This wasn’t your typical Democratic Party meeting. Whether you meet in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska, many Democratic party meetings have a tendency to skew older, white, and and are motivated by anger toward Republicans. In Finney County, Kansas, however, Thursday night’s meeting was far different. The majority of the audience was young, young Latino community members attended, and the discussion wasn’t centered around Republicans, but what message they needed to put into the community to change the discussion.
With three nearby Southwest Kansas counties represented, there were quite a few things to discuss.
What issues are most important? While many offered suggestions, the younger voices in the crowd made their points clear: ‘Why is no one talking about worker safety & whether or not people are having their overtime stolen from them?’
Like most southwest Kansas communities, Finney county is predominantly latino, with workers paid not significantly more than the minimum wage for a difficult job. The meat packing industry in Garden City took off several years ago, and in a paper published by the University of Kansas, professor Donald D. Stull referred to it as a “Harvest of Change”.
www.ipsr.ku.edu/...
Garden City’s schools dramatically reflect this demographic transition. Hispanics now make up over two-thirds of the school district’s pupils, while non-Hispanic whites have declined to a quarter of the student population. Yet broad census categories, such as Hispanic, mask the human tapestry that Garden City has become. The Hispanics enumerated in 1980 were Mexican Americans, with a deep history in the town (Ávila (1997). The label “Hispanic” now encompasses not only these established residents, but new immigrants from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Cuba
For all of the Demographic changes, though, the Democratic Party hasn’t managed to capitalize — at least not yet.
Nancy O’Dell, a new resident and Mexican-American relocated to nearby Scott County for her husband, a rancher.
I think there are obstacles. But I think there is a lot of opportunity if we talk to people about things they care about. I’m a native Spanish speaker, and I think it will just take work.
O’Dell, a new mother of a 1 year old, told the group that she hopes they stay active and work hard, offering to return again to help the Democratic Party host a Cinco De Mayo event of their own. “We need to start planning now if we want to respect the event.”
While many attendees wanted a sharper message on wages, justice and worker safety, an large contingent noted that one of the biggest problems they face may be the way in which elections are run in Southwest Kansas entirely.
The Commanche line, noted a few, was seen as a big factor. Dodge City, a nearby community more than 60% Latino had no members of the Latino community elected to city offices. How could this happen?
The Commanche line, a road that divides Dodge City between North and South did more than provide a path through town. “North of Commanche there is a golf course, business, and nice homes held by white members of the community. South of Commanche? Almost entirely Latino.”
Driving through Dodge City this afternoon, the divide was clear; north of Commanche there were new walking paths, bike paths, manicured lawns and beautiful sidewalks. South of Commanche? Beyond the need of sidewalk repairs, no noticable bike paths and obviously less upscale homes, the item that would be easy to miss: south of Commanche, there are no polling places.
In order to vote in Dodge City, all residents must attend a polling place at the Dodge City Civic center, available here: goo.gl/… “You’re asking a lot of people to go vote in Whiteville” said a young attendee. “That isn’t necessarily comfortable.” As a result, all of the elected officials within Dodge City? They all come from the lower population, lower density — but far better maintained area of town, north of the Commanche line.
“One of the reasons persons of color don’t vote here (referring in this case, I believe to Garden City), is that it isn’t always comfortable to do so. People feel awkward going to neighborhoods where they don’t normally go.”
As a result, Latino turnout has been a struggle. “It’s pretty important that we figure out a way to make it possible and easier for a lot of these workers to vote,” Followed up Dunlap, his sentiment was echoed by other residents, “We just have to talk to them about the issues they want to vote for, that’s key.”
With two nearby communities facing pressures around the viability of hospitals, the commitment to try and win back their districts, or to make a case for them was real.
“I’m sick of Western Kansas being blamed for all the conservatives. We didn’t have a lot of support or candidates, but all of us worked hard 2014. Don’t write us off or make jokes about us. I’m not prepared to let Republicans run me off from my home.”
That morning in Wichita, Lee Kinch, Democratic Party chair reaffirmed to me the intent of the party: “It’s hard to be a good Democrat there. We need to show them a lot of support, that’s what I believe.” Kinch, who has been vocal in his commitment to become “a party of action”, reflects an energized and motivated Democratic Party that many in the state haven’t seen for a while. At 76 years old, you wouldn’t anticipate a state chair to take as hands on interest in the growth of the party, but for Kinch, “This means a lot to me.”
For Southwest Kansas Democratic party members, there is hope that the state party has their back. “I want to see a Democrat win here.”
And from 6:30PM, to 10:30PM, the Finney County Democratic Party stayed until the restaurant closed down, intent on finding the candidate and issues that can bring them a win, and energized by the support of a state party interested in helping.
Note: On Sunday, I’ll be writing up the second portion of this trip, focusing on the hospital and healthcare in western Kansas, specifically Johnson City and Hamiliton County (Syracuse). Tomorrow, please look for Nuts & Bolts guide, where we will discuss how groups like the Finney County Democrats work to make the most of a local event.
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