U.S. Senate candidates on accountability and independence

Earlier this summer, the Post asked our readers what issues you wanted to hear candidates in contested races address leading up to the Aug. 4 primary election.

Based on that feedback, we developed a five-item questionnaire centering the issues most important to residents across Johnson County.

Each day this week, we’ll publish the candidates’ responses to one question. So far, we’ve published responses on cost of living, immigration, elections, and Social Security, Medicare and health care.

Today, we’re publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:

Readers want to know to whom candidates answer. They asked, “Are you beholden to Trump?”, “Who are your biggest donors?” and “Will you vote as the majority of your constituents wish or as Trump and/or Congressional leaders tell you to?” At the same time, several readers voiced the desire to see their senator hold public town halls. To whom do you owe your vote when your constituents and your party disagree? Will you commit to regular, in-person town halls in Kansas throughout your term?

Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on the issue:

Erik Murray (Democratic)

We absolutely put people first and represent hardworking Kansans in everything we do. We are not in any way beholden to partisan politics and, certainly, are not taking orders from the most corrupt administration in history. In fact, we’re focused on accountability for all public servants including ourselves. As of the most recently filed FEC reports, our campaign is proud to be the leading fundraiser with 100% of our donations coming from individuals across Kansas and across this country who love our people first and solutions oriented leadership. Our campaign has committed to not taking a single dollar from any corporate PAC or special interest money and believe that we need to End Citizens United to get money out of politics. We also believe in an enforceable code of ethics, a ban on stock trading, and a ban on revolving door lobbying across all three branches of government, as part of one of the few campaigns in Kansas to have taken the Political Integrity Pledge. As for actively engaging with our constituents, not only do we commit to regular in-person town halls, we view transparency and communication as integral to rebuilding trust in government. We plan to continue to show up in every corner of this state, engage in conversations with folks we agree with and, more importantly, folks we don’t, and we are proud to be running one of the most transparent political campaigns in the country through the use of digital technology featured on our website that enables voters to ask me any question. Our campaign is the only U.S. Senate campaign to be utilizing this tool. We have been in over 70 of the 105 counties in Kansas as we work to hit every county in this state, and we will continue that energy of showing up in the U.S. Senate, as well.

Anne Parelkar (Democratic)

This is one of my biggest concerns as a citizen. We are all sick of being used as political pawns and sick of voting for the “lesser of two evils.” We are all sick of the divisiveness of the parties and of politicians who only show up when it’s time for an election.

I know how frustrating it is when public servants don’t actually “serve” anyone but their donors and special interests. I was there at the Oakley town hall when Roger Marshall ran away, and I’ve seen his campaign finance reports.

My campaign is built by small-dollar, grassroots donors and volunteers. My biggest contribution is from another outsider candidate in my same race who has suspended his campaign and who believes in our movement to make this country work for us again. We believe this government is meant to serve the People, not money or corporations or parties or politicians.

As one of the only political outsiders in this race, I have always been devoted to serving People over party. It was regular Kansans who asked me to run for this office; I was not recruited by the establishment or consultancy firms. My loyalty is to Kansans first and foremost, and it will remain that way throughout my service as your Senator.

I am committed to hosting regular town halls and quarterly conventions for every year I’m in office. I plan to have a contact in each county so all the People of Kansas have an easy way to get in touch with me. When I go to serve you in DC, I want you to go with me. In our movement everyone will have a seat at the table.

Noah Taylor (Democratic)

Kansans want a Senator that will use their own judgment, ask hard questions, and put our state’s interests ahead of partisan politics. My job is to represent my constituents – not a political party or special interest group. From farmers in Finney County to aerospace workers in Wichita and teachers in Olathe, I will work for them.

It has been over 500 days since Roger Marshall held a public event. The day he turned his back on Kansans and walked out of that town hall in Oakley should have been the day he lost his job. As a U.S. Senator, I will hold town halls across this state, because my only job is to represent Kansans.

Christy Davis (Democratic)

There comes a point when refusing to take a stand becomes a decision in itself. We’ve reached that point.

We cannot solve our problems with “kumbaya” moments when some politicians still refuse to recognize the humanity and dignity of people who are different from them. Leadership means standing up to extremism, not pretending it will disappear if we’re polite enough.

Donald Trump has never been held accountable by too many members of his own party, including Senator Roger Marshall. The only thing we have to show for it is more chaos, more division, higher costs, and more uncertainty for Kansas families. The glaring economic gap has gotten bigger while Roger Marshall has celebrated the economy as if it’s some kind of a win because his biggest donors benefited. That isn’t how government should ever work.

I’ve refused corporate PAC money because I don’t want to owe billionaires or special interests anything. My campaign has been powered by everyday Kansans because they’re the only people I intend to answer to.

I will not ask Kansans for their vote and then vanish into Washington. I’ll hold regular town halls across Kansas, answer tough questions, and listen even when we disagree. Public service isn’t about hiding behind press releases or carefully managed appearances. It’s about showing up.

Kansas doesn’t need another senator who manages politics. We need one who’s willing to fight for people, tell the truth, and never forget who sent them to Washington.

Adam Hamilton (Democratic)

I commit to regular, in-person town halls across Kansas, every year I serve. I also plan to keep living in Kansas when the Senate isn’t in session. Kansans shouldn’t have to wonder whether we’ll ever see our senator.

Am I beholden to the President? No. And I’m not beholden to Congressional leadership either. I’ve said this across the state: I work for Kansas. And I don’t just mean the people who vote for me, I mean all of Kansas. If Washington wants me to vote for something that isn’t good for Kansas, I won’t vote for it. The question I’m going to ask on every vote is what’s good for the people of this state. Now, sometimes Kansans disagree with each other. On the hard issues we often do. My job then is to listen carefully and be honest about where I stand and why. And then I have to cast the vote I believe serves Kansas, and show up in person to answer for it.

Jason Hart (Democratic)

I am all for aggressively pursuing accountability for the chaos, corruption, and civil rights violations that we’ve seen. This is the reason that I, as a former federal prosecutor, am running – to use my skills to clean up the mess and get us back on track. I’ve been serving Kansans in crisis for 21+ years, and this is a time of crisis that requires my skills.

As far as commitment to Kansans, that’s my history, and it won’t change. I am not beholden to Trump, nor the Democratic Party. My biggest donors are personal friends who know how important it is to have a qualified public servant on the ballot. I do not have big donors, nor PACs, nor endorsements, in part because I am not asking for them. I believe we need publicly funded elections (and Hamilton can donate his millions after losing the primary). Much like the past 21+ years, I am only beholden to pursuing justice and the interests of Kansans. I will absolutely commit to town halls and meeting Kansans openly across the state. And I will do one better by dragging my counterpart and the House Rep along to make sure they are hearing from Kansans.

Kevin Latz (Democratic)

I answer to the citizens of Kansas, not the leaders of the Democratic party. The Democratic party is a big tent organization. It is only natural that there will occasionally be issues which divide legislators within the Democratic Party.

The best part of the campaign process has been traveling to the far corners of the state to meet voters. I intend to continue this process once I am elected on a regular (frequent) basis both virtually and in person. I will travel to every corner of the state including areas where Democrats are in the minority.

I have continued to work full time during this campaign to maintain my connection and proximity to the voters of Kansas and to better appreciate their challenges/problems.