Three Democrats are running in the House District 46 race to represent a large part of Lawrence including downtown, KU and parts of North Lawrence.

Logan Ginavan, Brittany Hall and Brooklynne Mosley shared what’s driving them to run for office, the experience that qualifies them and much more.

No Republicans or minor-party candidates filed to run for this seat, so the next representative will likely be decided in the Tuesday, Aug. 6 primary election.

Candidates were given eight days to respond to these questions. We did not give candidates a word count limit but advised them to keep answers concise. Candidates’ answers appear below verbatim, minus minor typos edited for clarity.

In addition to this questionnaire, Hall and Mosley participated in a candidate forum on July 13. Read about that at this link. View a recording at this link.

Will this race be on my ballot? Check which legislative districts you’re in at myvoteinfo.voteks.org.

Early voting began Wednesday, July 17. Voters can request a ballot to vote early by mail through Tuesday, July 30 at KSVotes.org. See this article for key info on how to cast your ballot.

Look for more coverage and candidate questionnaires still to come at lawrencekstimes.com/election2024. 

Jump to a topic:

• Meet the candidates
• Experience and qualifications
• Top 3 issues
• Legalizing cannabis
• Expanding Medicaid
• Public funds to private schools
• Local control
• Abortion regulations
• LGBTQ+ rights and transgender kids
• Top concerns heard from voters
• Question for opponents
• Free space
• Just for fun

This district

The seat held by Rep. Dennis “Boog” Highberger since 2015 is up for grabs following the legislator’s retirement. 

Kansas House District 46 is shown in aqua in this map.

It covers roughly the northeastern quadrant of Lawrence, including downtown, KU’s campus and parts of North Lawrence. It also includes parts of Wakarusa Township.

It is not a perfect square, but its northernmost boundary is Interstate 70; its westernmost boundary is Iowa Street; its southern border dips to 19th Street and continues east on 15th Street; and its eastern boundary runs approximately along Lindenwood Lane and along North Ninth Street in North Lawrence.

Click here to see a PDF map.

Meet the candidates

About you and your positions

A * indicates an answer was required to submit this questionnaire.

Q: What specific experience and qualifications do you possess that make you the best candidate for the seat you’re seeking?*

Ginavan: I am wrapping up my bachelors degree in political science this year from KU!

Hall: Seventeen years ago, I chose Lawrence to be the home I never had. Lawrence represented all the positive things I believed in: inclusion, diversity, and compassion. Those same values are why I’m raising my son, Mateo, here. I’ve become a member of this community, and I see all the good in it. I also see the need to protect and nourish the things that make Lawrence a home to so many. My career has been focused on making the world a better place. I’ve taught at Little Nations Academic Center and Haskell. After earning my masters from Baker, I started working at KU’s Life Span Institute, where I also advise the Phi Iota Alpha chapter, and I currently serve as President of the Haskell National Board of Regents. All of these decisions have been in service of the next generation.

Since moving in 2007, I’ve been active in the community, serving on the board at Peaslee Tech and working with the Douglas County Senior Resource Center. Whether I’m shoveling snow for elders or running for House District 46, one thing has always remained the same: I’ve been here in Lawrence working to make it a better place for seventeen years.

Mosley: I’ve spent my entire adult life serving. First, I served our country during my time in the United States Air Force, where I learned first hand how to work with people from different backgrounds to accomplish a mission. I’ve taken this experience and have put into action in Kansas. I’ve worked for Paul Davis in 2014 where I got to meet a lot of fantastic volunteers who are still in my life today. I worked for Bernie Sanders in 2016 and was able to bring him to Lawrence ahead of the Caucus. I also helped get then-Sen. Laura Kelly elected in 2018 as Coordinated Campaign Director. I also worked in her office in 2019 in the Appointments department.

Outside of my electoral and government work. I have been a strong advocate for veterans rights through my work with veteran service organizations like the VFW and Student Veterans of America. I also laced up my shoes and walked to Topeka with Game On For Kansas Schools to draw attention to school funding. In 2019 during the UAW strike I worked with Working Kansas Alliance and organized depot spots around the state so people who wanted to be involved but couldn’t be on the picket line could support.

I am currently on the United Way Kaw Valley Executive Board and chair the UWKV Douglas County Advisory Council. Where we focus on supporting organizations in the fight against poverty, childcare shortages, and food insecurity. I also sit on The Willow Board and Kansas Black Leadership Council where we host a legislative day in the statehouse.

