A Look at the 2023 Local Elections
Written by: Case Brown Graphic Credit: Jazzmin Bernal
Presidential elections occur every four years, but there are actually election cycles every year for a variety of local and state officials. This year, there are two elections that are worth knowing: the Wichita mayoral election and the school board election for USD 265.
Mayoral Election
This election cycle, the candidates for Wichita mayor are incumbent Brandon Whipple and Lily Wu. The election is considered nonpartisan, however, each candidate has a political affiliation; Wu is Libertarian and Whipple is a Democrat. Whipple served as a state legislator from 2013 to 2020 and is currently the mayor of Wichita. Wu was a reporter and news anchor for two television stations locally. If you are a resident of the city of Wichita, you will see an option to vote for mayor on your ballot. To learn more about the candidates, go to their websites and social media pages provided below
*all contact information is taken from ballotpedia.org*
Brandon Whipple - votewhipple.com, Facebook (campaign page), Twitter (personal), LinkedIn
Lily Wu - lilywuformayor.com, Facebook (campaign page), Twitter (campaign), Instagram (campaign), LinkedIn
School Board USD265
This year, the school board has four vacant seats with 12 candidates to choose from. Nicole Hawkins and Jenny Simmons are both incumbents running for re-election. Below is a list of candidates and where to learn more about them.
*all contact information is taken from ballotpedia.org*
Nicole Hawkins (incumbent) - Facebook (campaign page)
Jenny Simmons (incumbent) - N/A
Titus Crockett - Facebook (personal)
Edward Cropper - N/A
Ginnie Ely - N/A
Amanda Gish - LinkedIn and Facebook (personal)
Noah Guinn - Facebook (personal)
Liz Hamor - lizhamor.com, LinkedIn, Twitter (personal), and Facebook (personal & campaign page)
Timothy Henderson - N/A
Nathan Johnson - N/A
Jerry Longabaugh - Facebook (personal)
Rachel Murphy - N/A
Why Vote in Local Elections?
Affected Directly: Local elections have a fairly low voter turnout, meaning less people care to vote in them. Voting in local elections is very important though, because local officials will affect your daily life more directly than any other. For example, the mayor of Wichita is in charge of the city’s budget and consequential public transportation and safety.
Greater Influence: the fact that less people vote in local elections means that your vote is worth more, not only on the ballot but to the politicians who are vying for your support. Every vote counts and it only takes one more vote than your opposition to win.
Hold Them Accountable: Holding your politicians accountable is a vital function of democracy. Local officials are not exempt from the accountability we show to our state officials and federal officials. If you are unhappy with the work done by your elected official, reflect that in the poll booth.
Increase Voter Turnout: More people should vote in local elections! Diverse opinions are important for governments to function in the United States. The more people who show that they’re invested in their home, the more your city will feel like home. There is always room for improvement, but there will never be change without action.
Become Civically Involved!
There are many ways to be involved in the democratic process, especially here in Kansas. Civic involvement looks good on resumes and allows you to form connections in the community. Helping others and being involved, no matter your political affiliation, is beneficial to our society. You don’t even have to be 18. Here are some opportunities to participate!
Become a poll worker as a student! Go to sos.ks.gov/elections/volunteer.html to find the requirements and application. There are many benefits that you could receive from doing so.
Volunteer with a non-profit organization. There are many amazing organizations who operate in Wichita and the surrounding area that are always accepting volunteers. A great example is the Kansas Food Bank at 1919 E Douglas Ave. If physical work isn’t your thing, museums are also great places to volunteer to educate others.
Encourage others to vote! You don’t have to be 18 to be civically engaged. Encouraging friends and loved ones to vote is also a great way to be civically active. Encourage them to learn about the candidates and the policies which they support.
Stay up to date. Keep informed about things happening in your community and around the country. Diversify your news sources to see every issue from every angle. Be aware of misinformation that may circulate from time to time and identify your own biases. Knowledge truly is power.
Support Small Business. Money put into local businesses circulates back into the local economy, boosting the well being of a community’s economic environment. According to chamberofcommerce.org, 99.9% of businesses in the U.S. are small businesses, meaning they are the backbone of the business climate of America.
Why It All Matters
Voting and civic involvement are of vital importance to the maintenance and improvement of our democracy. Participating in your government, especially on the local level, builds stronger communities.Young people are the future of our nation and should have a say in the way the land is governed. Let no one convince you otherwise.
Sometimes we can feel like our voice or vote doesn’t matter, but it does. Patrick Henry once said, “...United we stand, divided we fall,” and he is absolutely right. Your vote may not have much influence on its own, but by organizing and encouraging others to voice their opinions, your voice is heard.
