Political Science

Name: Elizabeth Ensley Party: Republican Current Office : Shawnee Co. Election Commissioner First Appointed: 1982 Education: BA, Political Science, Washburn Wife: Widow Children: 2 Hometown: n/a Religion: n/a Professional Experience: Kansas Reform Advisory Council Kansas Election Standards Task Force Membership/groups: International...

Name: Charles Schollenberger Party: Democratic Current Office: none Positions on Issues Education: BA, Political Science, College of Wooster, 1984 Masters, Journalism, University of Missouri, 1979 Wife: Jennifer Hometown: Prairie Village Professional Experience: Communications executive ...

Name: Sue Boldra Party: Republican Current Office : none Position on Issues Education: Education, McPherson College Masters, Political Science, Fort Hays State University Spouse: Husband Children: 4 Birthplace: McPherson County Hometown: McPherson County Religion: n/a ...

A Wichita East High School student is awarded the biggest business scholarship in Kansas. Kiah Duggins will get $44-thousand to attend Wichita State University's Barton School of Business. She plans to major in international business and Spanish and minor in political science. Duggins says the competition was hard, but now that she's won, she's hopeful for the future. "I think this is going to make a big difference in my life because of all of the opportunities that come with being a Barton Scholar and all of the people I get to meet with being a Barton Scholar so I'm really excited" Duggins will receive $11-thousand each year for the next four years.

Paul Ryan may be from Wisconsin, but he has a connection to Kansas. From 1995 to 1997 Ryan was a top aide to then-Senator Sam Brownback.  Ryan was Brownback's protege, serving as his legislative director before running for Congress himself in 1998. Wichita State political science professor Melvin Kahn says that relationship could pay off for Kansas if Romney and Ryan win, given the federal budget deficit and the fact that Brownback is now governor. "They're going to be cutting back on a lot of goodies to the states," Kahn says.  "The emphasis is going to be on deficit reduction, and what little there is I think will go to people they have personally admired and respected.

The two leading Republican candidates for Senator Sam Brownback's seat say they're the best and most conservative candidate for U.S. Senate.  But who won Monday night's forum hosted by Eyewitness News? Within an hour of the end of the forum, both Congressman Todd Tiahrt and Congressman Jerry Moran's camps sent out press releases claiming victory, but local political science experts aren't so sure there was a winner. Tiahrt, Moran, and accountant Tom Little all met for Monday night's forum.

Imagine if you had to develop a plan every ten years that might make it harder for you to keep you job. That's what has Kansas legislators mired in debate these final days of the 2012 legislative session. Every ten years, Article 10 of the Kansas Constitution requires the state to redraw political districts based on population changes in the most recent U.S. Census report. This affects the boundaries for the U.S. Congressional districts in Kansas, the state legislature, and the Kansas Board of Education.

A Wichita East High School student is awarded the biggest business scholarship in Kansas. Kiah Duggins will get $44-thousand to attend Wichita State University's Barton School of Business. She plans to major in international business and Spanish and minor in political science. Duggins says the competition was hard, but now that she's won, she's hopeful for the future. "I think this is going to make a big difference in my life because of all of the opportunities that come with being a Barton Scholar and all of the people I get to meet with being a Barton Scholar so I'm really excited" Duggins will receive $11-thousand each year for the next four years.

Paul Ryan may be from Wisconsin, but he has a connection to Kansas. From 1995 to 1997 Ryan was a top aide to then-Senator Sam Brownback.  Ryan was Brownback's protege, serving as his legislative director before running for Congress himself in 1998. Wichita State political science professor Melvin Kahn says that relationship could pay off for Kansas if Romney and Ryan win, given the federal budget deficit and the fact that Brownback is now governor. "They're going to be cutting back on a lot of goodies to the states," Kahn says.  "The emphasis is going to be on deficit reduction, and what little there is I think will go to people they have personally admired and respected.

Having a Republican majority in the Kansas State House and the State Senate is nothing new, but this year something might change about that majority. "This is taking a turn in a new direction that doesn't happen very often," explains political science professor Dr. Ed Flentje of Wichita State University. "The State Senate as well as the House will be much more closely aligned with Governor Brownback as well as with a series of interest groups that are aligned with Brownback.

Imagine if you had to develop a plan every ten years that might make it harder for you to keep you job. That's what has Kansas legislators mired in debate these final days of the 2012 legislative session. Every ten years, Article 10 of the Kansas Constitution requires the state to redraw political districts based on population changes in the most recent U.S. Census report. This affects the boundaries for the U.S. Congressional districts in Kansas, the state legislature, and the Kansas Board of Education.

The two leading Republican candidates for Senator Sam Brownback's seat say they're the best and most conservative candidate for U.S. Senate.  But who won Monday night's forum hosted by Eyewitness News? Within an hour of the end of the forum, both Congressman Todd Tiahrt and Congressman Jerry Moran's camps sent out press releases claiming victory, but local political science experts aren't so sure there was a winner. Tiahrt, Moran, and accountant Tom Little all met for Monday night's forum.

Name: Elizabeth Ensley Party: Republican Current Office : Shawnee Co. Election Commissioner First Elected: Appointed in 1992 Education: BA, Political Science, Washburn University Wife: Widow Children: 2 Hometown: Topeka, KS Religion: Methodist Professional Experience: Kansas Reform Advisory Council Kansas Election Standards...

Name: Charles Schollenberger Party: Democratic Current Office: none Positions on Issues Education: BA, Political Science, College of Wooster, 1984 Masters, Journalism, University of Missouri, 1979 Wife: Jennifer Hometown: Prairie Village, KS Professional Experience: communications executive former teacher ...

Name: Sue Boldra Party: Republican Current Office : none Positions on Issues Education: Masters in Political Science, Fort Hays State University Education, McPherson College Spouse: Husband Children: 4 Birthplace: McPherson County Hometown: n/a Religion: n/a Professional Experience: ...