When is enough going to be enough?

FIGHTING FOR A FOREVER FREE STATE

Issue #32, October 2025

When is enough going to be enough?

By Delma Thompson

When will state and federal legislatures decide that the lives of citizens, including innocent children, are more important than an amendment ratified way back in 1791?

It’s doubtful our framers could fathom the day when one could ride in a horseless carriage, fly across the ocean, talk to someone other than face to face, or own a weapon capable of firing 40 to 60 rounds in the same minute it would take a muzzle loader musket user to prep and fire two rounds.

For a semi-automatic rifle like the AR-15, the average time one can pull the trigger is 40 times per minute. That’s considerably more than needed to kill a deer or a feral hog. These guns were specifically designed to kill people! Certainly, capable of slaughtering a room full of terrified second graders in less than two minutes.

And no, I am not concerned that hunters will have their guns taken away. I grew up in a family of hunters and was one myself. No one had much money in those early days but we had plenty of protein on the table. My mother could make a gourmet meal from squirrel, quail and to-die-for wild ducks or venison.

My most unforgettable birthday gift was a Browning Sweet Sixteen 16-gauge shotgun. Fond, fond memories of Saturday morning duck hunts with my dad. Besides the much-needed protein derived from those trips, there were the gloriously fluffy down pillows and feather beds those ducks provided.

Many people in our community had guns, mostly shot guns and rifles for hunting. But so-called assault type weapons were not made for hunting game; they were made for killing as many people as possible in the most efficient way. If owning that kind of weapon or prancing around with an open carry revolver is what it takes for males to feel like men, that’s a sad commentary on the state of manhood.

My husband is a lifetime member of the NRA. He joined many years ago before a lobotomy was a requirement for membership. At that time the NRA was a respected organization whose main focus was hunter safety, responsibility and stewardship. Sadly, that is no longer the case.

I am not anti-gun. I prefer to call it pro-life in the broadest sense of the word. It’s just alarming to me that the wonderful nation I live in has become so enamored of guns that gun ownership is more important than the lives of its citizens. Surely there is room for common sense legislation like background checks, buy-back programs, and criminalizing “straw” purchases of guns, to name a few.

So again, I ask our legislators: “When is enough going to be enough”?

Sadly, not until they are present to watch a grief-stricken parent try to identify their child by the clothing he or she had on when sent to school that morning.

No Kings protest Oct. 18

The Crawford County Young Democrats are working alongside the Crawford County Democrats to put together a protest/rally on the second national No Kings Day. The event will be held at Pritchett Pavilion and will feature local candidates running for office. It will begin with the national anthem, followed by a march, then a rally where candidates will speak. Members of Cherokee and Labette County will be coming to show their support. We will also have tables showcasing other local organizations that help make our town great. The event is on Oct. 18 at 3pm. We hope to see you there! Thank you!

— Blaise Jacks

Also on deck for October

Our next regular Crawford County Democratic Party meeting will be at HQ on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 1 pm.

It's an opportunity for us to come together, discuss our strategies and plan upcoming events. Your participation is vital to our collective success.

Please let Emily know if you have any items you'd like to see added to the agenda at emily@crawfordcountyksdems.org

We are hoping to see everyone there!

Deep canvassing update

Deep canvassing involves open questioning, active listening, attending and scaling of attitudes, to connect non-judgmentally without argument or persuasion. Through these strategies the voters begin to build awareness of their biases, discuss sensitive issues and connect experiences with current issues. This stimulates reflection on prejudices or biases. This training involves two meetings each for two-hour sessions including the discussion about the stages of deep canvassing and opportunities to practice the strategies.

Twenty folks participated in the August and September Deep Canvassing training and thirteen completed both sessions. I especially enjoyed their enthusiastic participation and perspectives regarding the challenges in talking to individuals who may have vastly different views on hot topic issues. Those who attended Parts One and Two in August and September include the following canvassers: Bert Patrick, Jim Brumfield, Susy Hammons, Sally Harryman, Blaise Jacks, Michael Nagle, Margaret Neil, Jim Orwig, Avery Rowland, Jenna Spencer, David Su, George Sypniewski, and Lynette Wescott. . The listening, attending, and questioning skills that we discussed will necessitate practice in everyday relationships for us to become comfortable using Deep Canvassing with voters. When we begin canvassing for the 2026 mid-term election, both door to door and phone, we will have opportunities to meet and discuss our interactions with voters. In addition, it is important to give each other support in this critical endeavor to impact voter participation, stimulate critical thinking about issues, and to break relationship barriers that have developed because of political and social divisiveness.

