jocoyoungdems-blog

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JCYD Member Spotlight: Lindsay Vaughn

How did you find the group?

Through my sister! When JCYD was re-formed back in January of 2017, Kaitlin received an email about their first meeting and invited me to come. I ended up going, and the rest is history! We’ve both been involved since that first meeting.

Are you on a committee in JCYD and if so, what do you do for the organization?

In addition to being secretary I also help oversee the social and recruitment committee. We plan monthly social events for the organization and phone bank members to let them know about exciting upcoming opportunities. The social and recruitment committee also helps the fundraising committee plan our large fundraising events for the year.

What else do you do to be active (either politically or through volunteer opportunities)?

Outside of Young Dems I am a precinct committeewoman for Senate 7. Senate 7 is a very active senate district and I’ve had a lot of fun getting to know other Dems in my community and working with them to get great people elected! Shout out to Helena and Brian for being fabulous Senate leaders!

What issue are you most passionate about and why?

Right now I am most passionate about economic policy reform in Kansas and Women’s issues. Regarding economic policy changes, I think Kansas needs to implement a food sales tax exemption, increase income taxes, and add more tax brackets, so the state can more equitably fund itself and be able to afford increased education and social spending (and stop borrowing money from state infrastructure and KPERS!!). I would also love to see more women elected to office and the passage of legislation strengthening equal pay requirements. In an ideal world, I would love to see a paid sick and/or family leave law being considered as well!

Tell us about yourself in two to three sentences.

I grew up in Overland Park (any other BVNW grads?), went to college at UNC (go Tarheels!), solo-backpacked across Europe for three months after graduating, then moved back to Johnson County and got a job in HR Compliance. I currently live in Mission with my adorable cat Westley (named after Westley from the Princess Bride, of course), and my favorite pastimes include: visiting new coffeeshops and breweries, seeing movies at the Tivoli, and exploring Kansas City with friends.  

What is your go-to shower song?

Love On Top by Beyoncé. And no, I cannot hit all those octave changes.

Please share your favorite cat gif:

My inspiration whenever I need to write a paper!

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JCYD Member Spotlight: Lauren Martin

How did you find JCYD? I actually helped start the group. A friend of mine invited me to join some other young progressives who were looking to make a difference in the post-President Trump world. We went to brunch, and the next thing I knew we were forming JCYD. Are you on a team and if so, what is your role? I’m the Vice Chair for JCYD so I’m somewhat involved in just about everything that we do. You probably recognize me from the sign-in table though I am passing that duty on to our new Secretary, Lindsay Vaughn. What else do you do to be active (either politically or through volunteer opportunities)? This question makes me realize that politics are a huge part of my life. I’m a Democratic Precinct Committeewoman, and I’m normally involved in someone’s political campaign in some capacity. What issue are you most passionate about and why? Voting rights! I strongly believe that voting should be as simple as possible since citizen participation is a fundamental principle of democracy. I’ve decided that the universe is playing a cruel joke on me since I live in the state that takes Kris Kobach and his voter fraud claims seriously. Tell us about yourself in two to three sentences. I’m a huge bookworm. In fact, I almost went to grad school for Library Science. If you ever want to talk about libraries being awesome, why people need to respect genre fiction (especially romance), or how Nicholas Sparks is an arrogant jerk, please come find me! I also love going to the movies. What is your go-to shower song? Oh dear God. I refuse to sing in the shower; no one needs to listen to me caterwauling.

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JoCo Young Democrats to Host the first Democratic Congressional Forum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

JoCo Young Democrats to Host First Forum of all Five Democratic Third District Congressional Candidates

December 11, 2017

Johnson County, KS – The Johnson County Young Democrats are hosting a forum for the Democratic Third District congressional candidates at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 19, 2017.The panel will take place at the Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church located at 9400 Pflumm Road, Lenexa, KS.

The forum, which is free and open to the public, will be the first to host all five Democratic candidates. The purpose is to familiarize attendees, especially local young Democrats, with the candidates and their views on important issues.

