The VOTER

®
 

Bulletin of the LWV of Lawrence-Douglas County, KS • Volume 58, No. 4

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization encouraging the informed and
active participation of citizens in government and influencing public policy through education and advocacy.

President:
:
Brooke Goc

917-1291

brookegoc @ gmail.com
Membership:

Voter Editor:
Ruth Lichtwardt

841-5419

lightwatcher @ gmail.com
Local League:
http://www.lawrenceleague.com
National League:
http://www.lwv.org
State League:
http://www.lwvk.org
lwvks@sbcglobal.net

League Calend ar
Sunday, 3:30 PM - New Member Orientation, Home of marci francisco, 1101 Ohio Street.
October 10th 5:00 PM
Monday, 6:30 PM County Commission, State School Board and Library Candidates Forum. City Hall, 6 E. Sixth
October 11th St.Lawrence City Commission meeting room
6 E. Sixth St.
Thursday, 7:00 PM LWVL-DC Board Meeting. Community Mercantile, 901 Iowa St.. All League members are welcome
October 14th to attend.
Saturday, 7:00 am - Voter Registration. Farmer’s Market, northeast corner. Public parking lot between 8th & 9th Streets
October 16th 11:00 am and New Hampshire & Rhode Island Streets.
Monday, Last Day to Register to Vote! For information on voting in Douglas County and to check your reg-
October 18th istration go to http://www.douglas-county.com/depts/cl/ve/ve_home.aspx
Saturday, 7:00 PM Land Use Committee Meeting. Community Mercantile Meeting Room, 901 Iowa St.
October 23rd
Friday, 5:00 PM VOTER Article Submission Deadline. Please send submissions to lightwatcher@gmail.com.
October 29th
Saturday, 11:30 AM - LWVK League Day at the Capitol/State Board Meeting featuring a Kansas Secretary of State can-
October 30th 1:30 PM didate forum from 12:30-1:30 pm. Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 SW 10th Ave.
Tuesday, 7:00 am - Election Day.
November 2nd 7:00 pm

A Note from President Brooke Goc

Visibility, sustainability, and accessibility are League priorities. We must find new ways of educating and em-
powering existing members and the public at large, and we must attract and retain new members.
Our Communications Committee – Milton Scott, Ruth Lichtwardt, and Chris Lempa – has been working hard to pro-
vide our chapter with an upgraded website. Visitors to lawrenceleague.com can read The VOTER online now, and
have options to download it, print it, and share it online. Other exciting features include easy access to our Flickr and
Twitter accounts, new interactive media features, and the ability to share site content with over 300 external websites
and web-accounts.

Developments in the works include a public calendar of League events that can be added to most calendar
interfaces (including MS Outlook, Google Calendar, and many more), a web-based archiving project, and the option to
submit membership forms and dues online. Perhaps most exciting, the listserv migration to the new League of
Women Voters of Lawrence/Douglas County Google Group (http://groups.google.com/group/lwvldc) is underway!

Google Groups provide a method for advanced communication and collaboration with group members, and
alerts can be set so members are notified of new messages about their topics of interest. Group activity can be ac-
cessed on the web or via email. Members with a Google account can choose to receive an email per post, like the
listserv, or a daily email in abridged or digest form.

Very few members accepted the invitation to join but it is imperative that we complete the listserv migration and resume regu-
lar communication. If you were subscribed to the listserv and do not want to receive group emails from the LWV-L/DC, or were not a
listserv subscriber but would like to start receiving group emails, please send your request to lawrenceleague.web@gmail.com by Monday,
October 18 – also the last day to register to vote! After that, members who have provided the LWV-L/DC with email addresses and
have not specified a preference will be added to the group. To subscribe or unsubscribe at any time, email the aforementioned address
October 2010, page 1
The Issue
or request membership on the group’s webpage. Once you have joined the LWV-L/DC Google Group, post to
lwvldc@googlegroups.com instead of the listserv email address. It can be as simple as that. A computer-based orientation session will be
provided in late October and/or early November for members interested in learning the basics or exploring the new features.

New Member Orientation is scheduled for Sunday, October 10 at the home of Marci Francisco and will be facilitated by Caleb
Morse (thank you both!). Space is limited but I encourage all members who feel they would benefit from attending to email me at
brookegoc @ gmail.com; if interest exceeds legroom, a second orientation will be scheduled.

