Ann Mah

Democrat Ann Mah rode a big win in Douglas County to a seat on the Kansas State Board of Education.

In the race between two Topeka women, Mah carried Douglas County 21,434 to 8,629 on her way to defeating Republican candidate Sue Mollenkamp, 71,938-51,254.

Mah said her victory with moderate Republican and Democratic victories Tuesday and in the August primaries in races for the Kansas Legislature was an indication voters wanted adequate funding for public education.

“When I was out campaigning, even in small towns, they understood where the problem was and that’s Gov. Sam Brownback,” she said. “We’re closer to having a working coalition of moderate Republicans and Democrats.”

Mah said she was hopeful with the changes that the Legislature will make the State Board a partner in creating a new school funding formula for the state’s school districts.

“I’m hopeful they’ll listen to the experts,” she said. “I will fight for the board’s role in that.”

Mah’s victory kept the 4th District in Democratic hands. She will succeed Carolyn Wims-Campbell, who chose not to run for re-election.

The 4th District includes all or parts of Douglas, Jefferson, Osage, Shawnee and Wabaunsee counties. The 4th State Board District portion of Douglas County is the western part of the county represented by the Kansas Senate 2nd District, in which Democrat Marci Francisco won re-election Tuesday.