Michael Poppa celebrating with his mother post victory
The race in Roeland Park for many candidates was contentious. In 2014, the city passed a Non-Discrimination Ordinance, providing protection for LGBT individuals against discrimination in the city. The measure was so contentious that a city council member who was opposed quit the council as a result. Kansans for Life as well as American Family groups went all in to change the election in Roeland Park. Last night their efforts came failed - but only by the thinnest of margins.
As the race moved on in Roeland Park, large scale canvass by those who made no secret of their desire to overturn the non discrimination ordinance known was mounted. The canvass, which was handled by Kansans For Life worked doorstops with the worst kind of fearmongering, including a campaign that blamed candidates for "securing young girls abortions" or "promoting young girls have abortions" to "wanting people in the wrong restrooms" etc.
http://www.pitch.com/...
After six months, the ordinance finally got a vote. It failed. Because Fast was not present for that vote, another vote was held on whether to hold a revote. That vote passed. Then came the revote. This time, the ordinance passed.
The fallout from all of that remains heavy in the air. Mau, a former council member and mayoral candidate, submitted a petition last autumn to repeal the ordinance. Then Mel Croston — who opposed the ordinance and called the experience a "nightmare" — quit the council, seemingly out of frustration over the whole anti-discrimination saga. She was replaced by Ryan Kellerman, who opposes the ordinance.
Poppa told the audience at the March 25 forum that he would "wholeheartedly not vote to repeal the ordinance." He went on: "We're a diverse community, and the ordinance adds value to our city. Ninety percent of the 500 largest U.S. companies have similar protections in place. The ordinance attracts businesses like that, who have those same policies as Roeland Park currently does. The ordinance adds value to our city."
The Ward 3 race is also peculiar. There, Mau, a Democrat who opposes the ordinance, is running against Erin Thompson, a Republican who supports it.
"There used to be these things called 'moderate Republicans' in Kansas," Thompson tells The Pitch. "That's what I consider myself, even though the party has mostly left us behind."
Way, way mostly.
At the forum, Thompson said: "I was raised to believe we should fight for equality, and that's what the ordinance does. It doesn't create a special class or give special treatment for the gay community. It just puts them on the same footing. In polls, 75 percent of millennials agree that the LGBT community shouldn't be discriminated against, and 70 percent of college graduates feel the same way. The ordinance is a way to attract young, successful people. It's the right thing to do, and it makes economic sense."
You can watch the forum here:
These issues have little to do with the outcome of Roeland Park. But in a race where there was a concerted effort to make it an issue, Roeland Park turned out. They defeated an anti-choice, anti-LGBT rights Democrat in favor of a pro-choice, pro-LGBT Republican; and they stood up to the money spend and the bitter campaign against Michael Poppa.
For now, the Non Discrimination Ordinance in Roeland Park is safe. In the end, fear and money weren't enough to counter candidates who spoke on the record about controversial issues and didn't hide from their beliefs.