Confirmed candidate panelists include Chris Haulmark, Tom Niermann, Andrea Ramsey, Jay Sidie, and Brent Welder. American Sign Language interpreters will be provided.

Members of the Johnson County Young Democrats who have not committed to a candidate will moderate the panel. Candidates will have two minutes each to respond to individual questions. Questions for the panel will be prepared in advance, but audience members will also be encouraged to submit their own questions for a Q&A portion.

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The Johnson County Young Democrats are a political action committee comprised of more than 200 members. This year, the Johnson County Young Democrats made nearly 1,400 calls for the 2017 municipal elections across seven cities.

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JCYD Member Spotlight: Brandon Woodard, Chair

In an effort to connect JCYD members with one another, the Communications Committee will be sharing bios of active, passionate Young Dems! We are starting with the Executive Board-- the hardworking leaders functioning behind the scenes. If you are interested in being interviewed (or if you have a recommendation for a future subject of the spotlight!), please email jcydcommteam@gmail.com.  We hope this helps you get to know your fellow progressives! Everyone deserves to have their moment in the JCYD spotlight.

Brandon Woodard is the Chair of the Johnson County Young Democrats. Woodard works with the Executive Board, the Steering Committee, and all of the individual teams focused on social functions, endorsements, communications, and fundraising. Woodard helped form JCYD when, after the 2016 election, he kept meeting young progressives who needed a place to turn their post-election energy into action. Over brunch (and a few mimosas), JCYD was formed with the hope of offering just that.

Woodard is a proud Democratic Precinct Committeeman, one of the most important roles in the Democratic Party. He is also the Acting Vice-Chair for the Johnson County Democratic Party, and the Treasurer for Kansas Young Democrats. Beyond politics, he is very involved with the University of Kansas as a proud alumnus and employee.

When asked what issue he is most passionate about, Woodard responded: “Access to affordable, quality education beyond high school […]Higher education not only gives us the skills we need to be successful in the workplace, but it teaches us to live meaningful lives, personally and professionally. I’ve been thrilled to work with the Johnson County Young Democrats to advocate for support for higher education on the local, state, and federal levels.”

Outside of the political world, Woodard loves spending time with his friends and family. He says he is “constantly curious, always wanting to try new things and explore new places. Oh, and you can usually count on me to order a red wine or Boulevard Tank 7 with dinner, and to work a Beyoncé reference into any conversation.” Clearly, the Queen B reigns.

Appropriately, Woodard’s go-to shower song is Schoolin’ Life by Beyoncé.

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Official Election Results

We want to share the official election results with you!

As a reminder, Johnson County Young Democrats made over 1,392 calls in 7 cities and knocked hundreds of doors for these municipal elections. 34 Advance-Ballot applications were sent, and 75 people signed up for our mailing list. It is clear that everyone’s hard work made a significant impact, so thank you all!                                                 

JCCC Board of Trustees

JCYD-endorsed candidate Angeliina Lawson was elected with 33,204 votes at 17.97% JCYD-endorsed candidate Lee Cross was elected with 30,190 votes at 16.34% JCYD-endorsed candidate Chris Roesel earned 16,697 votes at 9.04%

Merriam Ward 4

JCYD-endorsed candidate David Neal won with 313 votes at 53.78%

Olathe At-Large

Karin Brownlee won with 4960 votes at 53.10% JCYD-endorsed candidate Deann Mitchell came in a close second with 4361 votes at 46.69%

Gardner At-Large

Randy Gregorcyk won with 1200 votes at 28.89% Michael Blanchard was the JCYD-endorsed candidate and he came in third with 952 votes at 22.92%

Overland Park Ward 1

JCYD-endorsed candidate Logan Heley won with 2596 votes at 71.34%

Prairie Village Ward 3

JCYD-endorsed candidate Tucker Poling was unopposed and won with 416 votes at 98.11%

Westwood Hills Mayor

JCYD-endorsed candidate Paula Schwach was unopposed and won with 94 votes at 100%

Shawnee Mission School Board Position 4

JCYD-endorsed candidate Laura Guy won with 3258 votes at 60.20%

Water One Board Position 3

JCYD-endorsed candidate Kay Heley won with 25,527 votes at 54.65%

Roeland Park Ward 2

JCYD-endorsed candidate Jen Hill won with 220 votes at 52.26%

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JoCo Young Democrats to Host Democratic Governor Forum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

JoCo Young Democrats to Host First Panel of Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates in Kansas’ Most Populous County

 November 17, 2017

Johnson County, KS – The Johnson County Young Democrats are hosting a forum for the Democratic gubernatorial candidates at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 28, 2017at the Johnson County Central Resource Library in the Carmack Community Room.