Q: Please list the top three issues motivating you to run for this office. What concrete ideas do you have to make a difference on each issue if you are elected? Please be as specific as possible.*

Ginavan: My first priority is creating some form of citizen-based initiatives in Kansas. Second priority is legalizing marijuana and bringing in that revenue to our state. Finally, my third priority would be protecting reproductive rights for every Kansan.

Hall: Rest assured, I will fight for far more than three issues in Topeka, but here are three important ones.

Medicaid expansion is a must. It would unlock $700 million annually for the 150,000 most vulnerable Kansans, nearly 45,000 of whom are children. On top of that, nearly 75% of Kansans are in favor of it. The only thing keeping it back is a Republican party that is more interested in saying no than governing.

The fight to make people feel safe in their identity is one that strikes close to home because it’s a personal one. What made Lawrence feel like home was the fact that everyone is welcome, not in spite of their identity, but because of it. I will take that with me every day to Topeka.

Everyone in this writeup is probably going to say we need to break the supermajority, and they’re right, but this is Kansas, and we need to be realistic about how gerrymandered it is. That’s why I say we need to break the supermajority on an issue-by-issue basis. Only I, in my role as Board of Regents President, have experience working across the aisle to get common-sense change passed.

Mosley:
1 – Anti-Poverty/ Family Stabilization
Anti-poverty policies centering healthcare, childcare, and healthcare has already been polled by the Kansas Health Foundation and they are overwhelming popular. Most Kansans want this. Focusing on anti-poverty legislation is not only moral but it is the best investment we could make for our people.

2 – Protecting Vulnerable Youth
Every child in Kansas deserves a safe and welcoming me environment. Kansas children’s first school bully should not the Kansas Legislature. I will champion for equitable educational funding, anti-discrimination policies, increasing school counselors, and common sense gun violence prevention legislation so students do not have to worry about a war zone at home and school.

3 – Dignity Through Aging for Older Adults
With an increase in cost of living, many of our older adults are finding it more difficult to age in place. Older Kansans to deserve rest and shouldn’t have to work until the day they die. Strengthening programs like property tax relief and addressing the statewide issue of affordable housing for low income Kansans is a moral imperative.

Q: Would you support legalizing cannabis in Kansas?*

Options given: Yes, for any use (medicinal, recreational, etc.); Yes, for medicinal use; No

Ginavan: Yes, for any use (medicinal, recreational, etc.)

Hall: Yes, for any use (medicinal, recreational, etc.)

Mosley: Yes, for any use (medicinal, recreational, etc.)

Q: Would you support expansion of Medicaid in Kansas?*

(Only yes/no options given)

Ginavan: Yes

Hall: Yes

Mosley: Yes

Q: Would you support initiatives to spend more public money on private schools, such as through vouchers, charter schools, tax credits and so forth?*

(Only yes/no options given)

Ginavan: No

Hall: No

Mosley: No

Q: Please elaborate on any of your answers to the yes/no questions above if you’d like to.

Hall: My mother used cannabis for her severe rheumatoid arthritis and kidney disease. She was in pain all day, every day. It was the only medicine that helped her be at ease. There are so many people like her who should have the availability to treat their pain.

Voucher programs have repeatedly been introduced in the Statehouse over the last few sessions and, luckily, have so far fallen short of passing. School vouchers are simply bad policy. They overwhelmingly benefit rich families, at the expense of working-class households. Eighty-seven percent of families who received vouchers in a similar program introduced in Virginia had annual incomes over $200,000. Only 1% of recipients earned under $50,000 a year. And who pays the most for these vouchers? The people making the least. It’s classic trickle-down economics: “Just trust us, it works.” If you’re still not convinced, just ask the over 100 teachers who signed a petition asking Topeka to drop this issue.

Mosley: We should legalize cannabis with a restorative justice lens. Many in the Black and Brown community has had their lives ruined due to the prohibition. We should also make sure growing permits are issued with equity in mind.

Expanding medicaid is a moral issue. Healthcare is a human right. Our tax dollars have been subsidizing other states that have expanded. Expanding medicaid would provide over 150,000 Kansans with an affordable healthcare option, infuse $1.3B dollars into the Kansas economy, and create 23,000 new jobs.

Public dollars for public schools. We should not be subsidizing private institutions that can pick and choose who they want to accept. Schools are the heart of the community. I will fight every attempt to use public funds for non-public schools.

