Monthly News & Updates

November 14, 2023

Election Results

Well, this is not the column I had hoped to write or you had hoped to read. The 2023 election clearly did not have the outcome we needed. However, there are some bright spots, and I do not want to take away from these candidates' wins!

DeSoto School Board - Chad Philhour

Gardner/Edgerton School Board - Russell Ellis and Jeff Miller

Spring Hill School Board - Doug Hull, Jon Chitwood, and Anna Baker

Spring Hill City Council - Kristin Feeback and Chip VanHouden

Shawnee City Council - Kurt Knappen

Prairie Village City Council - Terry OToole, Lori Sharp, Tyler Agniel, and Nick Reddell

Overland Park City Council - Gregg Reiss

Olathe City Council - Robyn Essex

Olathe Mayor - John Bacon

Mission Hills - Greg Davidson and Andrew Weed

Lenexa City Council - Mark Charlton

Leawood Mayor - Marc Elkins

Lake Quivira Mayor - Brady Lilja

Lake Quivira City Council - Chip Zimmer

Gardner City Council - Kacy Deaton and Steven McNeer

Fairway City Council - Joseph Levin

Edgerton City Council - Clay Longanecker and Ron Conus

DeSoto City Council - Victoria McMoran and Danny Lane

At the time of this writing, we are still waiting on the outcomes of four races; two in Gardner, one in Prairie Village, and one JCCC Board of Trustees race.

We will share data regarding the election on Wednesday, November 29th, at the JCRP office at 7:00 pm. It will take about 30 minutes.

HUGE Thanks to Carl at Damage Hitter next door for opening his doors and sharing his golf simulator during our Election Night Watch Party! We are lucky to have such a great neighbor! If you know a young person who could benefit from some batting lessons, check out Damage Hitter here.

November Volunteers

Walking, calling, texting, cleaning, party planning...you did it all! At least four volunteers had their phone companies alerted due to the volume of people they managed to call and text!

We are all volunteers at the JCRP, and we are so grateful for all of you who stood in the gap for candidates!

Appreciation Night

November 30th

Volunteers and candidates are invited to the JCRP office on Thursday, November 30th. We want to show our appreciation for all that you have done over the past year! Whether you ran for office, served on a committee, worked in the office, helped with renovation, made phone calls or texts, or walked precincts not your own... we want to celebrate you!

Please join us on November 30th at 7:00 pm for an evening of fellowship.

NOVEMBER ELEPHANT CLUB

This month, our newsletter came late, and Elephant Club came early.

We will not have Elephant Club in December. Please take the extra time with your family. We will reconvene on Tuesday, January 16th, 2024, and I will announce our speaker next month.

Elephant Club memberships are $100. The member lunch price is $25, and guests are $35. Reservations are requested by the Friday before in order to give a headcount to the caterer. Please make your reservation by the Saturday prior to our meeting.

The JCRP held its Election Night Watch Party at the office. It was a full house, and we were glad to have the outdoor area and the space next door.

IMPORTANT DATES!

November 16: Starlight Women's Club, 6:30p @ the VFW on Pflumm in Lenexa

November 23: HAPPY THANKGIVING!

November 27: NEJCC, 5:30p @ the JCRP office

November 28: Young Republicans @ the JCRP office 6:30pm

November 29: What Happened? Election 2023 Download, 7:00p JCRP

November 30: Volunteer/Candidate Appreciation Event, 7:00p JCRP office

November 30 - "Sound of Freedom" see details below. Contact Adrienne Foster at alfoster677@gmail.com for tickets.

Details on events can be found on our webpage at www.jcrpks.org.

From Commissioner Charlotte O'Hara

Billable Hours vs. Public Service

In the last few weeks, the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners has been discussing the 2024 Calendar. In the study session on the subject, Chairman Kelly pressed the idea of reducing the number of meetings nearly 50% from 46 to 26, emphasizing the need to be more efficient with the board’s and staff’s time.

46 meetings a year to 26? That is Chairman Kelly’s vision for his time commitment to Johnson County?

I countered that our responsibility of overseeing the $1.79 billion budget for Johnson County government requires our current weekly meetings. Biweekly meetings would send the message that county staff is running the show and the elected board is superfluous.

Perhaps it is difficult for Chairman Kelly to juggle his many commitments, which include his position as a partner in his law firm, Husch Blackwell. But shortchanging his elected position by reducing the number of BOCC meetings by nearly 50% is not the answer.

Chairman Kelly’s other strategy in his drive for time efficiency? Loading up the consent agenda. This tactic takes items from the action agenda and places them on the consent agenda, undercutting transparency for the public. There is no discussion on consent agenda items for our BOCC board meetings.

Every week, I make requests for most of the items to go back on the action agenda, citing the issue of transparency. Watch the first 10 minutes of the archived November 9th agenda review meeting, and you will see Chairman Kelly berating me over and over and over for my requests.

Does our chairman need to reassess his priorities? Public service or private law practice. The need for billable hours must not drive public policy.

This article is from the Nov. 17th Gazette and shared with permission.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!

Precinct People: We have quite a few Precinct Committee vacancies that need to be filled. Be a leader in your neighborhood! Training available.

Volunteers:The office will be closed in December. We will need some new volunteers beginning in January. If you are willing to serve 3 hours per week please call the office at 913-341-8683, and someone will reach out to you.

Your Input Is Needed!

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Paid for by the Johnson County Republican Party, Amy Prater, Treasurer