Post updated at 8:19 p.m. Saturday, July 20:
Three Democratic candidates running to represent Lecompton and parts of northwestern Lawrence and Douglas County included in Kansas Senate District 19 shared the top issues motivating them to run and much more. Republicans did not respond.
ShaMecha King Simms, Vic Miller and Patrick Schmidt will face off in the Tuesday, Aug. 6 primary election. The winner will advance to face the candidate who wins the Republican primary for District 19.
We asked all candidates in races in which there are primary elections to participate. Candidates were given eight days to respond to these questions, and we sent two follow-up reminders to emphasize that taking the time to fill this out will help show our readers — thousands of their constituents in Lawrence and Douglas County, and anywhere else this news may travel — that they matter.
Republican Cynthia Smith declined to participate in this questionnaire because it includes yes/no questions. “The trouble with yes/no questions is that they are akin to pledges, and I am very discriminating about making pledges,” she said via email. We responded that the question following the three yes/no questions allows candidates to elaborate on those answers, but she chose not complete the questionnaire.
Republican Tyler Wible said he would answer the questionnaire as soon as possible but ultimately did not submit it.
However, all five candidates participated in a forum we covered on July 13 and opined on some of the subjects we asked about here. Read more about that at this link. View a recording at this link.
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.
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
Senate District 19 has changed as a result of 2022 redistricting. Much of what was District 19 is now District 3. (We’ll have more on that race for the Nov. 5 general election.)
District 19 now includes much of northern Douglas County and some parts of Lawrence north of Sixth Street. It’s shown in light blue on this map.
Its southernmost boundary is Sixth Street between Queens Road to the west and Kasold Drive to the east; its boundaries meander north along Kasold and east along Tomahawk Drive to include Deerfield Elementary School.
North of Princeton Boulevard, homes west of Arrowhead Drive are included, as are the areas north of Interstate 70 but south and west of the Kansas River, which creates the district’s easternmost boundary. West of Lawrence, the district includes Lecompton and parts of rural Douglas County, and parts of Tecumseh and Topeka in Shawnee County.
Click here to see a PDF map of the full district.
Meet the candidates
ShaMecha King Simms
Age: 42
What’s your hometown, and how long have you lived in Douglas County (or in your current town, for candidates who reside outside of Douglas County)? I was born in Fort Riley, KS and raised between Hillside, NJ and Junction City, KS. I have lived in Topeka for 16 years.
Where you currently reside: Topeka, Kansas
Day job: Community Advocate
How voters can reach you: ShaMecha@ShaMechaForKansas.com
Website; social media links: ShaMechaForKansas.com; ShaMecha for Kansas on Facebook
Vic Miller
Age: 72
What’s your hometown, and how long have you lived in Douglas County (or in your current town, for candidates who reside outside of Douglas County)? Topeka- Since College
Where you currently reside: Topeka
Day job: Kansas House Democratic Leader (Retired Judge)
How voters can reach you: 785-224-3375; victorwmiller@aol.com
Website; social media links: vicmillerforsenate.com
Patrick Schmidt
Age: 33
What’s your hometown, and how long have you lived in Douglas County (or in your current town, for candidates who reside outside of Douglas County)? Topeka, KS 4 years
Where you currently reside: Topeka, KS
Day job: Navy Intelligence Officer in the Naval Reserves
How voters can reach you: patrick@patrickforkansas.com
Website; social media links: patrickforkansas.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?*
King Simms: Professional: Educator – 15+ years in Kansas public schools and for-profit entities; 2023 St. Simon’s Justice and Advocacy Community Coordinator – Episcopal Diocese of Kansas; 2022-2023 Legislative Advocacy Intern – Kansas Interfaith Action
Volunteer: Historic Old Town Neighborhood Improvement Association – 2019-Present; Citizen Advisory Council – 2021-Present
Leadership Roles: President, Historic Old Town NIA – 2022-Present; Vice-Chair, Citizen Advisory Council – 2024; Chair, Citizen Advisory Council – 2023
Board Appointments: City of Topeka Land Bank Trust – 2024; Topeka Doula Project – 2018-2023; Central Topeka Grocery Oasis – 2022-2023
Lived Experience: Head of Household; Low-Income Earner; College Graduate with $70,000+ of student loan debt; BIPOC; secured nearly $400,000 in grants and funding for Central Topeka Grocery Oasis and Historic Old Town neighborhood
Miller: I have served in both the Kansas House and Senate and currently enjoy the position of House Democratic Leader. In addition, I have served as Deputy Mayor of Topeka, Chairman of the Shawnee County Commission and Municipal Judge of Topeka. Experience will be at a premium for Douglas County Democrats as we will be losing three of our current Democratic incumbents.
Schmidt: My experiences as a Congressional candidate in 2022 combined with my service as both active duty and reserve Naval Intelligence Officer give me the understanding and insight necessary to bring new leadership to the Senate. If elected I will work tirelessly for hard-working families to ensure their views are represented in Topeka.