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Q: Please share your views on local control. Do you believe the Legislature should seek to enact state laws that affect municipalities’ ability to self-govern? If so, in what circumstances? If not, how will you stand up for local control?*

Context given to candidates: The Lawrence City Commission in 2022 stripped some protections of immigrants from local ordinances in response to changes in state laws. 
The city in 2023 passed a safe haven ordinance to create additional protections for transgender people in response to anti-trans legislation (SB 180 in particular). 
The city also approved a ban on single-use plastic bags, which legislators attempted to nullify with a new law that was vetoed this year.

Ginavan: No I don’t, individual municipalities should be allowed to make decisions they think best benefit their community. If anyone asks me to support a bill taking these powers away from the city, I would tell them the same thing.

Hall: I believe Lawrence is a safe haven for rationality and progress in Kansas, and we have to make sure it can continue to stay that way. The people of Lawrence understand that everyone deserves to succeed because of who they are, not in spite of it. And they know that someday the person in need might be them, so they support policies that seek to uplift, and so do I. It’s why I chose Lawrence to be my home seventeen years ago. In addition to making sure Lawrence can continue to grow and prosper, I’ll bring those ideals to Topeka, where we can hopefully make the rest of Kansas look a little more like Lawrence.

Mosley: I am strong proponent of local control especially when we are protecting our friends and neighbors from harmful policies.

Q: Kansas voters in August 2022 soundly rejected a constitutional amendment that would have opened the door to extreme restrictions on abortion. Still, the Legislature has passed or attempted to pass more laws regulating abortion. Please share your stance on what actions the Legislature should or should not take regarding abortion.*

Ginavan: The Legislature needs to learn to listen to the people. That’s why I would like to push for citizen-based initiatives, so that the people get to make their voices heard, just like we did in August of 2022.

Hall: I’m a single mother, so I know how hard it is to raise a family these days. I also know that I was given the choice to start my family, and that is the most important thing. In addition to protecting the right to choice being the morally and scientifically correct path, we’ve also seen the people of Kansas overwhelmingly voice their support for keeping that decision a choice. I chose to have my son, and I celebrate that decision every day, but I had the opportunity to make that choice, and I will fight every day to keep that choice in place. No one else dictates how many tattoos I can have except me, so why should reproductive rights be any different?

Mosley: In August 2022, Kansans said yes to freedom when they said no to restricting abortion. House District 46 voted no at over 80%. I am a firm believer that this is a very private matter and there is no space in the doctors office for a pregnant person, their doctor, and the Kansas Legislature. The legislature should not be taking any actions to restrict access to reproductive care because the people have spoken.

Q: In recent years, the Legislature has increasingly passed or attempted to pass legislation that could have potential negative outcomes for LGBTQ+ people. Please explain your stance on the rights of LGBTQ+ people — particularly transgender kids — and what the Legislature’s role in their lives and health care should be.*

Ginavan: Like I said before in regard to abortion, the Legislature needs to start accepting the people’s voice. LQBTQ rights are human rights.

Hall: I believe that people should succeed because of their unique identity, not in spite of it. This belief is one I found was shared in Lawrence when I first moved here 17 years ago. That shared belief is why I chose this place to be my home. I’m half Mexican and half Native; I know what it means to be “something else.” It strikes deep in your soul, and it can turn even the strongest among us away. We have to do better. Every single person deserves an equal shot at success and happiness, regardless of race, gender, or identity. This isn’t just a cultural or political issue; it’s one that runs to the very core of our society, and I will do everything in my power to make sure Kansans feel safe and secure expressing who they are.

Mosley: First let me say, trans rights are human rights. I watched in horror as the legislature singled out trans youth and their families. The legislature should not be superseding medical or mental health professionals recommendations.

Fannie Lou Hamer said, “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” The legislature should not be bully communities who are marginalized. I believe only individuals in a community can bestow the title of ally but I will always fight for our LGBTQ+ friends and neighbors.

Optional questions

Q: What would you say is the top concern you’ve heard from voters as you’ve been campaigning, and what actions would you take to better that problem?

Ginavan: In our community the number one issue I’ve heard is in regards to the unhoused population in Lawrence. If elected, I would advocate for more funding and more research to find the best way to help and then find the solution as well.

