BY ANNISTON WEBER<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Around 50 individuals gathered at the Downtown Pavilion on Tuesday evening to meet and visit with Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly. The event, hosted by the Ellis County Democratic Party, lasted for just over an hour in the hot, outdoor setting. The purpose of the meeting was for the governor to discuss her plans for reelection in 2022 and the state\u2019s achievements over the past three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Former Kansas state senator Janis Lee introduced Kelly by reminiscing on their time serving in office together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLaura has worked very hard as our Governor,\u201d Lee said. \u201cShe has kept her promises about funding, education, a ten-year highway program, and is now working very hard in terms of economic development.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lee continued to discuss why she believes Kelly is \u201cwell-equipped\u201d to work with the Kansas legislature by informing the crowd that Kelly started her career by working at a state children\u2019s psychiatric center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe experience of working [at the psychiatric center] is one that I have used throughout my life,\u201d Kelly said after Lee welcomed her to the event. \u201cBecause of my experience, I have been called every name in the book, I have been physically and verbally abused, so there isn\u2019t anything the legislature can do that I haven\u2019t already experienced.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kelly then began to discuss her time in office since being elected three years ago, stating that the challenges at that time seemed nearly impossible to overcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe had a budget that was broken at its core, a public school system that was underfunded and underperforming, and an economy that was stalled especially in our rural areas,\u201d she said. \u201cThe decisions linking to that were largely made based on ideological reasons \u2013 not reasons that were based in the best interest of Kansans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n