Politics Not Included

Cindy Holscher, Democratic Kansas Gubernatorial candidate

mdzumbaugh@thetci.org (Transparent Campaign Initiative) — Sat, 4 Apr 2026 13:59:40 +0000

In this episode, Kansas State Senator Cindy Holscher and Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate shares her journey from her early career to running a campaign for Governor. She discusses her legislative experiences, motivations for running, and her vision for Kansas, emphasizing community engagement, public education, and the importance of voting. She discusses her motivations, approach to campaigning, and the role of family support in her political career.

We discuss:

Her early career and legislative experience

Motivations for running for Governor and navigating the Kansas Legislature

The importance of community and voter engagement

Family support and balancing personal life with political ambitions

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:19 Journey into Politics

03:27 Legislative Experience and Motivation to Run

05:05 Campaigning: Challenges and Growth

10:22 Mental Resilience in Politics

12:55 The Importance of Legislative Experience

15:20 Community Engagement and Substitute Teaching

18:00 Balancing Campaigning and Legislative Duties

19:10 Leadership Style and Governance Vision

21:10 Family Support of Political Ambitions

25:04 Balancing Commitments and Responsibilities

26:30 Understanding Legislative Sessions

29:07 Committee Assignments and Bill Processes

31:03 How to Engage with Legislators

32:05 Navigating Social Media as an Elected Official

35:28 Choosing a Lieutenant Governor

36:44 Misconceptions About Running for Office

41:17 Empowering Voter Engagement

43:27 The Importance of Voting in Primaries

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Follow Cindy Holscher –

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cindyforkansas

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cindyforkansas/

Website - https://cindyforkansas.com

Charlotte O'Hara, Republican Kansas Gubernatorial candidate

mdzumbaugh@thetci.org (Transparent Campaign Initiative) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:51:51 +0000

Kansas Republican Gubernatorial candidate Charlotte O'Hara shares her previous political experience and vision for a transparent, accountable leadership rooted in conservative principles. She discusses her personal journey, how her personal experiences shaped her political viewpoints, and the importance of integrity in politics. We also discuss her reputation for speaking directly about her political beliefs and how that honesty has helped her Gubernatorial campaign.

We discussed:

Her personal journey from farm life to politics

Campaign principles and political integrity

Her personal experience with tax incentives in Kansas

Why she chose to homeschool her children

How she stays true to her core beliefs despite outside pressures

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:16 Charlotte's Political Background and Rural Roots

04:05 Personal Experiences with Property Taxes and Business

08:20 Why Run for Governor: Addressing Statewide Issues

09:45 Family Business in Manufacturing

11:35 Impact of Property Taxes on Small Businesses

13:02 Motivation and Career Shift to Run for Office

14:21 Federalization of Education and Local Control

15:49 Family Life and Personal Values

18:42 Standing by Core Principles

20:33 Legislative Experience and Policy Stances

22:40 Transparency, Accountability, and Political Integrity

25:44 Campaign Strategy: Clear Values and Direct Communication

28:50 Vision for Leadership and Community Engagement

32:25 Supporting the Party Platform or You’re Personal Stances

35:23 Closing Remarks and Why it’s Important to Vote

Follow Charlotte O’Hara:

Website: https://oharaforkansas.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oharaforjoco

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oharaforkansas/

Donate to the Transparent Campaign Initiative:

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Dr. Sharilyn Ray, Independent Kansas Gubernatorial Candidate

mdzumbaugh@thetci.org (Transparent Campaign Initiative) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:33:28 +0000

In this episode, Dr. Sharilyn Ray shares how her experiences with abuse, homelessness, and foster care shaped her career in social work and her passion for helping others. She discusses her inspiring journey from overcoming personal adversity to running as an independent candidate for Governor of Kansas. She discusses her platform focused on community and transparency, emphasizing the importance of bringing diverse voices to the table to solve problems. Balancing family life, running a nonprofit, and a statewide campaign, Dr. Ray emphasizes resilience, faith, and the importance of civic engagement.

Key Topics

Dr. Sharilyn Ray's personal journey and background in social work

Her platform focused on community, transparency, and solutions

The challenges and opportunities of running as an independent candidate

Fostering and family life balancing with political ambitions

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:45 Dr. Ray's Journey: From Personal Struggles to Advocacy

10:59 Family Life and Fostering

19:10 Motivations and Challenges of Running for Governor

22:16 The Independent Path: Building a Platform from Scratch

27:42 Overcoming Misconceptions of an Independent Candidate

33:30 Personal Growth and Community Engagement

39:23 Logistics of Running for Governor

43:35 The Importance of Voting and Representation

Follow Dr. Sharilyn Ray:

Website - http://www.rayforkansas.com/

TikTok - @rayforkansas

Instagram - @rayforkansas

Email - fyi@rayforkansas.com

Facebook - Dr. Sharilyn Ray for Kansas

Donate to the Transparent Campaign Initiative:

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Website - https://transparentcampaigns.org

Stacy Rogers, Republican Kansas Gubernatorial Candidate

mdzumbaugh@thetci.org (Transparent Campaign Initiative) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:27:37 +0000

Kansas gubernatorial candidate Stacey Rogers shares her journey from entrepreneur to political candidate, discussing her campaign strategies, views on political experience, social media engagement, and the importance of grassroots support. Discover how her unique perspective is reshaping political campaigns and inspiring change in Kansas.

