Democrat Mary T. Williams is running to represent parts of southwestern Lawrence and Clinton, Kanwaka, Lecompton and Wakarusa townships included in Kansas House District 47.
Incumbent Republican Ronald B. Ellis did not respond to this questionnaire. We emailed questionnaires to candidates on Oct. 8, gave them until 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 to respond and sent multiple reminder emails.
Williams shared her views on foster care, legalization of cannabis and more.
We did not give candidates a word count limit but advised them to keep answers concise.
Will this race be on my ballot? Check which legislative districts you’re in at myvoteinfo.voteks.org.
Early voting began Wednesday, Oct. 16. Voters can request a ballot to vote early by mail through Tuesday, Oct. 29 at KSVotes.org. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, which is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Find out more at lawrencekstimes.com/election2024.
Jump to a topic:
• Meet the candidate
• 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 opponent
• Free space
• Just for fun
This district
District 47 is pictured in green in this map.
Within Douglas County, it includes the area surrounding Clinton Lake and stretches to the northwestern corner of the county. Its boundaries are primarily west of Kansas Highway 10 in Lawrence, but it includes some neighborhoods east of K-10 and south of Bob Billings Parkway as well.
Outside of Douglas County’s boundaries, District 47 spans north into Jackson and Jefferson counties. It includes Hoyt, Mayetta, Meriden, Oskaloosa, Ozawkie, Perry, Williamstown and more.
See a map of the full district at this link.
Meet the candidate
Mary T. Williams
Age: 61
Running as: Democrat
Hometown, and time in Douglas County (or in your current town, for candidates who reside outside of Douglas County)?
Meriden, KS lived here 19 years, hometown was Nortonville, KS.
Where you currently reside: Meriden, KS (outside of town)
Day job: Middle School Teacher, Coach
How voters can reach you: williams4ks@gmail.com; 785-220-7580
Website; social media links: williams4ks.com
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?*
I have been a small business owner as well as the treasurer for two cities (Winchester and Oskaloosa). I have been a public school teacher for 23 years and serve as a Teacher Leader Consultant for the Kansas State Department of Education.
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.*
One of the top issues I would like to see us address (as legislators of Kansas) is the confiscation of funds for children in foster care where the parents have passed and the child is due social security or military benefits. Kansas is one of 38 states that steal these funds from children to “pay” for their foster care. These children deserve the funds their parents expected they would receive. There is no reason an ombudsman cannot be created within the Kansas Treasurer’s Department to maintain these funds until the child ages from the system. These can be maintained within a trust so the funds can be dispersed in a reasonable manner to a young adult.
I would also propose legislation to remove the sales tax on feminine protection products. This legislation was proposed by Governor Kelly in 2022 but it has not been made into law. These products are a necessity of life and should not be taxed. It is estimated that a woman will spend about $1,400 on sales tax for these products over the course of her lifetime. While this may seem inconsequential, for many families this can make a big difference.
Affordable, QUALITY childcare has been proven to increase a child’s chance of success in the future. We must do better to help families so parents can work and children are in a safe, affordable environment. Tax credits are one way to do this but I would propose we find a way to make these funds available each month. Often times, families cannot wait until the following year to afford care; it needs to be available through more immediate means.
Q: Would you support legalizing cannabis in Kansas?*
Options given: Yes, for any use (medicinal, recreational, etc.); Yes, for medicinal use; No
Yes, for any use (medicinal, recreational, etc.)
Q: Would you support expansion of Medicaid in Kansas?*
(Only yes/no options given)
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)
No
Q: Please elaborate on any of your answers to the yes/no questions above if you’d like to.
Kansas needs to enact Medicaid Expansion. We are losing dollars to other states around us, are creating additional insurance expense for those who paying the cost for those unable to pay and causing undue hardship and even death for those who need this enacted.
Cannabis needs to be legalized so we can create a tax base on the sale of it. A start would be to at least legalize the medical use of cannabis so those needing the pain-relieving benefits can do so. In addition, we need to release those incarcerated for the use of or possession of cannabis.
Public schools should be funded with public dollars. Private facilities should remain just that, private and families that choose to utilize these facilities should fund their own education. We should not have vouchers or tax credits for those choosing to send their children to non-public institutions.
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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.
I believe municipalities should be able to create policies that provide for local control. We do need to make sure that we do not create situations where all laws are different in each locality, creating an “us against them” mentality. Each city is unique and being able to address the needs of their unique citizens is important.
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.*
The voters of Kansas gave their answer in August 2022 regarding the issue of abortion and the constitutionality of the autonomy of all citizens to control their bodies. The fact that the legislature continues to waste taxpayers dollars and legislative time proposing laws to retract the will of the people is one reason I am running. We, the people, stated our position and the legislature should abide by that decision.
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.*
All of the citizens of Kansas have the right to love whom they choose without any legislative body making decisions for them or about them. And health care for ALL should be our stance. Patients (whether they be children or adults) should be able to work with their health care providers to make the best decisions for that person’s quality of life and mental health.
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?
Property taxes seem to be one of the major concerns for those of our state. We must find a way to equalize the taxation policy so that resident property taxes do not take the brunt of the tax base. Housing valuations have increased to the point that the taxes are pushing many out of home ownership (including elderly who have lived in some of these homes for many years). We must work together to create a better formula so taxes don’t close businesses and put undue burdens on property owners.
Q: Please share a question we didn’t ask that you’d like your fellow candidates to answer. How would you respond?
Many of the people in our district cannot get a hold of you when they have concerns regarding legislation or would like to request help with an issue requiring legislative help. How would you address this issue so that the people of your district know they have elected a REPRESENTATIVE for their district?
As your REPRESENTATIVE, I will be available through email, phone, in person, as well as our website. All representatives should be available to the people they represent and it is important that people in each district know the person they elect has the best interest of their area in mind.
Q: Free space: Please share anything you’d like voters to know about you and your stances that we haven’t asked here.
I believe every child deserves a safe and mentally healthy environment. If a child has been placed in foster care, we must make sure they are placed in a safe environment with mental health care. Dollars spent on the children of our state will multiply with a more educated and healthy future. Early childhood education (along with the affordable childcare and a well supervised foster system) will help build a strong Kansas. This is our future!
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.
Favorite color? Purple – no significance (I’m a Washburn, ESU grad)
Zodiac sign? Leo
Do you have any pets, and/or what’s your favorite animal? I have two dogs – Great Danes. Bonnie is 10 years old (a sweet old lady) and Salvy (yes, after Salvador Perez) is 7 months old (and growing fast!)
What’s a fun fact our readers may not know about you? (Have a hidden talent? Interesting hobby?) I run half marathons (over 100 so far). My husband and I will run state 46 (we are running all 50) in a couple weeks – October 20. We plan to complete the remaining 4 next year.
Favorite book, TV show and/or movie? Favorite book (there are many) – “My Sister’s Keeper,” by Jodi Picoult; TV Show – “Ghosts”, Movie – “McFarland, USA” (I’m a Cross-Country Coach :))
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