Two candidates vying for a Kansas Senate district covering a portion of southeastern Johnson County participated in a forum recently hosted by the Johnson County Post.
The Post is hosting more than a dozen separate forums for Kansas Statehouse districts in Johnson County ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.
This forum was hosted at Blue Valley Library in Overland Park on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
The forum focused on Kansas Senate District 35, which includes portions of Lenexa, Olathe and Overland Park. This district is new to Johnson County, created by redistricting two years ago.
Special note
The Post’s original video of this forum was accidentally deleted from our Facebook page right after we ended taping.
A member of the audience, Billy Croan, who runs his own “Public Meetings” YouTube channel documenting local public meetings and gatherings in Johnson County, recorded the forum and gave his permission for the Post to reuse it here.
Who is running?
- Health care IT executive Jason Anderson, a Democrat
- Health insurance agent TJ Rose, a Republican
How to watch the Post’s forum
Here is an embedded video of a recording of the Senate District 35 forum, republished here with permission from the “Public Meetings” YouTube channel.
The forum begins at about the 13:00 mark of the video.
Following the embedded video are the questions each candidate answered during the forum.
Timestamps are included in bold at the end of each question to help you navigate through the forum video if you’d like to jump around.
Questions and timestamps
- Opening statements [16:40]
- Biggest priorities in Senate District 35: We are holding forums for dozens of statehouse districts this fall. What do you see as the biggest priority or need from residents in your district? [19:29]
- Elections and the 2020 election: Many readers asked a version of this question sent to us by email, “I would like to know their stand on voter fraud and do they believe the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump?” [22:44]
- Election laws and rules: Some readers asked if you’d support measures to bring greater transparency to election systems? For instance, laws guaranteeing public access to security footage, source code, and log files. Would you support such measures? [25:05]
Jason Anderson is running for Kansas Senate 35 in the November 2024 election. Photo credit Leah Wankum. - Taxes: Earlier this summer, lawmakers passed and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed into law a tax cut package that slashes roughly $2.4 billion in property and income taxes over the next three years. The law reduces state income tax brackets from three tiers to two and eliminates the state tax on Social Security benefits, among other things. Do you think the most recent tax cut bill provides enough relief for Kansans? Why or why not? If elected, would you seek more tax cuts and, if so, what would that look like? [28:07]
- Taxes and seniors: We did get a number of questions from readers asking specifically about tax relief for seniors. The state does already offer some property tax rebate programs for low-income and disabled seniors, as well as veterans. We hear frequently from older Johnson Countians living on fixed or retirement income worried about property taxes. Is there anything more the state can do to address this particular group of taxpayers? [30:52]
- Guns: What new laws, rules or regulations, if any, would you support regarding fireamrs in Kansas? [33:20]
- Specific gun laws: One audience member asking about specific gun polices. Do you support background checks for gun purchases, red flag laws or staff storage laws? [35:12]
- Abortion: Dozens of readers pointed out in their questions to us the 2022 statewide vote rejecting the “Value Them Both” amendment, which had the effect of further enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution. As one reader put it, “Are legislators going to pursue new laws going forward to restrict abortion access or preserve what Kansas voters decided on [in 2022]?” What about that? Are you satisfied with the current laws and restrictions on abortion in Kansas? Do you think access should be expanded in any way? Do you support new restrictions on abortion? And if so, what kind? [36:58]
- IVF and contraception: Tied up with this issue of abortion for some readers are concerns about the state regulating other areas of reproductive health, including in vitro fertilization and contraception. Would you support any measures at the Statehouse that would aim to control Kansans’ access either to IVF or contraception? [40:19]
TJ Rose, the Republican candidate running for Kansas Senate in District 35. Photo credit Leah Wankum. - Collegiality with House (from the audience): The Senate is notorious for being at odds with the House. Do you have ideas for addressing this rivalry and reducing friction and promoting collaboration with the other chamber? [41:12]
- Education (from the audience): New legislation mandates that school districts show growth or funding could be taken away. How do you expect students to improve if you’re taking resources away? [44:00]
- School vouchers: Do you support measures that would allow the use of taxpayers dollars to go to private or religious schooling? Why or why not? [46:24]
- Chiefs/Royals enticements: This summer, the legislature passed and Gov. Laura Kelly signed into a law a bill aimed at enticing the Chiefs or Royals to Kansas, if it ever came to that. The new law expands the state’s STAR bond program to include up to 70% of the cost of financing a new professional sports team stadium in Kansas, which is estimated to cost upwards of $1 billion. Our readers want to know if you support such a move by the state? Should the state be promising taxpayer dollars to the Chiefs and Royals? [51:27]
- Closing statements [52:55]