We discuss:

Grassroots campaigning and community engagement

The role of social media in political campaigns

The importance of authentic leadership over legislative experience

00:00 Meet Stacey Rogers: Kansas Republican Gubernatorial Candidate

02:05 Traveling Kansas: Building a Campaign One Town at a Time

03:51 From City Council to Gubernatorial Race

04:20 Why Stacey Decided to Run for Governor

06:39 Balancing Business and Politics

10:34 Personal Life and Sacrifices in Campaigning

14:28 Myths About Political Experience

16:24 Campaign Finance and Grassroots Support

21:04 Deciding Not to Participate in the GOP Debate

28:51 Social Media as a Campaign Tool

33:06 Engaging with Supporters and Critics

38:40 What Should the Public Know About Campaigning

43:31 The Humanity of Candidates and Voters

48:30 Handling Uncertainty and Enjoying the Journey

51:50 Choosing a Lieutenant Governor

55:42 Legacy and Future Impact

56:13 The Importance of Voting

57:15 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

Follow Stacy:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/StacyRogersforKansas

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/stacyforkansasgovernor?igsh=aWxqdjQ0NmVtOXRu

Website - https://stacyrogersforks.com

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Margaret Shabazz, Wichita City Council District 6 Candidate

mdzumbaugh@thetci.org (Transparent Campaign Initiative) — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Margaret Shabazz, Wichita City Council District 6 candidate discusses her career path, the importance of community advocacy, and the influence of her family legacy on her commitment to social change. Margaret emphasizes the significance of voting and community engagement, reflecting on her personal experiences that shaped her leadership style and her decision to run for office.

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LaWanda DeShazer, Wichita City Council District 1 Candidate

mdzumbaugh@thetci.org (Transparent Campaign Initiative) — Fri, 3 Oct 2025 16:04:48 +0000

LaWanda DeShazer, candidate for the Wichita City Council District 1, shares her background from her extensive community involvement to some ins and outs of her current campaign. LaWanda discusses her educational background, her passion for helping others, and her experience as a first time candidate. She emphasizes the importance of community engagement and voter trust in local government.

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Abena Taylor, Manhattan City Commission Candidate

mdzumbaugh@thetci.org (Transparent Campaign Initiative) — Wed, 1 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Abena Taylor shares her journey from Jamaica to the United States, educational background, and career path leading to her candidacy for the Manhattan City Commission. The conversation explores her passions for pottery and dance, her supportive family life, and the challenges of running a campaign. Abena emphasizes the importance of community engagement, informed voting, and the need for a supportive environment for all residents.

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Amber Starling, Manhattan City Commission Candidate

mdzumbaugh@thetci.org (Transparent Campaign Initiative) — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Amber Starling, Manhattan City Commission candidate, shares her backstory including how she was raised and what led her to start Good Witch Cleaning Services. She also talks about starting the Free Store to provide free clothes to community members in need.

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Jayme Minton, Manhattan City Commissioner and Candidate

mdzumbaugh@thetci.org (Transparent Campaign Initiative) — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Jayme Minton, Manhattan City Commissioner, discusses some of her experience being appointed to the Commission, what it's like to get a campaign going, and tells us a little bit about her beer collab with Manhattan Brewing Company.

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Website: transparentcampaigns.org

Martha Sweeney, Manhattan City Commission Candidate

mdzumbaugh@thetci.org (Transparent Campaign Initiative) — Fri, 5 Sep 2025 12:20:09 +0000

Martha Sweeney shares her background moving from California to England to Belgium to settle down in Manhattan, Kansas. We also discuss her experience as a rower and what led her to run for commission.

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Scott Seel, Manhattan City Commission Candidate

mdzumbaugh@thetci.org (Transparent Campaign Initiative) — Wed, 3 Sep 2025 12:08:46 +0000

Scott Seel, Manhattan City Commission Candidate and Realtor, shares the path and experiences that shaped his career. We also dive into some of the realities of running a campaign.

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Peter Oppelt, Manhattan City Commissioner and Candidate

mdzumbaugh@thetci.org (Transparent Campaign Initiative) — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Manhattan City Commissioner, Peter Oppelt, discusses his career path from the Army to an economist and data analyst. He is seeking re-election in November and shares the experience of what led him to run in the first place.

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Jayme Morris-Hardeman, USD 383 School Board Member and Candidate

mdzumbaugh@thetci.org (Transparent Campaign Initiative) — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we get to know Jayme Morris-Hardeman. She is a current USD 383 School Board member seeking re-election in November. She is also the Executive Director of Thrive! Join us as we discuss her career path from biochemist to Executive Director of several non-profits. We also dive into her previous experience as a Manhattan City Commissioner and a real example of why every vote matters.

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Courtney Hochman, USD 383 School Board Candidate

mdzumbaugh@thetci.org (Transparent Campaign Initiative) — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Meet Courtney Hochman, mom of three currently finishing a PhD in Student Affairs in Higher Eduction. She is also a candidate for the USD 383 School Board. On this episode she shares her journey in education as a student, experience in higher education, and why she is running for the school board.

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Lew Faust, USD 383 School Board Candidate

mdzumbaugh@thetci.org (Transparent Campaign Initiative) — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Meet Lew Faust, retired Director of Business Services for USD 383. He is also a candidate for the USD 383 School Board election in November. On this episode he shares insights from a 43-year career education, his experience with the USD 383 district, and some of the things he's navigated in his first run for an elected position.

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Kristin Brighton, USD 383 School Board President

mdzumbaugh@thetci.org (Transparent Campaign Initiative) — Fri, 8 Aug 2025 20:53:57 +0000

Meet Kristin Brighton, Co-Owner and Principle of New Boston Media Group. She is also the current USD 383 School Board President. On this episode she shares her favorite parts of owning a media company, insights from 6 years of serving on the school board, and how local leadership shapes the place we call home.

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