The panel, which is free and open to the public, is the first of its kind to be held in the Kansas City Metro Area. The purpose is to familiarize attendees, especially local young Democrats, with the candidates and their views on important issues.

Confirmed candidate panelists include Arden Anderson, Jack Bergeson, Jim Ward, Joshua Svaty, and Robert Klingenberg. As of release, Carl Brewer had canceled citing scheduling issues.

Members of the Johnson County Young Democrats who have not committed to a candidate will moderate the panel. Candidates will have two minutes each to respond to individual questions. Questions for the panel will be prepared in advance, but audience members will also be encouraged to submit their own questions for a Q&A portion.

***

The Johnson County Young Democrats are a political action committee comprised of more than 300 members. This year, the Johnson County Young Democrats made nearly 1,400 calls for the 2017 municipal elections across seven cities.

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Endorsement: Michael Blanchard for Gardner City Council

Michael Blanchard Gardner City Council

Michael Blanchard is running for the Gardner city council At-Large position. He has lived in Gardner for over 20 years and has been getting involved with his community recently through various service organizations such as the Gardner Rotary Club. Michael started a successful company, Buzzfish Media, which provides marketing services and develops websites for businesses. Michael was inspired to run for office because he wasn’t happy with a lot of things going on in our local government and decided to get involved. He said that this is also an important opportunity to show to his kids and others that if you want to make a difference in the world, you just have to be willing to try. 

An issue that’s important to Michael is economic development. He thinks we should capitalize on some of the economic opportunities in Gardner that will allow us to provide some of the amenities we love while taking some burden off of the residents. He also thinks we should strongly invest in Gardner’s infrastructure and Parks and Recreation department. 

Michael is inspired by all the people who have worked to make Gardner such an amazing place. He believes we need leaders in our community beyond just election years who are actively working to make our community a better place for everyone. 

http://voteforblanchard.org/

https://www.facebook.com/VoteforBlanchard/

Candidate bio provided by Cole Johnson, Communications Team member

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Endorsement: Deann Mitchell for Olathe City Council

Deann Mitchell Olathe City Council At-Large

Deann Mitchell is a strong education advocate and Certified Financial Planner. She is dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and prosperous community for all Olathe residents.  Her goals and priorities as a member of the Olathe City Council include supporting education in the city, ensuring the Council upholds its fiscal responsibilities, promoting public health by expanding fire and health emergency services, ensuring economic prosperity, and advocating for diversity. She has been involved in community service for years, serving as a PTO member and President at Scarborough Elementary, and leads the local non-profit Veterans Voices Writing Project.  Mitchell was previously appointed to both the Kansas Credit Union Council and State Behavioral Health Services Planning Council.

From the Platform page of Deann’s website: “Deann has lived in Olathe for 32 years, has raised her family there and has watched the city more than double in size. Olathe is no longer a sleepy bedroom community but a vibrant part of the metro region with a voice that deserves to be heard. Olathe needs leaders who will fight for quality education, improved job opportunities through solid business strategies, a strong economy, and a safe community. The heart of Olathe hasn’t changed in 32 years, but the diversity of the community has evolved.   We need a strong leader who will embrace that diversity and find ways to engage community members to support and promote our common goals.”

https://www.mitchell4olathe.com/

https://www.facebook.com/mitchell4olathe/

mitchell4olathe@gmail.com

Candidate bio provided by Shawn Moore, Communications Team member

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Endorsement: Tucker Poling for Prairie Village City Council

Tucker Poling Prairie Village City Council, Ward Three

Tucker Poling is running unopposed for the position of City Council Member in Prairie Village Ward Three, but that hasn’t stopped him from knocking doors for other candidates and introducing himself along the way. He has been dedicating at least five hours per week to his campaign and using his social media outlets to provide informative content to his constituents in order to help build his connection with them for the future. Poling will be filling the seat vacated by first-time Councilman Eric Mikkelson who decided not to seek a second term.