The next Deep Canvassing training will be held in November, dates to be announced later in October. Those who only attended one session of the two may complete the training by attending the part they missed. I look forward to continuing the Deep Canvassing training and with active participation learning more about ways to connect with voters and protect our democracy.

— Harriet Bachner

Crawford County voting info

By Lynette Wescott

Close of registration to vote - Oct. 14, 2025
Advance voting in-person and by mail - Oct. 15-Nov. 3, 2025
Girard Court House - anyone in Crawford County
Homer Cole - Oct. 25 - 9 am to 4 pm - anyone in Crawford County
Candidate Meet and Greet - Oct. 22 - 4pm to 6pm - The Balkan/Block22
Tuesday, Nov. 4 - VOTE at your polling location

School Board candidate: Shaileen Owens

My name is Shaileen Owens, and I am delighted to announce my candidacy for School Board Member for USD 250.

I am deeply rooted in my faith in God and dedicated to the welfare of our children and our community. I graduated with a Master of Social Work from Michigan State University. As a licensed social worker with over two decades of experience in child welfare and working with at-risk children and families, I serve as Vice President of Permanency, leading efforts to protect the rights and promote the well-being of children and families in foster care.

As a school board candidate, I am committed to the advancement and promoting of the well-being of all students by upholding the core values of justice, progress, honesty, and integrity. I believe these shared values will foster solidarity among parents, educators, students, and community members, empowering everyone to contribute to our collective educational mission and vision actively.

As a wife and a proud mother of two students attending USD 250, I uniquely understand the importance of creating a nurturing, supportive environment where all Dragons can thrive—now and for generations to come. I strive to lead with transparency and transform our collective voices and efforts into a driving force for positive change across our school district.

I am honored to earn your vote, your trust, and your partnership as we strengthen the USD 250 Legacy together.

Shaileen Owens, LMSW

Email- ShaileenFor250@gmail.com Instagram- Shaileenfor2025

School Board candidate: Emily George

Emily George is an educator and advocate for Kansas students and families. She currently serves as an assistant professor in the College of Education at Pittsburg State University, where she prepares future teachers to create inclusive classrooms and meet the literacy needs of learners at all levels. Additionally, she guides their professional development in collaboration between peers, parents and guardians, and professional organizations. Prior to higher education, Emily taught grades 6–12 English language arts and art, assisted coaching for the PHS award-winning debate and forensics teams, served as a club sponsor, and volunteered for the performing arts programs.

In addition to teaching, she contributes to the education profession through research. Her work in the classroom and in research centers on equity, student voice and creating learning environments where students thrive. She has recently presented at state and national conferences on effective behavior management, teaching practices for students with exceptionalities and generative AI in teacher preparation. At the state level, she has written lesson plans for open educational resources for Wichita State and Kansas State Universities. She also serves on the Kansas State Department of Education board to develop the current English language arts standards for 6-12 classrooms.

While she enjoys serving education at the state and national level, Emily and her family are committed to serving Pittsburg. She and her family participate in community choir and theater, sponsor and volunteer for numerous student groups and school-sponsored functions and assist local organizations such as the Lord’s Diner and the Memorial board. Through this work and her teaching, she has built connections with those in our community and is thankful for those relationships. She hopes to serve on the school board with her varied expertise as an educator, her experience as a community leader and servant, and her passion for public education to advocate for local teachers, families, and students.

Pittsburg City Commission candidate: Isaiah Harris

Hello readers! My name is Isaiah Harris and I'm running for Pittsburg city commission! I've lived in this town since I was born, and one common problem I've seen over the years is the crisis of affordability that we have faced. Whether you're a college student or a homeowner, a parent, a worker, or a retiree, our local government's policies on streets, housing, and childcare affect your life in very direct ways.