Voter Services Chair Lee Ann Duver will be registering voters with the Voter Education Coalition at the Farmers Market every
Saturday through October 16 – stop by with a friend who needs to register, say hello, and meet some candidates. Lacking question sub-
missions in an election with many unopposed candidates, our chapter decided not to produce a typical Voter Guide this fall. A printable
list of resources, e.g., candidate websites and contact information, will be posted on lawrenceleague.com instead.

Interested in local voter participation? Please contact me or a member of the LWV-L/DC Board and let us know that you
would like to help with our local study. I also urge each of you to attend the LWVK League Day at the Capitol on October 30, fea-
turing a Secretary of State candidate forum with Chris Biggs and Kris Kobach and member workshops. For more information, please
visit www.lwvk.org.

Welcome New Save the Date!

League Members!
The League of Women Voter's

New League members and
current board members will meet Annual Afternoon with the Legislators
Sunday, October 11, at the home of December 4, 2010
Senator Marci Francisco, 1101 at the home of Rita Spradlin
Ohio, for League orientation from 3144 Campfire Drive
3:30 to 5 pm. Senator Francisco is Lawrence, KS 66049
a long time member of the LWV of For more information 766-8561
Lawrence/Douglas County and a past president.

After a welcome from current president It’s October.
Brooke Goc, each new member will receive handouts
and hear a presentation from former League presi- Have you paid your dues?
dent, Caleb Morse, explaining League history, activities The League year runs from April 1, 2010
and responsibilities. Board members will provide re- to March 31, 2011. If your dues expired on March
freshments and assist in the orientation. 31, 2010, you will be listed as an “inactive” League
member after October 1, 2010.

How do you know if you owe dues? Mem-
Candidate Forum bers’ “expiration dates” are printed just above your
October 11: County Commission, State School Board name on Voter mailing labels. If you get your Voter
and Library Candidates: electronically, you may email Marjorie Cole, database
manager, at nobledog @ aol.com to learn your expira-

6:30                County Commission tion date. Those of you who have been League
                7:00                State School Board members for fifty years or more (expiration date
                7:30                Library 2050) are Life Members and owe no dues.

How much are dues? Dues are $50 for indi-
This forum is at viduals and $75 for households. High school student
City Hall, dues are $20. You may mail your check to LWV at
Lawrence City PO Box 1072, Lawrence, KS 66044. As soon as your
Commission dues are received your status will change to “active”.
meeting room, 6
Dues scholarships are available! If you know
E. Sixth St. someone who requires― or deserves―a full or par-
Sponsored by tial dues scholarship, please call either the president or
the Voter Edu- the treasurer to apply. All applications are kept confi-
cation Coalition. dential.


October 2010, page 2 The Costume (not Tea) Party Issue
 2010 General Election Races

Complied by the League of Women Voters of Lawrence-Douglas County from information provided by the Douglas County Clerks Office

CANDIDATE OFFICE PARTY WEB ADDRESS OR EMAIL

U.S. Congressional Races

Lisa Johnston U.S. Senate  Democratic  http://www.LisaForKansas.com 

Jerry Moran U.S. Senate  Republican  http://www.moranforkansas.com 

Michael Wm. Dann U.S. Senate  Libertarian  http://www.mikedannforsenate.com/

Joseph (Joe) K. Bellis U.S. Senate  Reform  http://www.bellisforsenate.com/

District 2 U.S.
Cheryl Hudspeth Democratic  http://www.hudspeth2010.com 
House
District 2 U.S.
Lynn Jenkins Republican  http://www.lynnjenkins.com 
House
District 2 U.S.
Robert Garrard Libertarian  rgarrard1@earthlink.com 
House
District 3 U.S.
Stephene Moore Democratic  http://www.stephenemooreforcongress.com 
House
District 3 U.S.
Kevin Yoder Republican  http://www.kevinyoder.com 
House
District 3 U.S.
Jasmin Talbert Libertarian  http://www.talbertforcongress.org/
House

Statewide Offices

Governor and Lt.