Hall: I’ve spent a lot of time knocking doors this election, and our education system repeatedly comes up. It’s one that strikes close to my heart because I’m the only candidate in this race with a child in the public school system. In 2021–2022, Kansas ranked 35th in the nation in average pay for teachers. Since then, it has fallen to 39th. This is unacceptable. And it doesn’t stop at salaries; the retirement system, KPERS, is in desperate need of an overhaul. The Kansas National Education Association lists KPERS overhaul as one of their top needs. The only people who spend more time with our children and who teach them more about the world than parents are our teachers. It is a tremendous responsibility that should be reflected in our funding priorities. Our teachers are incredible, but why would they stay in a state that doesn’t value them? We need to invest in our teachers and school staff.

Mosley: School funding is an evergreen concern. However, rising cost of living has come up in every conversation. Especially with individual on fixed incomes such as older adults and folks in the disability community. We shaped our platform based on conversations I had before running and through my work on board and talking to folks throughout the community.

Q: Please share a question we didn’t ask that you’d like your fellow candidates to answer. How would you respond?

Ginavan: I would ask “If elected, and you could only do one thing the entirety of your term in the Legislature, what would it be?” To which I would answer, “I would pass a law creating citizen based initiatives in Kansas. With that in place, citizens could create legislation and have it be voted on by the people of Kansas.”

Hall: How will you continue to contribute to Lawrence’s growth and wellbeing if you don’t win this primary?

I would continue to do what I’ve been doing for seventeen years: volunteering locally, uplifting our neighbors, and working to give everyone in Lawrence an equal shot at success. I’ll continue to shovel driveways for the elders of our community. I’ll continue to volunteer as an advisor for Phi Iota Alpha. I’ll stay on in my role at Haskell, fighting to make sure our environment is protected and the next generation of Lawrencians has the best education possible. I’ll still work with Peaslee Tech to ensure trade students have prosperous careers. And I’ll work to make sure every person in Lawrence has a safe and nurturing environment to live in. While others have come and gone, I’ve been in Lawrence the entire time, working hand-in-hand with our neighbors to make it the best place to live, not just in Kansas but in the nation.

Q: Free space: Please share anything you’d like voters to know about you and your stances that we haven’t asked here. 

Hall: I want to thank everyone for the opportunity to do this in the first place. I have met so many amazing and inspiring people that I will never forget. I have an amazing team that has been there since day one, including my manager, advisor, interns, volunteers, friends, family, and most importantly, my son. I owe you all so much, and I am very grateful to have you in my life. I also want to thank the voters for their time and for giving us the space to speak.

Mosley: I am not asking for your vote so I can become a leader in our community, I am asking for your vote because I have a proven track record of getting things done. I am the most qualified that’s why I’ve been endorsed by Kansas organizations such as KNEA, Game On For Public Schools, and Mainstream Coalition.

Just for fun

Candidates were not required to answer any of these questions, but we wanted to give our readers a chance to get to know them a little better and have some fun with this.

Ginavan:

Favorite color? Gotta be blue.

Zodiac sign? Leo

Do you have any pets, and/or what’s your favorite animal? I have two cats, Jellie and Bean.

What’s a fun fact our readers may not know about you? (Have a hidden talent? Interesting hobby?) If you couldn’t tell by my job, I love Legos!

Favorite book, TV show and/or movie? Favorite TV show of all time has got to be The West Wing.

Hall:

Favorite color? I bleed purple! (Haskell, not K-State)

Zodiac sign? Scorpio

Do you have any pets, and/or what’s your favorite animal? Cat — Nahla Bella; Dogs — Sophia Petrillo and Dexter Noche; Bunny — Daphne Azul

What’s a fun fact our readers may not know about you? (Have a hidden talent? Interesting hobby?) I love anything outdoors! I grew up fishing with my dad and brother, and yes, I can clean fish too! I just don’t like touching worms. Also this year, I started playing city league kickball and KVKL on the weekends.

Favorite book, TV show and/or movie? Golden Girls is my favorite show! The Princess Bride is my favorite movie!

Mosley:

Favorite color? Pink

Zodiac sign? Aquarius

Do you have any pets, and/or what’s your favorite animal? I have a 10 year old shih tzu named Tupac, he’s a campaign dog. This is his 7th campaign cycle with me. His first one as a candidate’s dog.

What’s a fun fact our readers may not know about you? (Have a hidden talent? Interesting hobby?) I’m a rare millennial because I don’t have any memories without a computer and spent most of my childhood with the internet at home. My dad had owned a computer since the 70s. The first computer I ever used was an Apple IIe. My dad always joked that I accidentally deleted a file when I was 2.

Favorite book, TV show and/or movie? Less Than Zero, VEEP, and my Dr. Strangelove.

This post is by the Lawrence Times news team.

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