The availability of affordable housing units, access to safe and affordable childcare, as well as the quality of our public infrastructure, are key barriers to improving quality of life and the growth of our town. People in Pittsburg are making impossible decisions regarding where they live, where they work, how long to wait before having children, or if they stay here at all.

I am running to give a voice to anyone in this town who has struggled to find housing, or didn't report a problem with their rental because of fear of eviction, or has genuinely worried about how fast property taxes are rising. I raise these issues specifically because I’ve experienced them. I grew up watching my single mom navigate a room where the walls of bills, childcare, housing, and the job market were always closing in, suffocating us. This is a reality for far too many in our town.

We need an advocate who can articulate the mental anguish of an eviction notice, and the moral imperative we have to take care of each other by expanding housing opportunities in general. I look around Pittsburg and I see exciting new developments for university housing (e.g., Block22 and the Besse Hotel renovations) and higher-end housing (e.g., Silverback Landing and Villas at Creekside). These are great for those who can access them, but I am running to ensure that we also prioritize the residents of Pittsburg who live in the shadow of these developments. The new Community Housing Incentive Program (CHIP) is a great start, but we need more. This program reimburses developers who contractually agree to sell to low-income buyers, but only a handful of units are in the pipeline. We need to think of novel ways to encourage city-wide incremental development and allow local residents to participate in this evolution.

We need to rethink our outdated and restrictive zoning strategy. For most of Pittsburg, it is illegal to build any duplex, multiplex, apartment, or even secondary housing units without going before the Board of Zoning Appeals, which meets only once a month and requires a $125 fee just to be seen and heard. This policy stunts the growth of our neighborhoods and is kneecapping our ability to flexibly add higher-density housing and smaller affordable units. I will support zoning reform to allow for duplex and secondary housing unit construction by right, removing the costly need for conditional use permits. This will give local property owners and developers another tool to alleviate the pressure local residents are facing.

We also desperately need a rental registry to ensure accountability for landlords. Anyone who owns 5 or more rentals should have to register with the city as a business, just as every other business does. A small, per-unit registration fee can easily be used by the city to hire rental inspectors in order to ensure compliance with existing law and minimum habitability standards. This is the least our local government can do to ensure tenants aren't being taken advantage of by massive property management companies.

I am running to ensure that families have safe, affordable childcare. Providers should be supported when they want to open an in-home daycare and invest in their neighborhoods and in our town. The zoning concerns that exist in our housing sector often negatively impact childcare as well. The story of Sheena Kosman still rings through my head. She successfully completed the stringent daycare licensing process, but her appeal to planning and zoning invited a strong reactionary backlash from her neighborhood that inevitably led to the closure of her daycare. Her prospective parents cited hostility from her neighbors as a primary concern for not enrolling their kids. This is unconscionable.

For many parents, one partner quitting their job to stay home and watch the kids is cheaper than paying for childcare; rates in Pittsburg range from 120-200 dollars a week per child on average, with infant care usually higher. Having the option to open a daycare may be the best option for some to supplement their income. My wife Molly opened her licensed, in-home daycare at the beginning of this year and there has been no shortage of parents seeking services. We've seen first-hand the demand for childcare in our town as well as the stress that many parents face. One of her parents just withdrew their child from care because they couldn't find housing to meet their needs in Pittsburg. The problems we face are interconnected and they weigh especially heavily on working-class parents. The expected opening of Washington School will be a boon for our town, but we must continue to take steps forward by removing archaic hurdles for daycare providers. I will support removing the conditional use permit for licensed, in-home daycares. Demand continues to outpace supply; we must support new providers beginning their journey in childcare.

I am running for anyone who's struggled to commute to work or a doctor’s appointment. There are too many trails carved into grass around town where pedestrians walk with no pavement. There are too many children that ride their bikes in the street without alternative. I will support walkability in our town by prioritizing people over land. For example, finishing the sidewalk on Rouse street from 4th to Washington has been left untouched because our government refuses to hold Mission Clay, who owns that lot, to account. There are too many neighborhoods whose streets clearly aren’t maintained. These are bare minimum first steps.

