To Hutchinson, with love

Back before the 2016 election, Patsy Terrell and I met for dinner, as we often did. She’d always get there first, and have a glass of water and an extra glass of ice waiting for me because she knew how much I like to chew ice.

I had been approached by both Republicans and Democrats in Topeka to run for the 102nd District House seat - something I’ve always been happy about. I kicked it around for awhile, but wasn’t sure it was the right time in my life to take on such an arduous task. The Democrats asked Patsy if she’d run. We talked it over. She said if I was going to run, she wouldn’t, but if I wasn’t going to run, she wanted to.

I told her that she should do it. That the time wasn’t right for me. She ran and won and served in the 2017 legislative session that culminated with a veto override of then Gov. Brownback’s tax experiment.

That was also the night that she passed away.

I got a text from her late at night so excited about the historic moment. I’ve carried a story in my mind that Patsy died in her proudest and happiest moment. That she had reached the peak of self-actualization and decided to stay in that moment forever. Patsy loved a good story, and I think she’d approve of any story about her that brings me comfort.

Shortly after her death, I was selected to finish out her term. I made the decision surrounded by some of my closest friends, during Biking Across Kansas. That’s the unnatural path I took to serving as Hutchinson’s representative in the Kansas Legislature.

And now, it seems that path is at its end. There are nearly 400 provisional ballots and a handful of others still to be counted. It’s not mathematically impossible to overcome my vote deficit, but it is highly improbable.

This is the place where I’m supposed to congratulate my opponent and say nice things. I won’t. Instead I’ll insert this quote as a reminder to myself, and perhaps you.

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
― Viktor E. Frankl

I am proud of my time in office, serving this community. I am proud of the campaigns my team ran. While I dealt with an unbelievable amount of mail from outside groups that skewered me and made a mockery of serious policy discussions, in all of my campaigns - 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024 - our messaging was classy and focused on my positions and goals for Hutchinson and Kansas.

I am proud of the work I did in Topeka. I was able to work on good policy, needed policy, that has saved lives in Kansas and will help folks for years. I’m even proud of getting our own Hutchinson license plate passed.

Mostly I’m proud of the direct work I’ve been able to do for people in our community. One of the most rewarding parts of the job was helping people who needed assistance navigating through state government. No time was that more than during Covid, when I fielded thousands of calls and emails from Hutchinson and around the state to help people get their unemployment benefits. I tried to help everyone who asked me for help, and I never asked nor cared what political party they were with, or whether they voted for me. In fact, I know of several instances when I helped people I knew didn’t vote for me. I saw that as part of my job. I did get busy sometimes and dropped some balls, and for that I’m truly sorry.

In her first term, Patsy told me that politics wasn’t for the faint of heart. She was right.

I have tried to live with a full heart and I have openly shown my heart to this community, and to Kansas. And this heart is more tender than I care for sometimes - this is one of them.

There’s risk in daring greatly, and loving deeply. But the risk of not is greater.

There’s danger in being open and vulnerable, but it’s also a source of incredible power.

There’s pain and loss in knowing that half of your community is happy to watch you fall, that people you thought were friends will be celebrating your demise, and that people you once respected have actively worked to harm you.

But let me tell you what I’ve gained - that’s enduring and immutable and that no one can take away from me.

I’ve built a network of friends, whose love and care is genuine. I’ve built lasting bonds with people in my community. Each election has brought more new people into my world, and I’m grateful for their presence.

I’ve had people work together, tirelessly, to help my campaign. Not out of hate or anger or fear, but because of love, and because they believed in me. I will never forget the way these people made me feel.

I’ve helped people register and vote. I’ve helped people understand the legislative process and feel less intimidated by the bigness of government. I brought kids to the State Capitol and helped them see that no matter what school they attended or how much money they made - this is for them.

Never forgot that it is for you, too.

It has been my honor and pleasure to serve Hutchinson and Kansas in this capacity. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for the opportunity.

With love,