As much attention as Gov. Laura Kelly’s political action committee received for its statehouse endorsements, the PAC’s role in other races has been overlooked.
As the governor’s Middle of the Road PAC endorsed legislative candidates, it also was quietly endorsing candidates in races for local office such as district attorney, county treasurer and sheriff.
The PAC has endorsed Democratic district attorney candidate Vanessa Riebli in Johnson County over Republican incumbent Steve Howe.
The PAC is backing Democratic Prairie Village Police Chief Byron Roberson over Republican Doug Bedford for Johnson County sheriff and Democrat Susan Duffy over Republican Angus Tucker for Shawnee County treasurer.
The PAC also endorsed Democrat Dakota Loomis – the son of the late political scientist Burdett Loomis – for Douglas County district attorney over Republican Mike Warner.
“What happens at the local level is just as important as the state level,” said Will Lawrence, senior adviser to the Middle of the Road PAC.
“That’s why Gov. Kelly’s Middle of the Road PAC endorses commonsense candidates who will put politics aside and do what’s in the best interest of the people they represent – like funding schools, cutting taxes, and lowering the cost of living,” he said in a statement.
The governor’s endorsements in local races were made in three counties that she carried by wide margins in 2022. She won with 59% of the vote in Johnson County, 60% of the vote in Shawnee County and 76% of the vote in Douglas County.
A couple of the Republican candidates were perplexed by the governor’s decision to endorse in local races.
“The governor’s contrarian attempt to influence this race is puzzling at best,” Howe said in a statement.
“My pledge from day one as Johnson County District Attorney is that my office prioritizes public safety, not politics,” Howe said.
“I have worked with legislators on bi-partisan legislation to pass stronger penalties for both elder abuse and for those involved in crimes related to fentanyl.
“Politics should not have a place at the table with public safety, as the rule of law should be applied fairly and equally to ensure justice is achieved and our communities are safe,” he said.
Riebli said that the governor understands that public safety is not partisan.
“When we are discussing public safety and criminal justice, we have to check our politics at the door and focus on what’s best for our families and our communities,” Riebli said in a statement.
“I’m honored to have her endorsement in this important race, and I look forward to working with her as the next district attorney for Johnson County.”
Bedford, the Johnson County sheriff’s candidate, said Kelly’s endorsement should be a reminder of the “partisan ties” that influence Roberson’s campaign.
Bedford said he has support from local leaders such as former Overland Park Mayor and Johnson County Chairman Ed Eilert, former Johnson County Sheriffs Frank Denning and Currie Myers, as well as more than 140 former Johnson County sheriff’s deputies, local chiefs of police, and retired military member.
“Gov. Kelly is, of course, free to support any candidate she chooses, but the role of sheriff is about serving the specific needs of Johnson County, not furthering state-level political agendas,” Bedford said in a statement.
“This race is ultimately about ensuring our community is safe, our local concerns are addressed, and our law enforcement operates with integrity and accountability.
“I’m focused on those priorities and on representing the people of Johnson County, not on engaging in partisan politics,” he said.
In an interview, Roberson said he was honored to have the governor’s support. He believes the governor’s support will help him in his bid for sheriff.
“If this was two cycles ago maybe not much,” Roberson said in assessing the endorsement.
“But I think in this election right here, this should be a huge endorsement for me in Johnson County at this stage,” he said.
Kelly’s local endorsements make sense to some because the offices can transcend the county depending on how they’re used as a platform for the elected official.
“These races are only local in name,” said Cole Robinson, executive director of the Johnson County Democratic Party.
Robinson points out that the sheriff and the district attorney in Johnson County represent a large swath of the state’s 2.9 million people – about 21%, to be exact.
“Those are very important positions,” Robinson said. “It’s a lot different than endorsing in the Miami County sheriff’s race or district attorney race.
“These are real partners that have a large platform and a large ability to have a say in a lot of things,” he said.
“They are powerful positions where somebody can choose to use them in that way and people will listen to them because they are a countywide officeholder of the largest and fastest growing and most affluent county in Kansas,” he said.
Stephanie Sharp, a moderate Republican political strategist, said Kelly’s involvement in local Johnson County race elevates all Democratic candidates, especially in a county where there are so many legislative seats up for grabs and the GOP supermajority in the Legislature could be most at risk.
“It makes strategic sense,” Sharp said. “It’s a sheer population play to get Democratic candidates more visible and elected in one of the state’s largest population centers.”
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