democratic side between Joshua Luttrell and Tobias Schlingensiepen. Republican Todd C. Staerkel doesn't have an opponent in the GOP primary.
Voters guide: Topeka House District 55 will have new representative for first time since 1997
Kansas House District 56
Virgil Weigel, an incumbent Democrat, didn't respond. He is running uncontested.
Kansas House District 57
1. Tell voters about yourself:
John Alcala, uncontested incumbent Democrat: I’m 63 years old and lived in the heart of the 57th District my entire life. Educated in the Topeka public school system, attended Washburn University. Retired from Hills pet nutrition after 31 years of service. I am a former City Council representative and continue to this day to be a very active community volunteer.
2. There are many substantive issues debated on education in the Statehouse (expansion of school choice, school safety, academic performance of schools, special education funding). Which of these do you feel is the most important and how would you address it?
Alcala: They are all important. I will not choose any one as a priority — when we know they are intertwined. We need to keep in mind the importance of refusing to fail our children and their families within the public school system. We need to eliminate middle management and those dollars to go towards teacher salaries. The bureaucracy needs to be reduced. No buffer between teachers and superintendents. And for teachers to be able to speak without fear of retaliation. The teachers are the ones in the trenches/classroom not sitting in an office.
3. What is the state of the Kansas economy and what is the biggest thing state lawmakers can do to make it better?
Alcala: The state of the economy is improvement can and should always take place. Under Gov. Kelly, we are above the stable mark. Medicaid expansion is a commonsense component for the economy and citizens. Yet we still cannot get this vital bill passed. Don’t buy into the excuses — it is VOTE YES for Medicaid expansion.
4. Yes or no: Do you support a ban on abortion without any exception for rape, incest or preserving the life of the mother?
Alcala: No.
5. Yes or no: Do you support a ban on abortion with only an exception for saving the life of a mother?
Alcala: No.
6. Yes or no: Do you support a ban on abortion with an exception for rape and incest, in addition to saving the life of the mother?
Alcala: No.
7. Yes or no: Would you support moving up the implementation of the elimination of the state sales tax on food, currently scheduled to take full effect on Jan. 1, 2025?
Alcala: Yes.
8. Yes or no: Do you support a proposal to end state income taxes on retirement income?
Alcala: No.
9. Yes or no: Do you support expanding Medicaid in Kansas?
Alcala: Yes.
10. Yes or no: Do you support legalizing medical marijuana in the form of edibles, topicals or other non-smokable products?
Alcala: Yes.
11. Yes or no: Do you support the legalization of recreational marijuana?
Alcala: Yes.
12. Are there any other legislative issues that you would like to address? If you feel the need, you may use this space to explain any yes or no answers from above.
Alcala: Q7: I would make the food sales tax zero immediately.
Q8: Because burden will ultimately fall on the working poor.
Q9: See above answer. And because of NOT being able to get this bill passed, we have hospitals closing, the continued decimation of rural Kansas. Underpaid staff. People not being able to get needed care or having to drive further for that care. All because politics is being played by people in office that have good insurance and good paying jobs. Other states have Medicaid and there have been no glitches. The excuses being doled out are just that EXCUSES to the detriment of ALL Kansans.
Q11: CONTINGENT on the details of the legislation.
Mental health is a crucial issue for ALL citizens of Kansas. We must put more funding into mental health at all levels and stay consistent with that funding.
13. Where can voters learn more about you?
Alcala: Being a grassroots-elected official, those I serve can ALWAYS call me at home 785-233-7110. Email jalcala3@cox.net and I can always meet them to discuss topics of concern.
Kansas House District 58
Vic Miller, an incumbent Democrat, didn't respond. He is running uncontested.
Jason Tidd is a statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jtidd@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jason_Tidd.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Shawnee County voter guide for Topeka reps in Kansas Legislature
