Robinson announces House candidacy; Sloan will seek re-election

Former school board member Linda Robinson to seek House seat

? Former Lawrence school board member Linda Robinson today announced her candidacy for the 45th Kansas House District.

The position is currently held by state Rep. Tom Sloan, a Republican, who has served in the House since 1995, and plans to seek re-election. The 45th District includes west Lawrence and Lecompton.

Robinson, a Democrat, served on the school board for eight years, including one year as the president of the board.

“Public schools are being hit hard by the state budget crisis,” said Robinson. “Our community needs a leader in Topeka who will be a stronger advocate for public education and do more to protect our district from devastating cuts. I don’t want to just save our public schools, I want to invest in our future.”

Robinson said she opposes a House Republican leadership budget proposal that would shift more school funding from the state to the local level. “I find that to be disequalizing,” she said.

She said she supported the position of 14 local chambers of commerce that recently told state leaders they could support a tax increase to help solve the budget crisis.

Sloan said he will file for re-election soon. He said he also opposes the House Republican leadership budget, and is working with Gov. Mark Parkinson, a Democrat, and a group of moderate Republicans to get the votes necessary to pass a tax increase.

Sloan said he was at a bill signing Monday and spoke with Parkinson “about finding the votes for more funding for schools and for programs for persons with disabilities.”

The Legislature returns from its break on April 28 for a wrap-up session to tackle a revenue shortfall of more than $400 million.