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.*
King Simms:
Public Education — We must remove the politics, ideology and fuzzy math from the public education funding debates. The Legislature’s job is to provide funding to ensure all Kansas youths have access to a quality public education. As an educator myself, I have seen the challenges faced by both Lawrence and Topeka public schools when funding is done correctly (under Governor Kelly) and when it was politicized (under Brownback). We cannot go back to those days, we need to allow local school boards, who are elected officials in their own right, do their job and implement policy, while the Legislature provides funding.
Affordable Housing — Communities across Kansas, but especially Lawrence and Topeka, have seen a growing unhoused population. We must recognize that there are multiple causes for people lacking shelter, and treat each case in its own manner. We need to increase mental health services for those with untreated conditions and/or drug addiction issues. We need to invest in providing more affordable housing so that people are not losing their homes because they can no longer afford it (this should include action on property taxes so that especially the elderly and disabled are not taxed out). I am currently on the Topeka Land Bank, and that experience will bring new life on this issue to the Kansas Legislature. We must look at some of the local and community based actions on the issue of affordable housing to see what is working and what can be expanded on the state level. Remaining on the sidelines while attempting to criminalize being unhoused is NOT acceptable.
State Infrastructure — We must invest in our state’s physical and cyber infrastructure. The utter collapse of the Unemployment System during the COVID pandemic, which is currently behind schedule; and the recent hacking of our state’s judicial system so that Kansas is not meeting its responsibilities to the people of Kansas. We need new leadership that understands the importance of cyber security and infrastructure, so that we may meet the needs of our voters while safeguarding their personal information.
Miller:
1) High Residential Property Taxes — I authored the House Democrats’ three part plan that would lower those taxes 17%.
2) The next State Senator for this district must be a forceful and outspoken advocate for the high concentration of current and retired public employees in the district. I have been that as a member of the Legislature and will continue to be that if re-elected.
3) I have led the fight to eliminate the Medicaid waiver waiting list for our intellectually and developmentally disabled (IDD) citizens. The solution is more money directed for this purpose and it will remain my choice for our State’s most underfunded need.
Schmidt:
The Extremist GOP attacks on abortion rights and contraception, more Brownback-like tax plans and attacks on voting rights motivated me to run. I will not help the GOP enact more unconstitutional abortion restrictions and I will fight GOP tax plans that shower millions of dollars of tax breaks on the wealthy while working Kansans pay more. I will fight in the Senate to increase access to the ballot box, because in Kansas, voters should be able to exercise their vote without onerous restrictions.
Q: Would you support legalizing cannabis in Kansas?*
Options given: Yes, for any use (medicinal, recreational, etc.); Yes, for medicinal use; No
King Simms: Yes, for any use (medicinal, recreational, etc.)
Miller: Yes, for any use (medicinal, recreational, etc.)
Schmidt: Yes, for any use (medicinal, recreational, etc.)
Q: Would you support expansion of Medicaid in Kansas?*
(Only yes/no options given)
King Simms: Yes
Miller: Yes
Schmidt: 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)
King Simms: No
Miller: No
Schmidt: No
Q: Please elaborate on any of your answers to the yes/no questions above if you’d like to.
Miller: Cannabis: We waste too much taxpayer dollars prosecuting and enforcing these antiquated laws and we forfeit untold millions in revenue to surrounding states because they have moved into the 21st century and Kansas seems to be in a race for last state to do so.
Medicaid Expansion: A top priority but it will not move forward unless we elect more Democrats to the Legislature.
Vouchers. etc.: Public money should pay for public education only — period.
Schmidt: No tax dollars to private, religious 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.
King Simms: I believe local governments can be great incubators of experimentation of new policies. It will allow other leaders at all levels to watch and see results from various policies and whether they should be adopted in other areas or statewide. If the issues are not harming people or limiting constitutional rights of Kansans, I think we should celebrate these local ordinances. Lawrence has a great history of local ordinances for the better. From the safe haven for transgender individuals to local adoption of protections on hairstyles (the CROWN Act), Lawrence has led the way in forming a more inclusive and accepting local community that celebrates all differences. Unless localities are implementing harmful ordinances or limiting constitutional rights, I believe the Legislature should largely stay out of the issue. City Commissioners are elected officials too and have a duty to act in relation to their voters needs and wants, this should be respected at the state level.
Miller: As a 23 year local official myself I stand firm in my commitment that legislators should keep their noses out of the affairs of local government. My record as a State Senator and State Representative backs that up including protecting some of the very measures mentioned above.
Schmidt: Kansas has a long history of “home-rule,” and I see no reason to restrict cities’ abilities to govern themselves as they see fit, so long as they are not using their power to discriminate.
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.*
King Simms: Reproductive Health Freedoms — The Legislature must respect the will of the voters and the rulings of the Kansas Supreme Court, that the right to bodily autonomy is something we want and respect it. The attempts to add restrictions only complicates the process for those seeking abortion care, who are often in difficult circumstances already, they should not be subjected to added pressures and bullying tactics. I will never vote for any attempt to make abortion care, IVF treatment, or contraception more difficult and will actively oppose such legislation at every opportunity available.
