Kim Zito’s race for the Kansas House of Representatives In Manhattan and Riley County’s 67th District should be on the priority list of every progressive activist everywhere. At least that is the opinion of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. The DLCC is the U.S. Democratic Party organization that works to elect Democrats to state legislatures. It has made Zito’s a “Spotlight Race.”
Zito explains her candidacy:
“Democracy simply doesn’t work when people aren’t given choices.
“We each have a responsibility to fulfill our civic duties. This comes in the form of an infinite number of roles. Raising kids who will break pernicious cycles. Teaching. Volunteering. Voting.
“I believe we deserve a choice. We deserve a choice when it comes to who will represent the 25,000 Manhattan residents in District 67.
“I am not interested in a political career that lasts for decades. I am not interested in wielding power. I am not interested in pretending to do something.
“I am doing this to take a stand. To say to the bullies in our legislature: NO MORE! To find solutions, not manufacture monstrosities. To help Kansans, not browbeat folks into submission.”
Most activists are aware that a State Constitutional Amendment eviscerating reproductive choice was on Kansas’ August 2 primary election ballot. The proposed Amendment received only Republican votes in garnering the two-thirds vote of House Members required for submission to voters. Had there been just three more Democrats in the 125 Member House, there would have been enough Democrats to stop it. Looking ahead to next time, Zito will be one of those three.
Please contribute whatever you can.
APPENDIX
From a Zito campaign flyer:
“We could’ve and should’ve eliminated the food tax. My family’s average grocery bill is $200 a week. Getting rid of the tax could buy us two more whole chickens in that same visit to the grocery store - that’s four extra meals that week.”
So. No apologies to Herbert Hoover. Two chickens in every pot.