Columnist Dick Polman notes similarities between the tea partiers and those who backed Ross Perot in 1992. “The tea partiers’ angst is sincere, and their panic is real. But Perot’s populists had similar sentiments, and we all know what happened there,” Polman wrote. He contends that to be successful, the tea party movement needs to be more clearly for something, not just against big government and deficits. “A populist movement needs an affirmative agenda; otherwise, the fire generally tends to flicker out,” he said.
Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh deserves Kansans’ thanks for his solid service during 15 years in his job and remarkable 25 years in the office, where he started as a student intern. Thornburgh, who has resigned to take a sales and marketing job in Olathe, stood firm against the political winds within his own party, including primary challenges from Republicans. His leadership nationally on voting reform and digital services was impressive. What he’s done to enable and promote advance voting and electronic filing for businesses will have lasting impact. Politically, Thornburgh’s resignation potentially changes what already was a competitive contest. If Gov. Mark Parkinson appoints one of the Democrats interested in running for the job, state Sen. Chris Steineger, of Kansas City, Kan., or Securities Commissioner Chris Biggs, that incumbency could help on Election Day.
Good for Sedgwick County and the city of Wichita for working to keep the Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County open for another year. The County Commission will vote Wednesday on providing $120,000 in funding for the center, and the city reportedly may contribute $50,000. The funding wouldn’t address the center’s need for larger, better-suited office space so that social workers, medical personnel, prosecutors, counselors and police can all operate under one roof, thereby reducing the trauma on victims of child abuse and neglect. But the funding buys some time to find a more permanent solution.
Many Wichitans will question whether this is the right time for the city to commit $1.56 million in capital improvement funds over the next two years to help expand Botanica. But the request the Wichita City Council will consider today has been long in the making and comes with an impressive $3.2 million in private matching funds behind it. At this point, the council should not turn its back on either city-owned Botanica or its generous donors, including Barry and Paula Downing. The recession won’t last forever. If the council can get the funds flowing and the earth moving, the new Downing Children’s Garden at Botanica will be around for generations of kids to enjoy.
