09/03/2008
CONTACT: Derrick Sontag, 785-354-9374 or Todd Pack, 615-872-5897
NFIB/Kansas supports bipartisan group that supports small business
UPDATED Oct. 7, 2008
TOPEKA, Kansas -- The National Federation of Independent Business, Kansas' leading small business association, today said it has endorsed candidates in 116 legislative races. The endorsements were made by NFIB/Kansas SAFE (Save America's Free Enterprise) Trust, which is comprised exclusively of NFIB members.
"Small business is the backbone of the Kansas economy, and it's critically important to have a Legislature that supports free enterprise," said Derrick Sontag, state director of NFIB/Kansas. "The National Federation of Independent Business supports candidates who support small business, regardless of party affiliation. NFIB's endorsed candidates clearly understand small business owners need better access to affordable healthcare and believe fiscal responsibility, a sensible workers' compensation system and less regulation are important to our future."
The endorsements (incumbents unless otherwise indicated):
| Senate | |||
| District | Name | District | Name |
| 1 | Dennis Pyle | 23 | Karin Brownlee |
| 3 | Roger Pine | 24 | Pete Brungardt |
| 4 | David Haley | 25 | Jean Schodorf |
| 5 | Steve Fitzgerald (open) | 26 | Dick Kelsey (open) |
| 6 | Chris Steineger | 27 | Les Donovan |
| 7 | David Wysong | 28 | Mike Petersen |
| 8 | Tim Owens (open) | 30 | Susan Wagle |
| 9 | Julia Lynn | 31 | Carolyn McGinn |
| 10 | Mary Pilcher Cook (open) | 33 | Ruth Teichman |
| 11 | John Vratil | 34 | Terry Bruce |
| 12 | Pat Apple | 36 | Jay Emler |
| 13 | Bob Marshall (open) | 36 | Janis Lee |
| 14 | Dwayne Umbarger | 37 | Jeff Colyer (open) |
| 15 | Derek Schmidt | 38 | Tim Huelskamp |
| 16 | Ty Masterson (open) | 39 | Steve Morris |
| 17 | Jim Barnett | 40 | Ralph Ostmeyer |
| 20 | Vicki Schmidt | ||
| 21 | Mark Taddiken | ||
| 22 | Roger Reitz |
| House | |||
| District | Name | District | Name |
| 4 | Lynne Oharah (challenger) | 67 | Tom Hawk |
| 6 | Jean Vickrey | 68 | Tom Moxley |
| 7 | Richard Proehl | 69 | Deena Horst |
| 9 | Bill Otto | 70 | J. Robert Brookens (open) |
| 10 | John Coen (open) | 71 | Charlie Roth |
| 11 | Virgil Peck | 72 | Marc Rhoades |
| 12 | Jeff King | 73 | Clark Shultz |
| 13 | Forrest Knox | 74 | Don Schroeder |
| 14 | Lance Kinzer | 75 | John Grange |
| 15 | Arlen Siegfreid | 76 | Peggy Mast |
| 16 | Jim Yonally (challenger) | 77 | David Crum |
| 17 | Jill Quigley | ||
| 18 | John Rubin (challenger) | 79 | Kasha Kelley |
| 20 | Kevin Yoder | 81 | Peter DeGraaf |
| 21 | Kay Wolf | 82 | Don Myers |
| 22 | Joy Bourdess (open) | 83 | Jo Ann Pottorff |
| 23 | August Bogina (open) | 85 | Steve Brunk |
| 24 | Ronnie Metsker | 88 | Jim Ward |
| 25 | Terrie Huntington | 90 | Steve Huebert |
| 26 | Rob Olson | 91 | Brenda Landwehr |
| 27 | Ray Merrick | 99 | Aaron Jack (open) |
| 28 | Pat Colloton | 100 | Mario Goico |
| 29 | Sheryl Spalding | 101 | Mark Treaster |
| 30 | Ron Worley | 104 | Mike O'Neal |
| 38 | Anthony Brown | 105 | Jason Watkins |
| 39 | Owen Donohoe | 106 | Sharon Schwartz |
| 40 | Charlie Gregor (open) | 107 | Elaine Bowers |
| 41 | Jana Goodman (challenger) | 108 | Josh Svaty |
| 43 | Mike Kiegerl | 109 | Clay Aurand |
| 45 | Tom Sloan | 110 | Dan Johnson |
| 46 | Paul Davis | 112 | Bill Wolf |
| 47 | Lee Tafanelli | 113 | Bob Bethell |
| 48 | Marvin Kleeb (open) | 114 | Mitch Holmes |
| 49 | Scott Schwab | 115 | Melvin Neufeld |
| 51 | Mike Burgess | 116 | Dennis McKinney |
| 52 | Lana Gordon | 117 | Larry Powell |
| 54 | Joe Patton | 119 | Pat George |
| 60 | Don Hill | 120 | John Faber |
| 61 | Richard Carlson | 121 | Jim Morrison |
| 62 | Steve Lukert | 122 | Gary Hayzlett |
| 64 | Vern Swanson | 123 | Jeff Whitham |
| 65 | Barbara Craft | 124 | Bill Light |
| 125 | Carl Holmes |
NFIB's endorsement is critical to these candidates. Small business owners and their employees vote in high numbers and are known for actively recruiting friends, family members and acquaintances to go to the polls. NFIB has pledged it will activate its grassroots network on behalf of these candidates. NFIB's political support is based on the candidates' positions and records on small business issues.
