The Wichita City Council has had numerous African-American members and women members over the past few decades, dating back to its Wichita City Commission days. But hard as it is to believe, the council apparently has never had two African-American members at once or three women members at once. At least that’s the recollection of Eagle editorial board members (with help from our archives) and some longtime City Hall watchers we spoke with Monday. So no matter which candidate the council chooses today to replace Mayor Carl Brewer, it will make history. All five of the candidates to take Brewer’s 1st District seat are African-American and well-practiced in either elective office or community activism — Eugene Anderson, Treatha Brown-Foster, Michael Kinard, Lavonta Williams and former council member George Rogers.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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23 Comments
My bet is either Brown-Foster or Williams. It’s all going to depend on whether the council vote is party-line or not; if it is, Foster wins.
What did I miss?? What happened to Mayor Brewer??
It will be Williams.
Have you actually met Foster? Back in 2004, she ran for State Senate against Don Betts. All she did was speak the rightwingnut party line. She never could come up with anything original at candidate forums. Needless to say, she was soundly defeated.
It would be a disaster to have her on the council.
George Rogers Eugene Anderson, or Michael kinard would have my vote..
Michael Kinard needs to just go away. He’s been rejected by the voters every time he’s had a challenged race on the ballot!
Apophis,
Yep, I’ve met Brown-Foster. I agree with your assessment of her. But she’s the only Republican on the list of five, and there are only two Democrats on the Council. If this is a partisan vote, she wins. If the vote is for the most qualified, and most able to serve two terms, Williams wins. Kinard, Rogers, and Anderson all have some pretty significant negatives.
I voted for Betts during his Senate bid. Only because I met him personally and he took the time to talk to me about issues. I’ve never met or heard from Brown-Foster. Tis my district though and am concerned about its representation.
Williams and Brown-Foster are the only two out there actually doing anything for the district or the community. Both work hard at that. Williams is a better fit for the seat. Brown-Foster is too far to the right for the district.
Brown-Foster is actually a Republican, Republican. Although very moderate.
She’s cool and extremely hard working and passionate. She is my choice!
And I live in this vacated district also.
What happened to Mayor Brewer?? Didnt he just BEAT Carlos Mayans for being Mayor?? Used to be the Mayor was also a City Commissioner..
Chas – not any more. Brewer is now Mayor; that is a separate office. Thus his council seat became vacant.
The Council has deadlocked, 3-3, on Brown-Foster v. Williams. I wonder which “R” voted for Williams to force the tie…
Just remember: I called it this morning as either Foster or Williams. The only thing I didn’t consider was the 3-3 split between them.
They’ll be revoting next Tuesday.
It does a disservice to LaVonta Williams to encapsulate this deadlocked vote as caused by party politics. She is registered as an unaffiliated voter. Also, at least one Republican – not sure which Councilmember – is voting with the Mayor and Councilwoman Fearey for Williams.
I wasn’t there, though, and don’t know whether partisan politics were a part of the rhetoric.
It could be caused by the partisanship of members voting for Brown-Foster without William’s lack of party affiliation having anything to do with it.
Brown-Foster is on the board of the Wichita Pachyderm Club and I believe an officer in the county GOP. Skelton’s wife is the president of the Wichita Pachyderm club. Bet we know which way Skelton voted.
Williams is a much better match for the district.
I’d lay even money on Schlapp being the other vote for Williams, along with Fearey and Brewer.
Schlapp? With her connections to Tiahrt?
Kelly,
I don’t think votes for Williams are partisan. I think the ones for Foster are.
Ahh, this is Liberal action at it’s best! The quota system is what we need across America!
I think it’s sad that this whole thing has been so rigged from the beginning, that whoever is selected will be tainted for life.
Should the most qualified candidate be elected to the job?
Or maybe a certain sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnic origin makes the candidate most qualified.
Does veteran’s status matter?
Veteran status don’t count for jack in Kansas. I can attest to that.
Didn’t a new Veteran’s preference law get passed this year?
Sorry, they would need to enforce it to make it actually mean anything.