Why did Stand Up Blue Valley endorse Cindy Holscher, when all of the Democratic candidates for KS governor are pro-public education?

Cindy Holscher is the candidate who 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 demonstrates a full understanding of 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 and can be influenced by the governor. She 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 of getting it done.

Longtime BV community volunteer and former political candidate Pam McGill Shernuk* uses her large Facebook following to raise awareness about key issues impacting Johnson County and Kansas overall. Pam recently submitted 7 questions to the three Democratic candidates for Governor; today she posted their answers to the first one: “...As governor, what 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 would you take...to fully fund public education...?” (Read full question and answers at link to Pam’s post below.)

In her answer, Cindy Holscher explains the flaws in the state budget process. The governor cannot unilaterally make changes but her administration will work with legislators to make it happen. Neither the Governor nor State legislature determines teacher pay. That is determined by individual district school boards (though funding from KsLeg often restricts districts’ abilities to pay teachers competitively).

Holscher’s response also demonstrates that she has the knowledge and experience to best impact public education funding as Governor. From her years in the KS House and Senate, she has the most experience of any Democratic primary candidate in developing and working in coalitions to get legislation passed. She knows what the Governor can do and has the experience to get it done.

Cindy Holscher has been a substitute teacher in Olathe public schools. She’s served on her kids’ schools PTOs. She understands school funding issues from these perspectives.

The other two candidates 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 fully funding public education - but the governor doesn’t control the school funding formula, or determine teacher pay. Gov. Laura Kelly has developed a budget for KsLeg each year - and the supermajority has ignored it. She’s vetoed bills that were bad for schools - and they’ve overridden it.

There are 40 KS Senate members and 125 KS Representatives; only a fraction are from Johnson County. We appreciate how Holscher’s tenure in both the KS House and KS Senate has helped her build relationships with legislators from across the state over many years. The governor must build coalitions and have buy-in from legislators all across the state to get the job done. 𝗖𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗞𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘀. Her answer in 150 words demonstrates that.

*Pam Shernuk is a native Kansan, retired BV Schools executive assistant and para, longtime BV community volunteer, advocate for senior citizens, and a strong supporter of public education. She publishes a Facebook page on Kansas politics with millions of weekly views. We encourage you to follow her.

https://www.facebook.com/pam.shernuk/posts/pfbid02FzGz8dnRLtNsDg5pvopjLRobeHZVgUxqEbRST6Hfz2AJP2jgE3mGDfQfKn7nxEzl