CAMPAIGN 2008 GOALS

1. DEFEAT TODD TIAHRT

In the 2000 race for Congress, Carlos Nolla received 45% of the vote against Tiahrt in Sedgwick County, receiving 71,078 votes to the incumbent’s 81,441. Those numbers went down the next two campaigns. In 2002, a rematch garnered Nolla 39% of the county’s vote (46,778 votes to Tiahrt’s 71,076) and in 2004, Mike Kinard received 34% (57,584 to Tiahrt’s 108,183). In 2006, the percentage climbed up, with Garth McGinn receiving 36% (42,242 to Tiahrt’s 71,153). Despite these numbers, 2008 presents Democrats an excellent opportunity to unseat extremist and out-of-touch incumbents like Todd Tiahrt.

2. ASSIST STATE PARTY IN RECRUITING A QUALIFIED U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE

We do not yet know if Sen. Pat Roberts will run for re-election. If he does not run, we expect that Rep. Jerry Moran will be a candidate for this office.

3. RE-ELECT AND RETAIN ALL INCUMBENT DEMOCRATIC STATE LEGISLATIVE SEATS IN SEDGWICK COUNTY

Senator Donald Betts (Dist. 29) is the only incumbent State Senator. We have 10 Democratic State Representatives to re-elect.

4. PICK UP ONE ADDITIONAL STATE SENATE SEAT

We will be alert to the possibility of retirements among the 6 Republican incumbents in Sedgwick County. We will recruit qualified candidates to run in every district.

5. PICK UP TWO ADDITIONAL STATE HOUSE SEATS

Several State House candidates came extremely close and ran respectable races in 2006. We will continue to encourage our close but unsuccessful candidates to run again in 2008. We will recruit qualified candidates to run for every seat.

6. RE-ELECT COUNTY COMMISSIONER TIM NORTON AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY NOLA FOULSTON

If either of these strong incumbents do not run again (though we have no indication that they will retire), then we will recruit qualified candidates to run in their place.

7. RE-ELECT INCUMBENT DEMOCRATIC JUDGES

We expect that Judges Kisner, Pilshaw, Clark, and Bribiesca will be running for re-election.

8. FIND QUALITY, QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO RUN IN ALL SEDGWICK COUNTY COURTHOUSE RACES

We are already recruiting candidates to run for the offices of Sheriff, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Country Treasurer, and several possible open judicial races. Additionally, we will find a strong challenger for Commissioner Tom Winters.

9. ASSIST STATE PARTY IN FINDING QUALITY KANSAS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATES

Republican incumbents Steve Abrams and Carol Rupe are up for re-election, and there is a strong possibility that Rupe may not run again. We must retain that seat with a moderate, and better yet a Democrat.

10. REDUCE VACANCY RATE IN PRECINCT POSITIONS

Sedgwick County has 261 precincts and 522 slots for Democratic committeemen and committeewomen. However, many of these precincts have a very low number of people living in them. There are actually 177 precincts (354 slots) where committee people would have a large enough base of voter to organize. At the beginning of 2007, we have around 160 of these slots filled for a vacancy rate of 55%. We pledge to substantially narrow that gap this campaign season.