Tom Holland and Kelly Kultala Democratic  http://www.tomhollandforkansas.com 
Governor
Governor and Lt.
Sam Brownback and Jeff Colyer Republican  http://www.brownback.com 
Governor
Andrew P. Gray and Stacey Governor and Lt.
Libertarian  http://kansasproud.com/
Davis Governor
Kenneth W. Cannon and Daniel Governor and Lt.
Reform  http://www.kencannon.net/
J. Faubion Governor

Chris Biggs Secretary of State  Democratic  http://www.biggsforkansas.com 

October 2010, page 3 The Costume (not Tea) Party Issue

Kris Kobach Secretary of State  Republican  http://www.kriskobach.com 

Phillip Horatio Lucas Secretary of State  Libertarian  xeno_freedom2@yahoo.com 

Derek Langseth Secretary of State  Reform  (316) 573-3231 

Steve Six Attorney General  Democratic  http://www.stevesix.com 

Derek Schmidt Attorney General  Republican  http://www.derekschmidt.org 

Dennis Hawver Attorney General  Libertarian  hawverlaw@embarqmail.com 

Dennis McKinney State Treasurer  Democratic  http://www.dennismckinney.org 

Ron Estes State Treasurer  Republican  kansansforestes@cox.net 

Commissioner of
Sandy Praeger Republican  unopposed - http://www.sandypraeger.org/
Insurance 

Douglas County Specific Races

10th District State

Tony Brown Democratic  http://www.tonybrownforkansas.org 
House
10th District State
Terri Lois Gregory Republican  http://www.gregoryforksrep.com 
House
38th District State
Roberta Eveslage Democratic  reveslage@kc.rr.com 
House
38th District State
Anthony R. Brown Republican  http://www.repanthonybrown.com 
House
44th District State
Barbara W. Ballard Democratic  unopposed - abal162954@aol.com
House
45th District State
Linda Robinson Democratic  http://www.robinsonforkansas.com 
House
45th District State
Tom Sloan Republican  http://tomsloan.org/
House
46th District State
Paul Davis Democratic  unopposed - pauldavis@sunflower.com
House
53rd District State
Ann E. Mah Democratic  http://www.annmah.org 
House
53rd District State
L.W. Abney Republican  abneylw@aol.com
House
October 2010, page 4 The Costume (not Tea) Party Issue
 59th District State
Blossom W. Barth Democratic  blossom1934@hotmail.com
House
59th District State
William R. Prescott Republican  wrprescott@yahoo.com 
House
District 1 State
Janet Waugh Board of Educa- Democratic  http://www.janetwaugh.com 
tion 
District 1 State
http://1stdistrictsboewilliedove.com/meetwil
Willie Dove Board of Educa- Republican 
lie.html
tion 
District 1 County
Mike Gaughan Democratic (785) 856-1662
Commissioner
District 1 County
Arch Naramore Republican arch@sunflower.com
Commissioner

Township Clerks

Jim Baldwin Clinton Republican unopposed

Eugene Westerhouse Eudora Republican unopposed

Randy Hartford Grant Republican unopposed - rjhartford@aol.com

Jeanne Waisner Kanwaka Republican unopposed

Michael Stewart Lecompton Republican unopposed - mstewart5@sunflower.com

Frank Rhodes Marion Republican unopposed

Janet (Jan) Ballinger Palmyra Republican unopposed - jan.ballinger@mchsi.com

Gerald Dwyer Wakarusa Democratic unopposed

Jerry Smith Willow Springs Republican unopposed

October 2010, page 5 The Costume (not Tea) Party Issue

 Willow Springs Township Board LWVL-DC Board Meeting
September 2010 regular meeting
August 12, 2010


Charles Wintermantle, Trustee, called the PRESENT: Brooke Goc, President; Milton Scott, Vice-
meeting to order at 7:30 in the Township Hall.  Pre- President; Elinor Tourtellot, Secretary; Marjorie Cole,
sent in addition were Jerry Smith, Clerk; Suzanne Ev- Treasurer; Directors: James Dunn, Lee Ann Duver, Bob
inger, Treasurer; Tim Kohler, Road Maintenance; Lyle Duver, Gary Hale, Kay Hale, Aline Hoey, Chris Lempa Car-
Bowlin, Volunteer Fire Chief; Brandom Masur, Fire De- rie Lindsey, and Marguerite Lohrenz.
partment Training Chief; Matt Bowlin and your Brooke called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
LWVL-DC observer. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Gary moved and


The minutes of the August meeting Lee Ann seconded the approval of the agenda.
were approved as read by Jerry Smith. The motion passed.


