TOPEKA, KS – Overland Park resident and Olathe school teacher Brett Parker filed a petition to be placed on the ballot for the Kansas House of Representatives 29th District. Parker, a Democrat, received an overwhelming number of signatures supporting his challenge to conservative Republican incumbent James Todd.
Parker, a native of Johnson County, said he was motivated to run for office after witnessing how the great work accomplished locally was being undone by current political leaders in Topeka. “I’m not a professional politician,” Parker said, “but watching our businesses, our hospitals, our schools, and our citizens in Johnson County struggle in the turbulent economic climate created by Gov. Brownback and Rep. Todd made me want to get more involved.”
Parker, an English language teacher at Countryside Elementary School and Pioneer Trail Middle School, has seen the direct effects of Governor Brownback’s failed tax experiment. “I’ve seen firsthand the impact of Brownback’s policies on the students and teachers in our district. In addition, businesses are struggling, employment is suffering and health care is at a crisis point. It’s time families in Overland Park had an ally, not an enemy, in the Kansas Legislature,” Parker said.
Parker said if elected, he would serve as a responsible, moderate voice for the 29th House district and the citizens of Kansas. “Voters deserve a representative who is respectful and responsive to their needs,” Parker said. “I will work collaboratively in the Legislature to pass bills that grow our economy, create jobs, and expand the tax base. This in turn will allow us to invest in critical areas such as education and infrastructure development. I will also ensure local control stays with our local governments.”
Parker’s opponent James Todd has been highly supportive of Governor Sam Brownback’s policies. Todd has voted with the super-conservative Brownback coalition more than 90% of the time including votes for the unconstitutionally low school funding, hiking sales taxes on working families, and consistently undermining the autonomy of local elected leaders in Overland Park.
Leave a Reply