6A • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2002
KU graduate starts early excels in political world
John Audlehelm
Kansan senior staff writer
Ten years after he left the University of Kansas, Derek Schmidt's first campaign for public office landed him in the Kansas Senate.
In his first legislative session in 2001, the Independence senator was named chairman of the powerful Agriculture Committee. He is the second-youngest member of this Senate and the only first-year senator chairing a standing committee.
Schmidt's friends and supporters see his election as a logical step in his career, which many think could lead him to the Kansas governor's office or the halls of Congress in Washington, D.C.
After spending a year at Independence Community College, Schmidt enrolled at the University as a business major in Fall 1987. That winter in Schmidt's residence hall, he said, "Some bozo kept pulling the fire alarm."
Incensed, Schmidt wrote a column for The University Daily Kansan. "That was the beginning of my journalism career," he said.
As a Kansan reporter, Schmidt covered the Legislature. He worked his way through the ranks, and in Fall 1990, Schmidt became editor of the Kansan.
At the beginning of the semester, Tom Eblen, the Kansan's general manager at the time, had a stroke. Eblen said that as a result, Schmidt had to pick up many extra responsibilities.
"Derek rose to the challenge," Eblen said.
The Kansas Associated Collegiate Press named him Kansas Collegiate Journalist of the Year.
After his graduation, Schmidt continued his education and worked in politics — often simultaneously. He studied history at Cambridge University and international politics at the University of Leicester, both in England. While there, he traveled through Europe, Russia and Egypt. Schmidt worked for former Kansas Senator Nancy Kassebaum in 1991, and from 1992 to 1996. While working full-time for Kassebaum, Schmidt also earned his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Success in state politics has required Schmidt to take care of his rural constituency, a town of approximately 40,000 located in southeastern Kansas. While cynics call this trading favors, he calls it "problem solving."
Much of his work in the Senate has been spent on lower profile issues. Rep. Dan Johnson heads the Agriculture Committee in the Kansas House of Representatives. He said he and Schmidt had worked together on bills that dealt with foot-and-mouth disease, weights and measures and ethanol.
Schmidt created the "bison bill" after he was approached by a well-known citizen in Independence.
Bill Kurtis, host of the A&Etelevision show Investigative Reports, planned to open a buffalo ranch to show his bison herd. To make the park feasible, Kurtis needed it to be exempted from the liability law that would otherwise require him to pay damages if a visitor crossed the fence and was injured by one of his bison.
Before the legislative process was completed, Schmidt's bill wound up protecting owners of tourist parks that show ostriches, rhea (a bird), camels and giraffes.
If we have to protect the giraffes to protect the bison, then so be it, Schmidt said.
Schmidt has also been willing to occasionally break with the party when he feels strongly about an issue.
In April, he voted in favor a $60
million tax increase because he thought it was important the money be available for education. The Senate later defeated that tax 23-17.
Burdett Loomis, professor of political science, said the vote placed Schmidt, who represents Independence, which is a conservative district, on the side of the moderate Republicans.
While working in Washington, Schmidt met his future wife among a group of native Kansans working on Capitol Hill. Jennifer Schmidt worked for Republican Senators Bob Dole of Kansas and Chuck Grassley of Iowa. She is now chief of staff for Kent Glasscock, Speaker of the House for the Kansas House of Representatives.
State Senator Derek Schmidt, center, and Gov. Bill Graves, right, visit with Independence residents Ace and Marilyn Johnson at a fundraiser at Schmidt's home last October. Schmidt is in his first term and was appointed chairman of the Agriculture Committee.
Both Schmidt s had shown an early interest in politics. In 1985, Schmidt, who grew up in Independence, went to Boys State, a weeklong politics camp for high school students.
"When we first got there, he said, 'I'm not that excited. I'm not sure if I'm going to do anything,'" Baden said.
Rick Baden, now president of Pitt Plastics in Pittsburg, attended Boys State with Schmidt.
By the end of the week, running on an agriculture platform, Schmidt was elected Boys State governor.
Jennifer Schmidt, who went to Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Lenexa, participated in a mock Congress her sophomore year and got to play Kassebaum. One of Kassebaum's staff members told Jennifer that when she got to college she should think about an internship in Washington. Jennifer did, and took a job in Dole's office her senior year at Texas Christian University. She worked for Dole and then came back to the University to get her law degree.
She and Derek met in 1991,
started dating in 1996, and were married in Mav 1998.
"It wasn't, 'Do I want to marry this guy?' It was, 'Can I live without him?' she said. "I'm unapologetically his biggest fan. He's the smartest person I've ever met."
Derek and Jennifer both liked working in Washington but felt the tug of home.
They moved back to Kansas in 1998. After he returned, Derek began working as an assistant attorney general of Kansas under Gov. Bill Graves.
About this time, both Rep. Cindy Empson and Senate Majority Leader Tim Emert were thinking about leaving public office. Because both had known Schmidt since he was a child, they both thought that he was the best candidate to take over their respective seats.
"Tim got lucky and got him to run for his," Empson said.
Emert said he approached Schmidt about running when Schmidt was still working in Topeka. Schmidt said he would like to settle in Independence, so Emert gave him space in his law firm. Emert said.
After talking with Jennifer,
Emert said, Derek agreed to take the position.
In May 2000, the Schmata moved back to Independence. Derek joined Scovel, Emert, Heasty and Chubb, and remains there in general practice.
When Emert announced he would not run again, Schmidt filed as a candidate. He won the GOP primary in August 2000 and was elected to represent the 15th District in November 2000.
Baden said it had been just a matter of time before he ran for office.
Because the 15th district has five daily newspapers, three cable stations and many radio stations. Schmidt and his supporters had to run a door-to-door campaign.
Confer said Schmidt inherited many of the loyal campaign workers that helped elect Emert. But Schmidt has inspired loyalty beyond this core group. Russell Soloway, a Democrat and assistant U.S. attorney in Del Rio, Texas, was Schmidt's roommate in Washington. Soloway helped pass out fliers and knock on doors in Schmidt's campaign.
So far, Independence seems to
be responding. When supporters were planning an October fundraiser and barbecue, Jennifer Schmidt said, they thought that maybe 75 or 100 people would show.
More than 300 came. Graves, who was scheduled to stay for about 15 minutes, stayed for more than an hour.
Whether or not Schmidt moves on to higher office, he stays rooted in Independence. The couple are fixing up a Victorian home across from that of Derek's mother, Barbara. They also maintain a home in Topeka. Derek says that unlike most legislative couples, they get to spend more time together when the Legislature is in session.
As for Derek's future, the Schmids are taking one thing at a time, but don't plan to rule out any options.
"Everybody in Independence loves the guy. This is just the tip of the iceberg, I think, of what he's going to achieve," high-school friend Baden said.
Contact Audlehelm at jaudle-
helm@kansan.com. This story was
edited by Gillian Titus.