Submitted By Jerrold Finney
It’s been a little over a year since the death of my beloved wife Gail Finney.
She was always the one out front – but at home, we talked a lot about the issues affecting our community. Since we almost always agreed on the issues, I was never surprised when she showed up on social media, on the news or on the pages of The Community Voice to make her position known.
In her memory, I decided I must speak up on what I see as a major lack of understanding in our community – what’s at stake with the Wichita mayor’s race.
On the surface, the election, on Tue., Nov. 7, is between incumbent Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple and former Wichita television reporter Lily Wu.
But if you think this race is a battle between those two candidates, you don’t know what’s going on.
This election is a battle for the soul of the Wichita City Council. This election is a battle for the soul of our city.
There’s a lot at stake with this race and I want to make sure our community doesn’t just sit this election out. We need to show up like we did for the abortion constitutional vote. Our vote made a difference then and it can make a difference now.
HERE’S WHAT’S GOING ON!
The Wichita City Council has a reputation for being a liberal city governing body and the conservatives don’t like that. There are six members on the council. Three of them – all of whom are not up for election – are very liberal.
The other three seats are typically represented by individuals who are conservative or at best moderates.
With that 3-to-3 balance, the mayor’s vote is often the deciding voice on many issues our community might support.
Mayor Whipple, like Mayor Carl Brewer, has proven he supports our issues.
Lily Wu is an untested commodity. However, what we know about her is that Wichita’s conservative business community members are behind her. Wu’s election campaign coffers are swelling with money from some of Wichita’s wealthiest and most powerful and from Americans for Prosperity, a political action group started by Charles Koch.
What are some of AFP’s positions?
They oppose expanding Medicaid to provide health insurance to our most needy, they fight against voter’s rights, and are behind many of the bills being proposed to limit our ability to vote.
Yes, you may have grown up watching Lily Wu on TV and, yes, you may have seen her in our community – now that she wants your vote. But don’t fall for the friendly, smiling minority. Take the time to find out what she supports and who’s behind her.
I’ve told you what’s behind her and it’s ugly. It’s a long line of greedy developers and conservatives who want to control what happens locally and limit your ability to vote. As if they didn’t have enough power, they want even more.
Vote Nov. 7. Don’t let them control the way we live here at home.