The annual hoopla of Kansas Republicans, known as Kansas Days, has come and gone. The event had some fun times, like any convention, but it also had some contentious moments as well.
Hopeful candidates held receptions, hoping to convince the party faithful to elect them for the first time or to return them to office in the upcoming elections later this year. One such candidate had not even been a registered Republican until a few days ago when, after announcing that he was running, switched from unaffiliated to Republican — a fact confirmed by a member of the State's Republican Executive Committee. How this will play out to the party faithful is yet to be seen. One turn off, from the media's perspective, is that this candidate, Dr. Ken Canfield (founder of the National Center For Fathering and host of the nationally syndicated radio program "Today's Father,") refused to answer media questions, asking instead that the questions be emailed to him. Yet, he feels, he says, that it's important to talk with media.
Another candidate, Dennis Hawver, a former Libertarian, who has unsuccessfully ran for Congress and Governor, and who this year has switched to the Republican Party, was making his rounds dressed in revolutionary garb, "because I am a revolutionary candidate." The mood was mixed from people who seemed interested in what he had to say to people cracking jokes about the crazy guy dressed like "Thomas Jefferson."
Perhaps though the biggest fireworks and yet biggest non-event was the contentious annual meeting, where some moderates feared that adopting a new platform was a step toward purging them from the party.
The Republican State Committee spent more than 2 1/2 hours hashing over the party's platform, constitution and rules. The platform takes conservative positions on many issues, including abortion and teaching alternatives to evolution in public schools. In addition, a diversity clause was added to the conservative state party platform in hopes of quieting discontent, but the effort may not be enough to appease frustrated moderates.
Article comments
1 - Kansan1
Actually Martin Hawver confirmed with Ken Canfield that he switched his unafiliated status to Republican back in November. Do your homework before you spout off unconfirmed rumors from "a member of the executive committee."
2 - Kevin Surbaugh
Martin was the member of the media and he and I was talking to a Conservative on the executive committe...the facts were confirmed. Now you know the source, Mr. Hawver. The member of the executive committee is one of the officers we elected a year ago, as I said is Conservative and probably be voting for Dr. Canfield, who is probably the most conservative candidate for Governor.
3 - Kevin Surbaugh
Kansan1 -
Let me say that again, because it's clearer in my Canfield Piece a member of the media (ie: Martin Hawver) told me of this bit of info and it was a high ranking party official that confirmed it. It was not a ranking member who told me. Perhaps, Canfield would have answered questions, instead of saying email him. Things might be different. He still has a chance to clear up the matter, when he answers, if he ever does, my email.