The Kansas Statehouse in Topeka.

Democrat Barbara Ballard is seeking her 13th term in the Kansas House representing the 44th District, which mainly consists of west Lawrence. First elected in 1992, Ballard has served as chair of the House Democratic Caucus. She is the ranking Democrat on the Social Services Budget Committee and the KanCare Oversight Committee. She also serves on the House Appropriations and Transportation committees.

Outside of politics, Ballard works as associate director of outreach at the Dole Institute of Politics on the University of Kansas campus. She has also held several administrative posts at KU. She also served on the Lawrence school board before she ran for the House.

Ballard has been an outspoken critic of Gov. Sam Brownback’s tax policies. “I have voted and would do so again to repeal the largest income tax cut in history, because we cannot afford it currently,” she said. “The Legislature needs to have a serious debate about tax reform but the lack of revenue must be addressed first. The state is struggling and having difficulty meeting obligations.”

For the short term, however, Ballard said few options are available to cut state spending to balance the budget. “We can’t borrow any more funds from Transportation and we must leave KPERS alone — we have been there,” she said. “The Legislature can revisit the Efficiency Study we paid to have done, and hopefully find more efficiencies.”

On education policy, Ballard said the Legislature solved the problem of funding equity among districts during the special session this summer. “Now, we must address the equality issue so that all 288 Kansas school districts are able to provide the teachers, programs and services that all students need to be challenged and successful in school,” she said.

She also said she opposes “religious freedom” bills that would shield businesses from discrimination lawsuits if their actions are based on religious beliefs. And she opposes the state’s current photo ID and proof-of-citizenship voting laws.

“Voting is a right of citizens of the United States and the state should not make the right to vote a difficult process,” she said. “We know that fraud is almost nonexistent, so why is the state making it difficult for folks to vote in Kansas?”