Community activist Aujanae Bennett has filed to run for the District 1 seat on the Wichita City Council. The seat, which represents central northeast Wichita, is currently held by Councilman Brandon Johnson, who can not seek reelection due to term limits.
Bennett is the third candidate to enter the race. Previously announced candidates are Joseph Shepard and LaWanda DeShazer.
Bennett, who has served as president of the Northeast Millair Neighborhood Association for eight years, came to the greater community’s attention three years ago when she sounded the alarm about the toxic spill that had contaminated much of the groundwater in her neighborhood.
“If I hadn’t been at that meeting as a president of an association, we still wouldn’t know,” said Bennett about the spill the Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment knew about in 1994, but failed to engage the community around.
Bennett didn’t just hear the information, she acted on it. She’s spent the past three years actively fighting to bring attention to the spill, get it cleaned up and to get those impacted by the spill tested for related cancers.
It’s a role that’s landed her on a number of related boards and commissions, including one appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly.
“I need to be there, because when we’re not there, we get left out,” said Bennett
Through roles like this, she says she feels God pushing her to serve. That’s why she decided to run.
Her platform includes improving the quality of life for people in the community. She wants to see transparency in the community and sustainable situations and solutions for mental health and affordable housing.
Bennett, 61, is a Wichita native. She owns and operates an insurance brokerage company and previously owned and operated a daycare for 12 years.
If a fourth candidate enters the race, there will be a primary on Aug. 4. The general election is Nov. 4.
My wife and I met her this morning drinking coffee on our porch. She first came to offer attending a BBQ at the church and a meeting on 25th street. She had mentioned she was running for office. She had laughed about that she cut her braid off and looks different. She gave insight into the case of the 1994. Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a dangerous chemical that the railroad had leak into groundwater here in Wichita near grove and 135. It is a carcinogen and was on the list of proposed banned chemicals by th EPA. But unfortunately the community in this area is of lower income and not white. The information and the effects Ms Bennet looked into and fought for people to get tested and groundwater to be tested. Especially well water. Imagine spraying your lawn that your kids played in for years that was laced with this chemical and not knowing it. She also fought for the local redevelopment plan that sat idle in the area for houses to be redeveloped. It is now under Habitat for humanity. She said that she thinks she is guided to do more by her faith. The famous quote “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” by Edmund Burke comes to mind. We moved to this neighborhood in 2024 after living further west. This neighborhood has been more safe, welcoming and quiet than our last. It is funny and sad that when my wife mentions where we live there is a look of “oh god you live there”. I grew up in a community that wasn’t white or high income. It reminds me of that. I can name all my neighbors. Rae, Bruce, Robyn and Valentine. Bruce always watches out for the people he told me once my car lights were on. Rae is the neighborhood hero always helping his family and others. Valentine is always working a project or car and when the city did not plow the snow and then when they did trapped the neighborhood in 4ft drifts he got out his skid steer and plowed the street. This is the community my wife and I have come to love and Ms Bennet I know has the community in mind when she thinks of government. She has my vote.
I would not vote for this woman she is not who she says she is she is a disgrace to the black community the entire neighborhood hates this woman