Miller: Since the August vote, I have VOTED no less than 16 times as a member of the Kansas House against these measures and have spoken emphatically against many of them on the floor of the Kansas House. The Legislature needs to understand the people of Kansas have spoken and the Supreme Court of Kansas has made clear these matters are unconstitutional under the Kansas Constitution.
Schmidt: The legislature should respect the will of the voters and stop trying to ban abortion.
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.*
King Simms: Sadly, the Legislature is behind the times when it comes to respecting equality for LGBTQ+ Kansans. We still do not have statutes concerning non-discrimination in the workplace, and our constitution contains invalid provisions regarding same-sex marriage. However, the recent attacks on transgender Kansans have been upsetting and heartbreaking. But for the Representative from Beloit, I know several Kansas families that were facing hard decisions between remaining in Kansas without gender affirming care or having to move out of state to provide for the healthcare needs of their children. This is a gross overreach of parental rights, individual healthcare decision making, and borders on outright hate. Trevor Project studies show the increased mental health issues facing transgender youth, and ideological bullying should have no place in our state. I will actively oppose bills like this session’s SB 233 and allow parents to make decisions in the best interest of their children.
Miller: As a member of the House, I have consistently voted against measures intruding on the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. Again, Kansas legislators need to keep their noses out of these individuals’ lives.
Schmidt: The state has no business in people’s personal lives, and especially the lives of children. Parents are capable of raising their children and providing to their healthcare needs.
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?
King Simms: Property Taxes — I have heard a lot about this issue in forums, talking with voters and out knocking doors. While I support state level efforts to reduce property taxes, I believe it would be best done in conjunction with action from municipal and county governments as well. After the Special Session and passage of SB 1 income tax cuts (heavily for the richest Kansans), there are limited funds for the next Legislature to provide significant property tax relief based on the projections that I have seen. However, I want to remain open, get our briefings and see updated numbers so that we can put a plan in place to ensure Kansans are not taxed out of their homes. Regarding this issue, nothing is off the table for me.
Miller: The issue most often raised by voters is rising property taxes on homes. As noted above, I authored the House Democrats plan to reduce those taxes by 17% and have voted consistently in favor of measures to reduce those taxes and against measures that lead to property tax increases.
Schmidt: Abortion rights is the top concern of the voters I’ve talked with, and they agree the Extremist GOP needs to stop trying to ban it.
Q: Please share a question we didn’t ask that you’d like your fellow candidates to answer. How would you respond?
Miller: What is your plan to provide property tax relief on our homes?
As noted above I have authored and introduced a bipartisan three part plan: 1) Submit a constitutional amendment to voters reducing the assessment rate on homes from 11 1/2% to 9% 2) Fund the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund to the tune of $130,000,000 and 3) Raise the exemption on the statewide education levy to $100,000. These actions would result in an average reduction to everyone’s home property tax of 17%.
Schmidt: Do you support legislation to address gun violence?
Q: Free space: Please share anything you’d like voters to know about you and your stances that we haven’t asked here.
King Simms: I want voters in Lawrence and Douglas County to know that, despite the gerrymandering, their voices will be honored as part of the diversity of this district.
If we want to change, our representation must embody and articulate the breadth of lived experiences and scholarly pursuits. We must aim for the future beyond what is easy or most readily accessible – if we truly value a healthy democracy.
I invite you to consider, in your wildest democratic dream, which candidate most closely provides the pathway to that timeline?
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.
King Simms:
Favorite color? Tangerine
Zodiac sign? Libra Sun, Pisces Moon, and Capricorn Rising (I also have a Libra stellium)
Do you have any pets, and/or what’s your favorite animal? Current Cat: Glory, a rescue cat from Topeka Helping Hands Humane Society
What’s a fun fact our readers may not know about you? (Have a hidden talent? Interesting hobby?) I love to dance and have performed in local shows when time allows.
Favorite book, TV show and/or movie? Kung-Fu Panda – My favorite line is from Master Oogway: “There are no accidents.”
Miller:
Favorite color? Blue and Red on a KU jersey.
Zodiac sign? Libra
Do you have any pets, and/or what’s your favorite animal? Grew up a farm boy with a fondness for many animals. Currently have a cat.
What’s a fun fact our readers may not know about you? (Have a hidden talent? Interesting hobby?) Have no hidden nor visible talents. I am an avid fantasy sports fan.
Favorite book, TV show and/or movie? Book: Don Quixote, TV Show: Seinfeld, Movie: Wizard of Oz
Schmidt:
Favorite color? Green
Zodiac sign? Gemini
Do you have any pets, and/or what’s your favorite animal? Yes, dog named Teela
What’s a fun fact our readers may not know about you? (Have a hidden talent? Interesting hobby?) Classical pianist
Favorite book, TV show and/or movie? The Wire
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Meet the candidates for Kansas Senate District 19
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