We’re in a bit of limbo right now with which, if any, ballots’ language is able to be put to a vote in November.

While we wait, I thought I’d share our council Oath of Office with you to explain why Council requested a judicial opinion after being advised that some of the language wouldn’t comply with Kansas statute:

I swore this oath when I took office in 2020 along with 5 other members of the council; as did the other 6 members of council in 2021. We are all sworn to uphold the constitutions of both the U.S. and the State of Kansas. That is why we had to get a legal ruling on the language in the petitions before we put them to a vote. To do anything else would have been a dereliction of duty.

I fully support “let[ting] the people vote”. I’m an active member of the League of Women Voters, and I wouldn’t be sitting in my role as your council person without voting. I always want voters’ voices to be heard.

The Council also supports resident voices. Residents will get to vote on the proposed community center, if discussions make it that far, and residents get to vote on which councilmembers they want in office every 2 years. I fully support the democratic process.

It remains to be seen which, if any, of the petitions’ ballot language makes it to the November 7th ballot, but if any do, I, in my role as a resident of Prairie Village, will certainly be voting No, and I hope you do too.

To fundamentally change our government structure in one fell swoop would be grossly irresponsible and detrimental to our community and the services and amenities we’ve come to expect in Prairie Village. It would also subvert the democratic process of and disenfranchise the voters of the 2021 election by ousting 6 sitting councilmembers in the middle of their incomplete terms. That should scare all of us. That something brought forth by a mere 16% of our city could subvert democracy and irrevocably change our city government for years to come.

I look forward to the Honorable Rhonda Mason’s final ruling, and I hope it comes soon so we have at least a little bit of closure and direction.

If you live in Ward 3 and have questions about the form of government and how best to recommend changes in the future, I welcome that conversation and would enjoy chatting with you.

Happy Friday and Happy JazzFest!!