County officials in Kansas may feel the need to know how to run an effective campaign. But it hardly seems appropriate for their taxpayer-funded time at a Kansas County Officials Association conference at the Hyatt Regency Wichita to include a session Friday titled “How to Run an Effective Campaign,” to include tips on using yard signs, direct mail and door-to-door campaigning. Steve Kearney, executive vice president of the KCOA, told the Hutchinson News, “It’ll just be some very basic stuff that anyone could avail themselves of.”
But Randall Allen, executive director of the Kansas Association of Counties, said: “I would be appalled if we had something like that at our conference.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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13 Comments
There is no reason for this to be part of a meeting for county officials. No matter how simple the talk might be. If you are not meeting on issues that are important to the people then you should not be meeting and wasting taxpayer’s money.
It should be illegal to spend taxpayer’s money and time on campaigns for your office.
Maybe it should be illegal for county officials to have a “trade association” that is funded by taxpayer dollars. I wonder if this “trade association” lobbies and is involved in political campaigns.
Using county funds for a trip to a conference to learn how to take advantage of incumbency?
How very Kansas of you….
I’m waiting for the so-called “conservatives” around here to start decrying this seminar.
Oh wait, the news article linked to says it’s being organized by Republican officials.
Nevermind.
IOKIYAAR
Tom:
“Organized by Republicans?”
Where? Having read the article, I find no evidence of such partisan organization.
Further, given that the organization is made up of elected officials, I’m not surprised that such an offering is available; it would suit the needs of the members. Whether it’s entirely appropriate is another matter. On the public’s dime, no, it’s not appropriate. But it’s a bi-partisan gaffe. KCOA is a trade/professional organization, not a partisan one, and yes, I’m sure they lobby, just as KCDAA does.
Yeah Tom. I love how they whine about public spending for lobbying when it is about education.
But when it comes to the holy alter of incumbency?
They cant get to the trough, er, alter, fast enough!
County elected officials are the kings of their little fiefdoms, and they brook no challenges.
I mean, WTF would happen to Kansas if the REGISTER OF DEEDS was a democrat….
GMC,
“Jeff Wagaman, assistant state treasurer, emphasized that he would be using personal time to appear at the KCOA conference and present the session on campaigns.
Wagaman has worked in Republican campaigns, including successful bids by State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins and former Gov. Bill Graves.”
Which says, Tom, that Mr. Wagaman 1) was using personal time to speak, not his paid time, and 2) he had experience in running successful campaigns. In Kansas, it’s not a surprise that those were Republican campaigns, I’m sure you’d agree.
That does not translate to “organized by Republican officials.” I know you feel the need to offer a gratuitous cheap shot whenever possible, but . . .
GMC,
He’s a Republican state official. He’s presenting a seminar on campaigning. It’s not a cheap shot, it’s _in the article_.
Tom:
He’s presenting because he has experience on the subject. And he’s presenting to a bi-partisan organization, organized by it’s director apparantly at the wishes of the members – of both parties.
That’s “organized by Republican officials” only because you choose to call it that. It’s a reflection of the kind of mindless partisanship you, of all people, should know is counterproductive.
Yes, it’s a cheap shot. But it’s no less cheap than your shot at Hank yesterday. You’re better than that, Tom. KFG and the Capn are rubbing off on you, I’m afraid.
Hey, the only job these elected officials care about is getting re-elected. So, they pay themselves with taxpayer money..so why not use taxpayer money to learn how to get re-elected?
GMC,
The question isn’t why he’s presenting, it’s why is this being presented at all? And where is the outrage of the so-called “conservatives” on this blog, who decry every waste of taxpayer dollars on such things as educating our children?
Is educating county commissioners, who are attending this conference at taxpayer expense, on how to win campaigns more important that educating our kids?
What would the discussion on this thread look like if it were something the Governor’s office was doing, and if it were the Governor’s former campaign staffer/current administration staffer who was giving this seminar?
IMO, it’s completely inappropriate to be holding campaign trainings at a conference such as this. The organizers can twist and spin all they want. The fact is, if the attendees are at this nakedly political seminar, they _aren’t_ at the concurrent seminars on things like filling potholes, understanding STAR bonds, recruiting business, etc.
In any event, I doubt _very_ seriously there will be many, if any at all, Democrats in attendance at a campaign training session run by Republicans. It’s hard enough in this state to get the moderate Republicans to talk to the moderate Democrats _behind_ the scenes, let alone have them be seen in public together. This I know from direct personal experience. It’s not a cheap shot, it’s just an honest assessment of how the system “works”