I urge you to vote for Sue Boldra for the Kansas House of Representatives.

To the best of my recollection, I have voted for Sue's opponent, Eber Phelps, every time he has run for office, both for the Hays City Commission and for the Kansas Legislature. He has been a dedicated elected official -- approachable, hard-working and conscientious -- and I thank him for his public service.

So, you might ask, why is Sue the better choice? Easy. She has the same excellent personal qualities as Eber, but unlike Eber, she is right on the issues.

A vote for Eber is a vote for big government, higher taxes and a left-wing social agenda. It's not just that Eber is a Democrat. He is the Democratic whip in the House. He cannot go off the reservation. It is his job not only to vote with the Democrats, but to make sure all the other Democrats hew to the party line.

Let me be clear. I do not think "Democrat" is a dirty word. We have two major political parties. We live in a pluralistic society. It is good that various viewpoints are represented in the political arena. Hopefully, by challenging each other's ideas, we keep each other honest.

I understand there are people in the 111th District who will gladly cast their ballots for Eber because they agree with his left-wing positions.

I simply urge you not to vote for Eber just because he is a good guy.

Sue is a mother, a wife, a farmer, a former small business owner, a career teacher dedicated to education and a person who believes in conservative values and the Constitution.

If you agree that state government should uphold the values of liberty, self-reliance and rule of law that made our country great, I encourage you to join me in voting for Sue Boldra on Tuesday.

Kent Steward

Hays