No, Beattie’s run is not a lark

Robert Beattie, Democratic candidate for secretary of state, has done many things in his life — author, lawyer, professor, firefighter-medic — not one of which is holding public office. We asked him about the possibility that the public might view his late decision to run as a lark, despite three other tries for local and state office several decades ago. Beattie said he’s been involved in campaigns since 1972 and views it as a plus that he’s not a career politician. And on the subject of public perception, he recounted how, according to Wichita Police Lt. Ken Landwehr, Beattie’s was the most reported name to the BTK tip line in 2004: “Had the tip line been a vote, the public would have elected me as BTK,” Beattie said.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

4 Comments

  1. kelly
    Posted July 17, 2006 at 8:30 am | Permalink

    Beattie has been involved in Democratic politics for years, and is acutely aware of how important the office of Secretary of State is going to become when the Republican-controlled Congress – and Tiahrt – vote to allow the 1965 Voting Rights Act to expire. Responsibility for ensuring fair and accurate elections will then fall upon the states, and neither Ron Thornburgh nor – shudder – Kay O’Connor can be trusted to regulate what Election Commissioners choose to do. Witness what Sedg. Cty. Election Commish Bill Gale has taken upon himself to do with vastly reducing our polling places this year. Thornburgh has shown no interest in 12 years to tighten up regulations on Election Commissioners, and doesn’t deserve another chance to do his duty. Beattie wants to make the Secretary of State office nonpartisan – which is long overdue. See his website BeattieforKansas.com.

  2. Darwin'sDisciple
    Posted July 17, 2006 at 9:02 am | Permalink

    Isn’t there also a Democratic challenger for the primary? Anyone know anything about that person?

  3. Heywood Jabuzzoff
    Posted July 17, 2006 at 9:22 am | Permalink

    Yes, he’s from Overland Park or thereabouts . . . that’s why I want to support our hometown candidate.

    Let’s get some of the representation we deserve as the state’s largest city . . .

  4. Dennis
    Posted July 17, 2006 at 11:36 am | Permalink

    Heywood, good to have another Click and Clack listener aboard.I have muttered for years that Wichita could be the power in the Legislature if our local legislators would band together. But they are more interested in their personal power bases than helping the city. Hell, most of them won’t even talk with one another. It would be a joke, if it was funny.