Directly from his campaign website, Poling states: “I’m a father, husband, and attorney. I’m running for Prairie Village City Council, Ward 3, because I want to help make Prairie Village a leader in government transparency, sustainable and locally focused growth, walkability/bikeability, and advocating for the return of local control”. Poling would like the Prairie Village city council to livestream all of their meetings and to make the city council agenda clear and fully accessible to the public. Additionally, Poling believes that walkability and bikeability will help promote healthier and happier Prairie Village families with a greater sense of community while also promoting the local economy.

Here are some links that demonstrate the action Poling has already taken as an engaged citizen and shed light on his future actions as Councilman:

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/community/joco-913/northeast-joco/article150756652.html

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/community/joco-913/article150110402.html

http://kcur.org/post/search-formally-new-shawnee-mission-school-superintendent#stream/0

Here’s how you can connect with Tucker Poling:

http://www.tuckerforpv.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TuckerforPV/

@TuckerPoling on Twitter

Candidate bio provided by Kaitlin Vaughn, Communications Team Co-Chair

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Endorsement: Lee Cross for JCCC Board of Trustees

Lee Cross JCCC Board of Trustees

“Both of my parents inspired me to go to school and acquire as much education as possible... JCCC meant the world to my family.”

Up for re-election to the Johnson County Community College Board of Trustees, Lee Cross cites a familial passion for education as the inspiration for his campaign. Cross’ prior experience stems from eleven years of practicing law, and from his tenure as Treasurer for the Board of Trustees. He believes Kansas community colleges should move towards a cost-free attendance model, and that increased recruitment within minority populations should be a priority. Additionally, Cross will continue to support on-campus sustainability measures, due process for teachers, and reinstating limitations on concealed-carry laws that currently allow individuals to carry concealed weapons on college campuses.

Inspired by the passion shared by Johnson County residents for self-government and local elections and having served as Treasurer of the Kansas Young Democrats, Cross is thrilled to see the excitement, interest, and hard work demonstrated by the JoCo Young Dems.

http://crossforthecollege.com/

lee@crossforthecollege.com https://www.facebook.com/CrossForTheCollege/ Twitter: @Cross4JCCC

Bio provided by Angela Clem, Communications Team Co-Chair

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Endorsement: David Neal for Merriam City Council

David Neal is running for the Merriam City Council in Ward 4. Neal has lived in Merriam for the past 13 years and has a background in engineering and construction. He is also the founder of a successful software company. Neal was inspired to run for the city council when he saw a need for someone with a background in construction and engineering to serve. Currently, none of the members of the council have those skills and experience. 

One issue that’s important to Neal is restoring the balance of the city council. Currently, Neal sees the council as leaning towards the interests of commercial real estate developers at the expense of tax paying residents. Neal is also concerned about the Irene B. French center, which was built in 1911 and was one of the first schools in the Shawnee Mission School District. There is a possibility that it will be torn down to be replaced by an outdoor amphitheater, and Neal thinks that this historic building should be preserved and repurposed. Neal also believes that some of the current municipal codes in Merriam need to be updated due to the changing needs of residents.  Neal thinks local government has the most direct impact on your daily life, and that it is essential to elect competent representatives to act in the best interest of the city’s stakeholders - all of them.  Neal has built a website with tons of information on the issues facing Merriam as well as how he plans to address them: http://www.nealformerriam.com/

Candidate bio provided by Cole Johnson, Communications Team member

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Endorsement: Paula Schwach for Mayor of Westwood Hills

Paula Schwach is running unopposed for reelection to the position of Mayor of Westwood Hills. She currently works as a freelance attorney. She has served as mayor since the spring of 2013. Despite running unopposed, Schwach has remained dedicated to interacting with her constituents, allocating at least four hours per week to the campaign and pledging to see her constituents face-to- face in community venues or to knock on most doors in her district at least once. Prior to serving as mayor, Schwach was a three term City Councilwoman and worked in local, state, and federal government.

