The retiring president of the Olathe chapter of the National Education Association is mounting a challenge against House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr.
Kathy Meyer, a Democrat, is retiring after working as an educator for 38 years and will officially transition out of the NEA position this summer.
She’s worked as a teacher in Olathe for 36 years, including stints at Black Bob Elementary and Arbor Creek Elementary schools.
Meyer said she decided to run for the 78th House District because she wants to ensure that education is funded appropriately and that social services are adequately maintained.
She is a supporter of expanding Medicaid.
“I believe that our whole state absolutely needs to expand Medicaid to take care of everyone…and not leave out people,” she said.
She has bachelor’s degree in education from Pittsburg State University and a master’s in education from MidAmerica Nazarene University.
Ryckman is now finishing his fourth term in the Kansas House and could be in a position to seek an unprecedented third term as speaker if re-elected.
Two years ago, Ryckman won re-election by beating Democrat Jason Darby with 55% of the vote. In 2016, he beat Darby with 61% of the vote.
The district is heavily Republican although Gov. Laura Kelly carried the district over Kris Kobach by about 5 percentage points in the 2018 governor’s race.
President Donald Trump won the district with 54% of the vote in 2016. It went for former Gov. Sam Brownback with 56% of the vote in 2014 and Mitt Romney with 63% of the vote in 2012.
Ryckman raised $37,655 last year and had $76,360 in the bank at the end of last year.
