State Rep. Barbara Ballard, foreground, leads the audience of several hundred in singing during Martin Luther King Jr. ceremonies Friday at the Capitol rotunda in Topeka. State officials participating included Kansas Gov. Bill Graves, left. Janet Murguia, Kansas University executive vice chancellor for university relations, right, was featured speaker. Karen Swisher, Haskell Indian Nations University president, gave the benediction, and two South Junior High students were honored for their King-inspired artwork.

Rick Davis

Experience versus fresh blood is at the heart of the campaign for the 44th District Kansas House seat.

Democrat Barbara Ballard has represented the district that covers west-central Lawrence since 1993. She says her long-established relationships with committee and House members make her effective on the key issues of education and health care.

But for Republican challenger Rick Davis, Ballard is still a Democrat in a House controlled by Republicans. So it’s more difficult for her to pass legislation, he said. He also said she was complacent after 14 years in the Legislature and out of touch with voters.

Ballard, 61, is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the House Social Services Committee.

This year, she co-sponsored a bill called “Grandparents as Caregivers,” allowing grandparents who are raising their grandchildren to apply for state funds. In 1994, she authored the now-permanent Neighborhood Youth Employment Act, an after-school and summer jobs and mentoring program for low-income high school students.

Davis said if elected he would sponsor a welfare-to-school program aimed at putting low-income people in college or technical schools.

He also said education is a priority and that he opposes abortion. Lower taxes, personal responsibility and small government also are important. He opposes state-owned casinos.

Ballard supports abortion rights. She reported raising $15,000.

Her opponent has raised $1,500, according to campaign finance reports, mainly from family and friends.