Amberwave, a political action committee launched in 2024 by Johnson County Chair Mike Kelly, continues to be a spending force in local races this year, with significant contributions to candidates in two contested commission seats.

The PAC spent about $71,000 on printing costs on behalf of two candidates — Greg Mitchell, who is challenging incumbent Michael Ashcraft for the commission’s 5th District seat and Becky Fast, the incumbent in the 1st District who is facing a challenge from Ben Hobert.

Contributions were reported in Amberwave’s October financial disclosures, with $45,000 going to Mitchell and $26,000 to Fast, specifically to Callendar Printing in Kansas City, Kansas. Fast and Mitchell were also each given individual $1,000 donations from Amberwave.

Additionally, the PAC donated $24,000 to Amy Diediker, of Olathe, who is running for Kansas State Board of Education against Jim McMullen of Overland Park.

Amberwave contributed lesser amounts to other candidates as well, including $1,000 to Cole Robinson, running for Prairie Village mayor against Inga Selders, and $4,000 to Cindy Holscher, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate from Overland Park running against Republican Ty Masterson.

What is Amberwave?

Amberwave entered the political scene two years ago. Its focus areas, according to its website, are economic development, environmental sustainability and fighting political extremism, with an eye to supporting candidates for local office.

Zach McCracken, treasurer for Amberwave, told the Post the PAC hopes to highlight local races that are drowned out by the “noise at the top of the ticket.”

Local candidates often lack money to get their message out, he said in an emailed response to questions.

“While our airwaves and mailboxes are flooded with content about national and statewide contests, Amberwave is focused on educating voters about critical down-ballot races in Johnson County that will have an immediate and lasting impact on our community,” he wrote.

But the organization has had its skeptics among conservatives.

Although most local races are officially nonpartisan, county political parties and candidates have been increasingly open in recent years about party affiliation. The county parties also provide lists of their preferred candidates, even in nonpartisan races, like county commission.

Amberwave has a track record of supporting Democratic candidates.

Two years ago, former county Commissioner Charlotte O’Hara partially blamed her loss for re-election on Amberwave’s spending on her opponent, Julie Brewer. Various conservative sites have speculated that dark money and “kingmaking” by non-Kansas groups are at work in Amberwave’s operations.

Spending in 5th District race

Accepting PAC money for local campaigns is not illegal and has been a funding source for candidates of both parties.

Action committees and professional associations for firefighters, building trades and real estate interests appear on the disclosure forms of several local candidates this year.

In the county commission’s 5th District, covering a swath of central Johnson County, mostly in Lenexa and Olathe, the latest report suggests that the Amberwave donation could have a big financial impact on Mitchell’s race.

Mitchell started with $6,283 on hand and listed six labor groups and firefighters among his donors. He reported spending $14,215. But Amberwave’s contribution to the printing company dwarfs Mitchell’s own campaign spending, making much more money available to cover expenses.

Ashcraft has been a commissioner for 15 years and since 2024 has been the only consistent vote in dissent of policies approved by the board and championed by Chair Kelly.

Ashcraft started out the post-primary reporting period with $60,000 on hand. He reported spending $17,830. A home builder’s group and real estate group were listed among his most recent donors.

For his part, Mitchell said he was pleasantly surprised by an Amberwave mailer about his candidacy in his mailbox.

“Any form of voter engagement — whether mailers, canvassing or digital advertising — is helpful to our efforts and I expect these mailers to be a big benefit to my campaign,” he said.

He added that neighborhood canvassing with volunteers and support of the county Democrats also has been a positive factor.

Ashcraft declined to predict how much of an impact Amberwave will have on the outcome until the votes are counted Tuesday.

Spending in the 1st District

In the 1st District, incumbent Fast held a financial advantage over Hobert even before the injection of support from Amberwave.

Fast, who has held office since 2019, started the post-primary period with $62,000 on hand and spent $33,000. Hobert started with $10,600 and spent $7,492.

Hobert said he wouldn’t know how Amberwave impacts his run without more information on how their money was used. However, “The funding does signal the weakness of the 1st District commissioner incumbent as a candidate for re-election,” he wrote in a response to questions.

Fast noted that PACs operate independently from campaigns by law and that she first learned of Amberwave’s involvement when a postcard came to a friend’s mailbox.

Fast said her campaign sent its own mailers highlighting her accomplishments along with a letter and handwritten postcards to individual voters.

“Amberwave’s investment represents a small portion of the more than 350 donations and countless volunteer hours contributed primarily by Johnson County residents,” she said, adding that she was grateful for that support.

“Ultimately, Tuesday’s results will be a reflection of my leadership, my record and the work I’ve done in our community, not the number of mailpieces sent by my campaign or any PAC,” she said.