When asked about the main issue important specifically to her candidacy, Schwach focused on this: “The support for infrastructure reinvestment is a challenge that every first-ring suburb in the metro area faces and the issue which has been the focus of my mayoral term. It will continue to be my focus once re-elected. I obtained a KDOT geometric grant in the amount of $300,000 to fix the storm water problems on Rainbow Blvd and this work is now scheduled for spring construction in 2018, This will be followed by a second construction project to remedy faults in the balance of the existing storm water system. Then I will begin a master planning process for the Green so that our parks infrastructure is also updated and made fully accessible.”

She also provided insight into how her policies help better the lives of young constituents: “Westwood Hills is a community for all ages. We are rapidly ‘re-greening’ and have seen an influx of young families. We are a walkable neighborhood leading to healthier people of all ages... We are sustaining the Green as a community space for gatherings… I have championed systematic code enforcement to assure that even in a mature city that property values are maintained given that this is often the largest investment of younger homeowners.” Once reelected, Schwach will serve a two-year term as mayor.

Below are some links to stories about Schwach’s successes while serving as mayor.

https://shawneemissionpost.com/2015/05/21/westwood-hills-takes-steps-to-preserve-historic-structures-that-helped-land-it-on-national-register- \39472 https://shawneemissionpost.com/2014/09/16/dark-decades-westwood-hills-lamppost-shines-entry-beautiful-little-city-kansas-31664

https://shawneemissionpost.com/2013/09/05/westwood-hills-turns-90-and-throws-a-party-20892

Candidate bio provided by Kaitlin Vaughn, Communications Team Co-Chair

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Endorsement: Laura Guy for Shawnee Mission School District

Laura Guy is running for position four on the Shawnee Mission School District school board, which represents Shawnee Mission West High School. She has lived in Johnson County for over 30 years, and in the West area for 22. Guy started her career as a teacher, but has found her place as a pastor at an Open and Affirming church, Living Water Christian Church. She was inspired to run for the school board after seeing questionable decisions being made by the current board, and hearing of frustrations of parents and students in the district. She hadn’t considered running for public office until after the 2016 election, when she felt compelled to help out to the best of her abilities. The school board is a good fit for Guy because of her experience in education and dedication to students.

One issue that’s very important to Guy is the selection of a new superintendent. Guy says it’s important for the district to pick someone who will listen to everyone - students, teachers, parents, and community leaders. She wants to build a culture of trust as compared to the current feelings of mistrust between the district and its constituents. Guy wants the district to be vigilant about whether new teaching techniques and school boundaries will negatively impact low-income students or students of color. Guy also wants to build morale among teachers, and stop our best teachers from leaving for other school districts.

Education is extremely important to Guy. She says that education impacts students and their parents, but also future employers of those students. She thinks education is vital to creating a society of informed citizens who vote and work to make the world better for all people.

https://www.facebook.com/westvikings/

Candidate bio provided by Cole Johnson, Communications Team member

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Endorsement: Chris Roesel for JCCC Board of Trustees

Chris Roesel JCCC Board of Trustees

“Talking with students who work 60 hours a week and take 18 semester hours at the same time convinced me that I should bring different perspectives to the Board—not my perspectives, but rather those of students, faculty, and the community.”

Chris Roesel’s twin commitments to democracy and higher education are clear through his campaign for the Johnson County Community College Board of Trustees. Roesel advocates for these values primarily through social media and face-to-face contact with voters at various organizational meetings across Johnson County. Roesel’s wide-ranging professional history has taken him to four continents, where he has worked as an international development worker, a nutrition program manager, a Peace Corps volunteer, and a teacher. A current student at JCCC (and the only candidate who has recently taken classes at the College), Roesel is active with the JCCC Democrats, the Johnson County Democrats, the League of Women Voters, and many other groups. He advocates for easier registration and voting processes, along with voter engagement and civic participation.

