Howe: GOP party healer?Three Johnson County commissioners stood up today at a morning press conference in Olathe and waved the elect-Steve-Howe-for-district-attorney banner.
Commissioners Ed Eilert, Doug Wood and Dave Lindstrom – all good Republicans -- were joined by a wide political cross section of the GOP faithful to get behind Howe.
It was almost like a Republican rugby scrum with Democrat challenger Rick Guinn as the football.
The show of GOP unity was also remarkable for what it didn’t say rather than for what it did.
“Steve Howe is a veteran prosecutor who understands that public safety is a key component of our quality of life in Johnson County,” Eilert said in a prepared statement. “I am confident that Steve’s experience and professionalism will quickly earn the public’s trust in the Office of District Attorney.”
District Attorney Phill Kline has said repeatedly that he will not run again. But Kline watchers out there can’t shake the nagging feeling that he’ll show up again in a very public way. The filing deadline is June 10.
Area mayors also got behind Howe today: Mission Mayor Laura McConwell; Olathe Mayor Mike Copeland; Overland Park Mayor Carl Gerlach; and Prairie Village Mayor Ron Shaffer.
Kansas House Majority Leader Ray Merrick didn’t want to be left out and neither did his colleagues Rep. Jeff Colyer; and Rep. Arlen Siegfried.
Republican 3rd District Chairman Ernie Straub along with Johnson County Republican Party officials Marvin Kleeb and Brad Seiter added their endorsement of Howe.
Moderate Greg Musil and conservative Charlotte O’Hara will lead Howe’s campaign committee and civic leader Terry Dunn and former Attorney General Bob Stephan will lead Howe’s steering committee.
Already in as supporters are Kansas Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, along with former Sen. Nancy Kassebaum-Baker and Reps. Larry Winn, Jr. and Jan Meyers.
On the state level, there’s Sen. Karin Brownlee and past GOP county chairmen Doug Patterson and Bob Bibb.
But if this was being billed as a “we all can get along moment” for the Republican Party in Johnson County, where was Commissioner John Toplikar?
As usual Toplikar is the smart.....
one of the pack. I hate to tell Howe this but some of his endorsements are a knife in his back because a whole bunch of people are not too satisfied with a lot of these politicians right now. Note I said politicians and not leaders or statesmen.