Incumbent Brett Fairchild (R-St. John) and challenger JoAnn Roth (D-Ellinwood) are unopposed candidates in the Aug. 6 primaries for the Kansas House of Representatives, District 113. Their names will appear on the general election ballot on Nov. 5.
The Great Bend Tribune sent each candidate the same questions and received the following answers. The order in which they are listed was determined by a coin toss.
JoAnn Roth
Is this your first time filing for an elected office? No, I ran for this same office after the Supreme Court Dobbs decision was leaked.
What other elected offices have you held? After serving in the local Farm Service Office for a dozen years I was elected three terms to the Barton County FSA, Farm Service Agency, County Committee which rules on appeals by farmers to decisions involving the Federal Farm Program. After that I went to work for Homeland Security.
What do you believe qualifies you for this office? People often confuse qualified to run for an office with “Why should I be elected?” I should be elected 113th District State Representative; the people of this District want a person who looks to the future. A person who doesn’t impose their personal beliefs by force of law upon all others. This last session the incumbent introduced legislation which would make it a severity level one person felony, resulting in the same punishment as for rape and murder, for a fertilized embryo to be destroyed during IVF in an effort to assist an infertile couple in having a baby. My campaign slogan is “Give Voters a Choice” and yes, that means women should have full access to health care.
What do you see as the Number One issue in this election? My opponent’s views on abortion access are draconian, much like the self-appointed and self-proclaimed religious men in Europe during the Dark Ages who burned over 80,000 women at the stake as witches. Different religious groups fled to this country proclaiming freedom of religion as one of our fundamental rights. I respect the views of others, but refuse to have politicians in Topeka deny women full access to health care.
Brett Fairchild
What other elected offices have you held? I’ve been in the house for two terms, no other offices.
What do you believe qualifies you for this office? I’m qualified for this office because I’m an experienced legislator, having served in the house for two terms. I also serve on the Water and Agriculture Committees, which are important to our rural communities.
What do you see as the Number One issue in this election? The number one issue that my constituents say they’re concerned about is rising property taxes. I believe we should reduce the 20 mil state property tax, which we’ll likely do next year.