I am running to represent the people of Pittsburg who feel their voice has not been heard, but I am only one man. Campaign season is ramping into full-gear and I will need your support in what will surely be a tight race. If any of these words resonate with you, please consider voting in the November 4th election. If you are interested and wish to get involved, reach out! Whether it’s putting up a sign in your yard, volunteering to knock doors, or contacting me about my campaign in general, you are cordially welcome to be a part of the vision! Below, I have my contact information as well as my website with more details and a donation link.

Early voting details:

County Clerk’s office, 111 E Forest, Girard, KS from Oct. 15 to Nov 3, M-F 8am to 4pm
Homer Cole Center, 3003 N Joplin St, Pittsburg, KS on Oct. 25 - 9am to 4pm

In solidarity,

Isaiah Harris

www.workingks.org

isaiahforpittsburg@gmail.com

620-670-0848

Outreach coming up

Parades:

Pitt State Homecoiming, Saturday, Oct. 11 9am. Must register
Girard Homecoming, Saturday, Oct.18 10am. Must register
— Lynn Grant

Meet the candidate

Don Coover is a Democrat running for Congress in the Second Congressional District to defeat Derek Schmidt. Don was born and raised in southeast Kansas and he still lives on a ranch outside of Galesburg today. As a West Point graduated U.S. Army veteran, small business owner, rancher and large animal veterinarian, Don is not your typical Democrat running for office. But he's exactly the type of candidate we need to step up and run to win next year and beyond.

You can learn more about Don at his website: doncooverforcongress.com

Follow Don's campaign on social media:

https://www.facebook.com/DonCooverKS

https://x.com/DonCooverKS

Book group report

The book choice for the October book group meeting is The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin, the first book in The Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy and was the 2015 Hugo Award winner for best novel. This science fiction novel delves into the existential experience associated with contact with an alien civilization and the fear that the universe may be a ruthless place governed by survival. It is also the basis for the Netflix series of the same name.

The pick for September was author James Patterson. Our members selected two books from his collaboration with Bill Clinton: The President is Missing (2018) and The First Gentleman (2025) One member also reported on the Patterson book Filthy Rich: A powerful billionaire, the sex scandal that undid him, and all the justice that money can buy (2016) about Jeffrey Epstein.

As often occurs in our meetings, we shared humorous anecdotes we connected to themes that emerged from our discussion about the Patterson books we read. There were also many complicated plots and characters that are reflected in our current political situation. Thus, we shared our concerns to anger about the daily barrage of actions threatening our democracy.

The next book group meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the Democratic Headquarters. Come for the lively conversation and a potluck dinner, even if you haven't read the book. Bring a friend and something to share if you're so inclined.

Hope to see you there.

— Harriet Bachner and Linda Pratt

At headquarters this month

By Sally Harryman

The purpose of the headquarters is to provide:

A safe, centralized meeting location:

Several incidents over the past couple of months have warranted some attention. All groups using HQ need to have a signed Room Use Agreement in place. No offense but we just want to make sure responsible parties are aware of their responsibilities. The calendar is filling up fast, especially through the first week of November, so if you need to reserve the room, let’s talk. Or email, sally@crawfordcountyksdems.org

A comfortable and efficient work space for party officers and volunteers:

It’s starting to get pretty cramped at 217A North Broadway as evidenced by the SRO crowd at September’s general meeting, breakers blowing from coffee pots and lots of tripping over extension cords. Shout out to MidAmerica for repairing the ac so fast and installing the awning over the back door.

Social support to our members:

Headquarters management has been about the best free mental healthcare I’ve had. Being around like-minded people does wonders when trying to make sense of the state of our nation. Come in, vent, write a mean postcard. Thanks to everyone who has brought snacks and drinks, we’ll use them!

Reliable information to the community:

With our new sign out front I’m hoping some new people wander in looking for ways to be involved. We’ve got a decent array of event flyers and candidate materials that need to be distributed, feel free to come get some to hand out at your leisure.