Suzanne Evinger’s treasurer’s report
was approved.   The remaining funds total APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Marjorie moved
$101,508 and the fire department’s fund is and Bob seconded the approval of the May and
$28,500. The motion to pay September bills June minutes. The motion passed.
passed (a state requirement).  The budget
TREASURER’S REPORT: Marjorie attached
(prepared by the county) was approved.
the treasurer's report for May, (corrected),


Lyle Bowlin reported that the fire de-
June and July.
partment responded to two calls in August, a


Since July 31, we have given one schol-
power line down and a request for assistance
arship (leaving $100 in the scholarship fund),
from the LeCompton department.
paid our Stucky award to Kelsey Cherland,


The electrical breaker needs replace-
who will attend Claremont-McKenna College
ment with 100 amp.  A local electrician will be
this fall, and received our nation PMP bill for
asked to do the job.
$2851.20. The first quarterly payment is due


 Mr. Breedlove reported that there are
within the next 90 days.
standing dead elms in his road ditch.  If Tim will


We have one new member, Diane H.
break them down, he (Breedlove) will move
Zumwalt.
them to his brush pile for burning when the


Mary Lou's "gentle reminders" have
weather permits.  Agreed.
brought in $1270 in late dues during June and


Discussion of buying as using asphalt
July. A thank you note to Mary Lou is in The
millings to cut dust.  No action taken.
Voter (as well as a reminder to members to


Discussion of moving township meet-
check their labels to see if their dues are in
ings to start at 7:00.  Moved, seconded, passed.
arrears).


Wintermantle congratulated Tim Koh-


Kay moved and Milton seconded ap-
ler as he (Wintermantle) had received written
proval of the Treasurer's report. The motion
appreciation from the post office (mail carri-
passed.
ers) and school bus chair on the excellent road
maintenance. PRESIDENT’S REPORT: Brooke gave a brief, glowing


Tim Kohler asked for purchase of hay bales to account of the LWVUS 90th Convention that she and
line new ditches.  Granted.  Does not need to be top Elinor attended. There will be a more detailed report
animal food quality. in The Voter.


The board went into executive session.










ACTION ITEMS










- Peggy Baker Board Orientation/ABC for a Streamlined League:


