To the voters of Sedgwick County, I am asking for your support in my campaign for Judge in the Eighteenth Judicial District.

In this year of campaign promises and slogans, I am asking you to vote for me based on my integrity, legal experience, commitment to the community and the legal profession. If elected, I promise you that I will work hard to be fair and impartial.

Unlike most political campaigns, I am unable to make promises to you about how I would rule in any particular case. My only promise is to work diligently, as I have for the last sixteen years as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Wichita, to serve you as a fair judge who will evaluate each case before me, based on the law and the facts presented to me.

What I can tell you is who I am, and why I am the most qualified candidate.

FAMILY

I was born and raised in a small railroading community.  My mother was a school teacher and my father was a conductor for the Rock Island and Union Pacific Railroads.

I graduated as Valedictorian from Herington High School in 1982. I then attended Kansas State University and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1986. Academics has always been important to my family. I graduated with a degree in Family and Consumer Economics. A degree which focused on how families are affected by the economy and society in general. Family has always been important to me.

Family continues to be important. I have been married to my husband Dan for over fourteen years. We have a son Andy, who is a second grader in the Maize Public Schools. We are active in scouting and are members of Ascension Lutheran Church.

LEGAL EDUCATION  AND EXPERIENCE

In 1986, I entered the University of Kansas School of Law.   Like every other challenge, I worked very hard to succeed. I graduated fourth in my class.

Following graduation, I was hired by the largest law firm in Kansas, Foulston Siekfin. I remember riding the escalator to the interview in the Bank IV (Bank of America) Building thinking that  I "had made it." It was very exciting to a “small town girl."

I entered the insurance defense section of the firm. I had the privilege to work with  an attorney who taught me a great deal about the practice of law;  things that you would never learn in law school. Respect the court, respect your opponent and always be truthful. Your integrity is your most important asset.

In 1993, I took a job as the supervisor of the prosecutor's office for the City of Wichita. In this position, I supervised attorneys who had the thankless job of prosecuting all traffic and misdemeanor crimes for the City. In this capacity, I learned a great deal educating new attorneys about the practice of law and the issues involved in criminal prosecution.

In this role, I also prosecuted criminal cases in the District Court, trying in excess of one hundred jury trials. This number far exceeds the trial experience of  my opponents. Because I appear in District Court almost daily, I am familiar with the rules of the court, procedures and the law applicable to criminal cases.

Like a judge, the most important trait of a prosecutor is to be fair. It is not a prosecutor’s job to convict individuals charged with crimes. A prosecutor and judge should strive to make sure that individuals are given a fair trial and that their individual and constitutional rights are protected.  

In addition to my criminal experience,  I have defended the city in lawsuits brought against it, and advise a number of city departments of legal issues affecting them. This diversity of experience is vital for judges in the Eighteenth Judicial District as they are routinely assigned to preside over criminal, civil and domestic matters.

COMMITMENT TO LEGAL PROFESSION

I have been an active member of the Wichita Bar Association my entire legal career. Serving on a number of committees including the criminal law committee, municipal court practice committee, diversity and chairing the Summer Intern Committee for the last seven years.

As the Chair of the Summer Intern Committee, I work with youth interested in the legal profession, placing them in law firms as interns. This position has allowed me to work with some of the brightest youth in our county. Several of these students have returned to Wichita as attorneys.

I am also a member of the Kansas Bar Association and serve on their diversity committee which strives to encourage diversity among attorneys practicing in our state.

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY

I am very proud of my work in North East Wichita, as part of the city’s START team. The purpose of the team is to work with neighborhoods to solve housing, crime, blight and other quality of life issues. This work is rewarding when partnerships are developed between members of the community.

Based on my experience and commitment to the community and legal profession, I am asking for your vote on November 4th.