By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
Looking to unseat Gov. Sam Brownback, Democratic candidate for governor Paul Davis was greeted by 80 supporters Saturday in Hays for one last “Restore Kansas” campaign tour through western Kansas before Tuesday’s election.
Davis, a 12-year legislative representative from Lawrence and House Minority Leader, started his speech by thanking the crowd gathered at the Hays VFW for being a part of the one the “greatest grassroots campaigns the state has ever seen.”
“When we started this campaign there were a whole lot of people that said … Paul you would make a really good governor, but Sam Brownback … I mean there is no way we can beat this guy, he has so much money. … Well, we certainly are aren’t having those conversations now are we,” Davis smiled as the crowd clapped.
Davis pointed to polls showing he and running mate Jill Docking have a good chance of winning Tuesday’s election but said he is not just counting on polls. Davis asked supporters to double their efforts to garner votes, while he and his wife, Stephanie, hit 40 cities leading up to election day Tuesday.
“I am not taking my chances, I am not taking a darn thing for granted because I think everyday, I do not want to wake up Wednesday morning and stare down four more years of Sam Brownback,” Davis said.
Davis told the crowd it is time bring back bipartisan efforts not seen since Brownback was elected governor in 2010, stating Brownback has not convened one single meeting with bipartisan legislative leaders since his election in 2010 unless it called for a “photo op.”
“(Brownback) has spent 16 years in Washington, D.C., learning the ways of Washington, D.C., yet he learned a very well … a hyper-partisan toxic political environment where Democrats and Republican are not able able to sit across the table and have meaningful discussions to resolve issues — sometimes Republican and Republicans can’t sit across the table,” Davis said. “They just lob grenades at each other. This is the kind of politics Sam Brownback has brought to Kansas.”
Davis also spoke of funding cuts to early childhood education, K-12 and higher education saying Brownback made the “biggest cut in state history” to education within months of becoming governor.
“Education has never been a priority for Sam Brownback, ” Davis said, adding he has a proven record in his 12 years in office as a strong advocate for public schools and education.
Davis said another priority is putting Kansas back on track economically and end what Brownback himself called an “experiment” when, in 2012, he singed into law large tax cuts that now have the nonpartisan legislative research department predicting Kansas will be in debt $1.3 billion or more over the next five years.
“Sam Brownback’s real live experiment isn’t working and it’s not going to work. … In fact, we are lagging behind our surrounding states and the rest of the country in virtually every economic growth indicator there is. The entire United States is creating jobs double the rate Kansas is,” Davis said. “And on top of all that, it is plunging our state deep into debt.
“How in the world are we going to restore those cuts to the schools if we are $1.3 billion in debt? How are we going to be able to fund our job creating transportation plan if we are $1.3 billion an debt? How are going to invest in our universities that are producing the future leaders of Kansas if we are $1.3 billion in debt?” Davis asked. “This is real, and we have to put and end to it.”
After the rally Davis met his wife, a board member for local nonprofit advocacy group Jana’s Campaign at the the organization’s annual fundraiser Saturday at Fort Hays State University.
Davis was headed to Colby and Garden City Sunday, then to Dodge City, Greensburg and Pratt.
Davis will end his tour on Election Day in Johnson County and then head to his hometown of Lawrence for what he hopes will end in a victory party Tuesday evening.