The ABC, a pamphlet designed by the LWVUS
Streamlining the League Committee with collabora-
tion and contributions made by leagues to help local
October 2010, page 6 The Costume (not Tea) Party Issue
leagues run efficiently, was distributed to board mem-
We have requested the second grant pay-
bers. Leagues today may need more focused, flexible
and streamlined alternatives to accommodate chang-
ing lifestyles and busy schedules.
Voter Guide - Volunteers are Carrie, Brooke,
Calendar/ Planning: The board discussed major
events for the calendar year and topics for issue
Website - Chris Lempa is updating the web-
meetings.
September: Diversity in the Judiciary event, develop-
Voter Registration/VEC (Voter Education Coa-
ment of a Voter guide
October: Issue meeting on “Voter Participation in
Douglas County”, League Day at the Capitol (Oct.
30, Topeka Public Library)
November: Issue meetings on “The Impact of
Healthcare Reform Law” and “The Coal
Plant: Energy Production in Kansas”
December: Afternoon with the Legislators
January, February: Issue meetings with possi-
ble topics “Impact of the Education Act”,
“Post-election Changes”, “Transportation
Changes”
March: League Day at the Capital (March 3),
Fluker Award Luncheon
April: LWVK 50th State Convention, Emporia;
The LWV will have a space at the
LWV-L/DC Annual Meeting,
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Judiciary Grant Events - The Dole In-
stitute of Politics, co-sponsoring with LWV-L/
The VEC will sponsor two forums for
DC and University of Kansas School of Law,
will host the second event on Thursday, Sep-
tember 30th at 7:30p.m. The event is open to
the public. An invitation only reception will
be held at 6:00 p.m. in the Simons Media
Carrie moved and Chris seconded
Room. Kay is working with Cori Ast concern-
ing event arrangements. At the request of
The Dole Institute, the title of the program is
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00
now "Diversity in the Kansas Judiciary: A Con-
versation with Judge Deanell Tacha". Kay is
- Elinor Tourtellot, Secretary
handling the arrangement with Judge Tacha.
Confirmation letter delivered.
Diane is in charge of the reception invitations
to be mailed on September 1. Kay presented to the
Board the invitation list and a list of those who will
receive event announcements.
Promotion and announcements of the event
will be the responsibility of the Dole Institute, LWV-L/
DC and KU School of Law.
October 2010, page 7
ment. The League will be responsible for a portion of
the reception expenses.
Lee Ann and Caleb.
site and updating our web presence.
lition) - Lee Ann Duver, who represents our league at
the VEC meetings, reported that the VEC voted to
support the position that would allow the City of
Lawrence to return to the prior system of
having primary elections if there are less than
ten candidates. The VEC will send a letter to
all city commissioners and the city manager.
Carrie moved and Marjorie seconded to con-
sult with LWV experts, determine if the
League's position is consistent with the VEC,
and provide feedback to Board members.
The Board will decide via email to add the
League's name to the VEC letter or not. The
motion passed.
Farmers Market for Voter Registration on
Saturday mornings from September 18-
October 16. VEC will invite candidates to
meet the public.
races for House Districts 38, 10, 45, 53. The
second event will include the County Com-
mission race and those running for the school
board and library.
adjournment of the meeting. The motion
passed.
p.m.
Land Use Committee Report
The Land Use Committee met on September 18 in
the Community Meeting Room at the Merc at 7:00
PM.  We discussed the issues on the Planning Com-
mission (PC) Agenda for September, and decided to
send one letter to the PC regarding the Northeast
Sector Plan. The PC Agenda was so short and had so
many deferrals that it required only one meeting,
The Costume (not Tea) Party Issue
scheduled for Monday, Sept. 20, instead of the usual
second meeting on the following Wednesday.  How-
ever, there were important issues which we discussed
in this agenda, some on which we had sent letters in
previous months.
           One of the Agenda Items discussed was on the
pending Text Amendment to the Land Development
Code regarding Boarding Houses.  We had sent a let-
ter on this in previous months, mainly voicing our
concern on avoiding anything that would give prefer-
ential treatment to the conversion of single family
structures to Boarding House use.  There are already
many of these in the Oread Neighborhood and their
effect on an area has a much greater impact to that of
any other type of multiple family structure because of
their use as unsupervised  “party houses.”  OUT-
COME: the PC again de-
ferred this by a vote of 7 to
2.
      Another of the Agenda
Items discussed was a re-
quest for the de-annexation
of 2.4 acres of land in North
Lawrence.  This area is es-
sentially in the county, but
has an occupied single family
house on it.  The owner originally requested annexa-
tion in order to obtain water.  He never received city
water, so he hooked onto a rural water district
instead.  The new owner requested to be de-annexed
because of the complications he had encountered by
being in the city.  The staff recommended denial, or,
alternatively, de-annexation with an annexation
agreement.  OUTCOME: the PC recommended the
de-annexation with the agreement.
           A third Item discussed was the proposed Code
text amendment (TA) to allow hotels and motels in
the Industrial-Business Park (IBP) Zoning District.  This
was being reheard, having been sent back to them by
the City Commission with instructions for the PC to
amend the text amendment to eliminate lounges
(bars) and nightclubs as accessory uses to the hotels
and motels. We had sent an earlier letter pointing out
the need to place controls on hotels and motels in
the IBP District, but our request was for even more
restrictive measures, primarily to preserve the IBP
District for industrial use. OUTCOME: the PC de-
ferred this text amendment.
October 2010, page 8
           The one letter we sent was on Agenda Item 4,
approval of the Northeast Sector Plan and its adop-
tion into Chapter 14 of Horizon 2020. This chapter
incorporates all adopted area and sector plans into
our comprehensive plan (CP). These area plans in-
clude specific future land use maps. The Northeast
Sector Plan includes the whole of Grant Township
north of the Kansas River.  An unresolved question to
be heard at this meeting was on how to locate indus-
trial uses in this area while at the same time preserve
Class I and II Soils. These two rich and irreplaceable
soil types are prevalent in the Northeast Area and
Kaw River Valley, but rare elsewhere. An important
goal of Horizon 2020 is to preserve these soils. Two
choices were given in the Staff Report: (1) “Option
#1" was the recommendation to “encourage” areas
having Class I and II soils in
industrially designated areas
on the Northeast Sector
Plan Future Land Use Map
to be used for Agr i-
Industrial uses that would
preserve these soils.  How-
ever this type of use was
not classified as a specific
permitted use.  (2) “Option
#2" was to include Agri-Industrial as one permitted
use among all industrial districts and to require each
development in all industrial districts to have half of
their land set aside and preserved if in Class I and
Class II soils. In both options the Land Use Map desig-
nates where industrial use is recommended.  We
pointed out in our letter that neither option was a
good choice for preserving Class I and II Soils because
Option #1 was strictly voluntary and Option #2 had
the potential for creating serious problems with pollu-
tion and drainage, especially for neighboring land.
OUTCOME: Option #1 was chosen to incorporate
into the Northeast Sector Plan and the Plan was offi-
cially recommended for adoption
News from LWV-US
Washington, DC – The League of Women Voters of
the U.S. issued the following statement by national
League President Elisabeth MacNamara on the ob-
structionism that prevented the Senate from begin-
ning debate on the DISCLOSE Act today. The DIS-
CLOSE Act aims to restore transparency to U.S. elec-
The Costume (not Tea) Party Issue
tions after the Supreme Court’s Citizens United deci- ments from pumping secret money into our elections.