Roesel is committed to engaging young voters, improving stakeholder group representation and inclusion, and identifying future-oriented action plans for the College.

https://www.facebook.com/RoeselforJCCC/

https://www.amazon.com/Development-Experiences-Asia-Africa-Americas-ebook/dp/B01IFC9S66/

Candidate bio provided by Angela Clem, Communications Team Co-Chair

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Endorsement: Kay Heley for WaterOne Board

Kay Heley

WaterOne Board

Kay Heley, a former Peace Corps Volunteer and public health and school nurse for over 30 years, is running for WaterOne Board because our water is too precious to be taken for granted.  There are no health care professionals on the Board and Kay believes her public health experience is vital to the Board which oversees the production of our fresh water. Also included in her campaign is the intention to improve the Board’s outreach to schools to better educate young people and families about the importance of conserving and protecting water resources.  Kay Heley has worked as a public health advocate and a school nurse; she has also served on the NEA-SM Exec Board and as KPAC Commissioner for Senate District 21.

“As a WaterOne Board member, I would be charged along with the other 6 members of the Board with safeguarding and planning ahead to provide for an affordable, adequate and safe water supply as well as the water for fire protection for all residents served by WaterOne. I believe conserving this precious resource should also be a goal. Upholding the financial solvency of this public, independent nonprofit utility and being able to provide adequate pay, benefits and safe working conditions for its employees is also a charge for the Board.”

https://www.facebook.com/KayHeleyforWaterOneBoard/ KayHeley@gmail.com @KayHeleyforWaterOneBoard 816-516-8271

Candidate bio provided by Communications Team member Shawn Moore

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Endorsement: Jen Hill for Roeland Park City Council

Jen Hill for Roeland Park City Council, Ward Two:

Jen Hill is a candidate for the position of City Council Member in Roeland Park Ward Two. Hill is a veteran teacher of 23 years so she has worked extensively in the education sector of government. She is currently working aggressively on her campaign by knocking doors and making phone calls nightly, devoting at least 15 to 30 hours per week to her efforts. She plans to contact all potential voters in her ward at least three times prior to Election Day. Hill states that “Equal Rights for All” is a top priority, citing the non-discrimination ordinance currently in place in Roeland Park; she says she will “work to keep precautions in place to ensure equal rights for all citizens”.

“If elected, my positions on the issues will better the lives of constituents through positive changes in new leadership for all ages in Roeland Park. I will assure fiscally responsible stewardship of business development, streets, public safety, parks, sidewalks and bike lanes, city services and city budget. I hope to create modern technological ways of keeping the community involved and informed of the happenings in Roeland Park.”

Here’s how you can connect with Jen Hill:

https://www.jenhillforroelandpark.com/

https://www.facebook.com/JenHillforRoelandPark/

Bio provided by Kaitlin Vaughn, Communications Team Co-Chair

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Endorsement: Angeliina Lawson for JCCC Board of Trustees

“Al Franken says in his book that his wife pulled herself up by her bootstraps—because the community provided the boots [...] I remember the feeling of accomplishment as a young woman at Moorpark [Community College] and I know there are students in Johnson County who deserve access to those same boots to get their life going.”

Angeliina Lawson understands the importance of a strong community college in the lives of Johnson County residents, and has been working hard to convey her passion for higher education throughout her campaign for Johnson County Community College Board of Trustees. Thanks to the strong foundation of her own community college education, Lawson obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, which have led her into a doctoral program in the field of clinical psychology. Lawson’s experience has prepared her and inspired her to run for the Board, so she may ensure that the College can be a place for Kansans to jump-start their careers. She is in favor of a gun-free campus and of increasing the vocational course offerings. Lawson’s own education relied on the availability of federal Pell Grants to subsidize her educational fees, and as a result, she knows the importance of keeping attendance costs at the College low so students can afford to pursue higher education.

https://www.voteangeliinalawson.com/

VoteAngeliinaLawson@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/LawsonforTrustee/ Twitter: @LawsonJCCC (913) 735-5339

Bio provided by Angela Clem, Communications Co-Chair