The monthly committee chairperson meeting will be Thursday, Oct. 9 at 5pm. The PSU homecoming parade and Oct. 18 protest planning will be on the agenda.

One last thing, please, stay home if you’re sick! I try to hit everything with Lysol at least once a week, but we’ve too many friends with compromised immune systems for people to be snotting all over the HQ. Peace.

LL September notes

By Susy Hammons and Marcia Weeks

Liberal Ladies met on Sept. 10, at noon, at Dem HQ. Nancy Tomassi reported on the Robert Reich movie The Last Class. She and Bob saw it in O.P. (I looked it up to see how long it would be in KC and there is a way to bring it to Pittsburg. I didn't look at all the details. I'm hoping someone will take it on. Too bad Harriet has so many projects going on).

Janice reported that Cheryle Wilson was having hip surgery that day. Harriet had a card we all signed. Hope she'll be back with us soon.

Kay recommended the MeidasTouch for news.

Penny told about a home health worker who has lived here 30+ years who was told to self deport.

Jean shared that Nebraska may file for bankruptcy because they have no workers.

Ruth Miller spoke about the difficulties of school finances. USD 250 is down 85 students which is a loss of revenue. Private schools have less regulation. Parents can get vouchers and spend the money as they choose.

Penny reported that our doctors are moving to Canada where the health care system is streamlined.

Kay shared that Democratic candidates won in the last three special elections.

Marcia Weeks presented information on School Board candidates.

There are four good candidates and two not so good. She is worried about the four splitting the ticket and one of the bad ones getting in.

City Commission candidates include Jackson Bertoncino and Isaiah Harris. Dawn McNay is running as an incumbent.

Lynn Grant announced that she is not running for Frontenac City Commission. She has no recommendations yet.

The No King's Day National Rally was discussed.

Delma is mad that Maga has taken over our flag and that we should wave it proudly at every rally and protest and include signs saying "Take Back Our Country."

Joy Leeper led us in a Call and Response to "Wise Women."

Harriet told us about Mike Sand's poetry binders he leaves at HQ's.

He has written an Ode to our Delma, praising her poetry and wit.

I read his Ode out loud and it got very enthusiastic applause.

We met again on Sept. 24, at noon, at HQ.

On the Festa cakes: Nancy Fredette and Don Pyle will be picking up the white sheet cakes – they need 12 tomorrow at the HQ. Nancy is collecting names for anyone willing to make one. Contact her if you want to help.

No Kings Day rally: Emily and Sally will be coordinating with the Young Democrats on the plans, Oct. 18.

Emily has started a local effort with action plans to reach out to the local ABC affiliate KODE and advertisers to reinstate showing the Jimmy Kimmel show. Join the Facebook page for information on local actions.

There are still postcards to be completed at the HQ on the middle desk that need to be sent in October.

For the Nov. 4 election Ruth has some flyers out and her signs should be here in a few days. Please contact her for signs and to donate to her campaign.

Isaiah Harris signs are available at the HQ.

Candidates recommended by members during the meeting: school board – Ruth Miller, Emily George, Mickey Painter, Shaileen Owens. You can vote for three. Pittsburg City Commission: Dawn McNay, Jackson Bertoncino, Isaiah Harris. You can vote for three.

Birthdays at the end of September are Shirley Beer and Lynn Grant.

A good meeting!

Let us hear from you!

Article submissions are needed from Crawford County Democrats and friends about issues and topics we should all be thinking about. We want to publish your thoughts in this Revue, for distribution to county Democrats and others across the state.

Please email your thoughts or those of your caucuses and interest groups for publication in the county party’s newsletter to news@crawfordcountyksdems.org. Accompanying photographs or other ideas for illustrating your articles are also welcome. Feel free to ask questions by text or phone of newsletter crew Harriet at 620-704-8566 or Phil at 708-466-0659. Also please include your phone number with your message in case we have questions for you.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

By Crawford County Democratic Party

Dr. Emily Walters, Chair

CHANGING OPINIONS AND WINNING VOTES

Newsletter contacts: Harriet Bachner & Phil Burgert news@crawfordcountyksdems.org