The Johnson County, Kansas NAACP forum held in Shawnee, Kansas offered candidates a chance to discuss issues of social justice and economics with their communities. Questions were provided to the candidates days in advance, and candidates had time to think about what they would want to communicate to the group present.
The panel, which included a mix of Republican and Democratic candidates, offered various views on issues including body cameras, minimum wage and Medicaid expansion. Sparring between candidates wasn’t out in the open, but two candidates pressed home the issue that there is a significant difference between the Republican and Democratic brand this year — and for Republican Eric Jenkins, that was just too much.
As Logan Heley, Democratic candidate for Senate District 21 summed up his answer on voting right access in Kansas, he tossed out a key point: the Republican brand in Kansas remains defined by Governor Sam Brownback, and that is in part why we need more elected Democratic elected in the state house. As Heley summed up his point, involving having a strong opposition in the state house, Jenkins became noticeably uncomfortable.
Already unhappy, Jenkins was apparently unprepared for Angeliina Lawson, candidate for house district 39’s point, where she linked Trump, Brownback and Kris Kobach and offered this summary: that saying you weren't supporting the policies of Kobach & Trump wasn’t enough, and that moderate Republicans must actively denounce these policies.
Republican candidate Eric Jenkins had heard enough. Standing up from the table he announced: “This is a damn Democratic infomercial” and stormed out of the room. His opponent, Cindy Neighbor sat behind him as Eric Jenkins said loudly he wouldn’t tolerate such treatment and left the room.
As Jenkins exited to the vestibule, NAACP members encouraged him that he should “get back in there and mix it up if that’s what you believe”.
Jenkins decided that yes, in fact, that is what he was prepared to do, get back in the room and mix it up.
While Jenkins offered his opinions, including a defense of Kobach’s voter registration policies “illegals don’t belong here”, Senate Candidate Heley and house candidate Lawson continued to wind him up, throwing out barbs regarding the realities of the Republican brand.
In one of the final questions before the group, Jenkins explained that he doesn't believe in a minimum wage — that there is a “natural minimum wage” and that it isn’t the government’s job to create a wage. He goes on to highlight that other people have student loan debt because they didn’t do what he did — work multiple jobs on his way through college.
Small facts — like the difference in tuition cost from the past to today — don’t seem to matter to Jenkins as a candidate. Instead, he steamrolled ahead with the assertion that minimum wage jobs aren’t designed for people to work them longterm, and that they should force people to go find better jobs.
Megan England, who spoke after Jenkins on this question, offered her thoughts:
When was the last time someone went to McDonalds in the middle of a school day? These are single mothers who are there at the window. They are feeding their family.
Meeting with constituents after the meeting, England continued:
We shouldn’t belittle them for needing a living wage
No Republican present responded to Heley & Lawson’s assertion that the Republican party brand was damaged and that just being a no vote wasn’t enough to earn the support of the NAACP.
For Democratic house candidate Cindy Neighbor, though, the short temper and childish temper tantrum of her opponent in an open house race may be viewed as a sign that Jenkins may not have the temperament to serve in the state house. Neither Lawson or Heley accused anyone present of racism or being a hard line conservative, they instead focused on what are the responsibilities of moderates hoping to clean up the party brand.
For More About Cindy Neighbor: www.cindyneighbor.com
For More About Logan Heley: www.loganheley.com
For More About Angeliina Lawson: www.facebook.com/...
For More About Megan England: meganengland.com
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