sion.

“How can individual voters compete with or-


“Voters lost and special interests won today.  ganizations that not only have vested interests in
It is sad to see Senators cling to partisanship and ob- Washington, but millions of dollars to make sure
structionism once again, instead of working together those interests are protected? “The bottom line is that
to find a middle ground on the DISCLOSE Act. This is voters deserve to know who is paying for election
a failure for which voters will have to pay this No- advertising. This is not only common sense – it is cru-
vember and in elections to come.  We were particu- cial if voters are to remain the cornerstone of our
larly disappointed that Senators Brown, Snowe and democracy.
Collins, each of whom understands the importance of

“We would like to know what these oppo-
reform and of fair elections, chose not to stand up for nents have to fear from disclosure of election adver-
their beliefs.  tising. Furthermore, what is to prevent them from fal-


“In the wake of Citizens United, the DIS- ling victim to the deceitful advertising which they are
CLOSE Act is essential. It requires CEOs to stand by refusing to bring into the sunlight?
their ads, and exposes special interest groups behind

“The League will continue to fight for en-
last-minute attacks. It stops manipulation of elections hanced disclosure.  Our democracy belongs to the
by fly-by-night hit groups, and prevents U.S. corpora- voters -- not special interests.”
tions controlled by foreign –or even hostile– govern-

Party for a Good Cause - Good Cause for a Party: Join the League!
Joining at the local level automatically makes you a member of the State and National Leagues. Dues for
LWV Lawrence-Douglas County are $50 for a single membership and $75 for a household membership
(two members sharing one mailing address). Dues are used to cover our per-member-payments to LWV-
Kansas and LWV-US. Money we raise ourselves covers all local expenses. The League year begins April 1
and ends March 31.. The date listed above your name on the address label on your VOTER is the date
through which your dues have been paid.
PLEASE FILL IN THE FORM BELOW AND RETURN TO:
Membership Chair, LWV L-DC, P.O. Box 1072, Lawrence KS 66044
✁-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE PRINT

Date _______________ _____ Joining _____ Renewing through March 31, 2011

____ Individual Membership ($50) _____ Household Membership ($75)

____ Student Membership ($20) - University student enrolled full or part time in an accredited institution
Student membership includes email-only newsletter, please give an email address.

I have enclosed a contribution of $ ______________ to help sponsor a League membership.

Name(s) ___________________________________________________________________________

Address ___________________________________________________________________________

Telephone ________________________ Email ____________________________________________

Would you like to be added to the LWV l-DC email listserv? Yes No
Would you prefer your VOTER printed and mailed, or emailed? Printed Emailed
(Emailed VOTERS are delivered sooner and include live links to the League website and other interesting places!)

October 2010, page 9 The Costume (not Tea) Party Issue