BY KATI RIVERA
Hays falls into the 111th District of the Kansas Legislature. On Tuesday, Hays and the surrounding area will vote to elect a new Kansas House Representative for District 111.
The two candidates on the ballot are incumbent, Barbara Wasinger (R), and challenger Edward Hammond (D). The two candidates have participated in both combined events such as debates and forums as well as partaken in individual campaigning. The strategies of each campaign team have had both similarities and differences. One extraordinary similarity is both campaigns are employing FHSU students.
Representing Wasinger’s team is Alex Johnson, a freshman and Political Science (Pre-Law) major at FHSU. Johnson said Wasinger’s main strategy with this election is to keep voters informed.
“What college students should do to get ready to vote is the same thing as Wasinger’s strategy, ‘be informed,’ make a plan and the right answer to who you should vote for will appear before November 8th,” Johnson said.
Noah Erikson, a History major and sophomore at FHSU is the Hammond for Kansas Campaign Manager and spoke on Hammond’s strategies and qualifications. Erikson said Hammond’s top priority during this election was being personal and connecting with voters directly. Hammond’s campaign prioritized door-to-door campaigning and geofencing.
“A voter can be sitting in their home, and when you live within the 111th District, because of your location, you are now ‘fenced,’ and can start getting personal ads depending on your party with information so you know exactly how to vote and all of Hammond’s positions on this campaign,” Erikson said.
Erikson said the Hammond for Kansas campaign has been most successful because of who Hammond is as a person. Many of Hammond’s events have been personal and connection based. According to Erikson, Hammond’s best quality as a candidate is how he makes his constituents feel as though they are being heard.
“He is an amazing advocator for the district and an amazing speaker. He connects with voters no matter if they are democrats and no matter their age,” Erikson said.
Erikson also was eager to admit that although he is a registered Republican, he will be voting for Hammond because he is an advocate for voting for the person, not the party.
Johnson believes that Wasinger’s best quality as a candidate is her fiscal responsibility. Wasinger and her husband Tom own Ellis County Abstract and Title, LLC in Hays, and Johnson explains that this gives Wasinger leverage over Hammond.
“Barb, as a small business owner, knows how to be fiscally responsible. Hammond was FHSU President for 28 years so he has had his job planned out for him. Barb had to plan her job out each and every day as a small business owner and she will do it as a senator,” Johnson said.
Both Johnson and Erikson encouraged students to vote in this year’s midterm elections because of how the district representative has the power to advocate for higher education and the university. Fort Hays is one of only two colleges in Kansas to house the American Democracy Project. The ADP is a national initiative that aims to promote civic engagement and voter education on both community and college campuses.
Those interested in getting more involved with local and national politics can follow @fhsuyoungdems, @college.republicans.fhsu, and @adp_fhsu on Instagram for more information about weekly meetings or events or visit ballotready.org to see who is on your district’s ballot and to learn more the midterm election before voting.