Anthony R. Brown

Diane Bryant

A former social studies teacher, Rep. Anthony Brown, R-Eudora, was a dues-paying member of the National Education Assn. during the 1990s.

But Brown, a social conservative and a Roman Catholic, said he grew frustrated with the organization because of its large donations to then-President Clinton.

“Where does a guy who believes in a strong family structure who is anti-abortion, pro-life, where does he fit (in the NEA)?” Brown asked. “Where do conservative teachers go?”

In Brown’s case, they go to the Legislature. He now seeks a second term in the Kansas House of Representatives in the 38th District, which stretches from Olathe to the edges of Lawrence and includes De Soto and Eudora.

His Democratic opponent, Diane Bryant, is another former public schools employee: She worked 31 years as a library media specialist in Olathe public schools.

A key difference between the two is their stance on the recent school funding package approved by the Legislature.

Brown, who sees state funding formulas as unfair for Johnson County, Eudora and De Soto, voted against the plan and said he’ll vote against the next two years of it. He argues for more local control of education funding and favors lifting the state-imposed cap on local school districts’ collection of tax dollars.

He points out that Johnson County provides 30 percent of school funds statewide, has 20 percent of students and only receives 8 percent of the total budget.

“It’s not that I’m not willing to spend money on education. I do think it’s something we need to invest in,” he said. “I just think we need to do it wisely.”

Bryant, who has won endorsement of education groups including the Kansas National Education Assn., supports the education plan and questions Brown’s commitment to public schools.

“I will work very, very hard to fund education to provide the best schools we can,” she said. “I don’t think he’ll give an inch to fund public education, and he wants to blame the formula.”

Other differences:

¢ Given the chance, Brown said he would vote to make abortions illegal in Kansas except in cases of rape, incest or if the mother’s life was threatened. Bryant is pro-choice.

¢ Brown said he’s interested in a plan to require Senate confirmation of state Supreme Court justices, an idea favored by some lawmakers convinced the that court overstepped its authority by ordering a school funding increase. Bryant said she doesn’t think Senate confirmation of justices is necessary.