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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WWW.KANSAN.COM News WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2008
POLITICS
Student files to run for House
BY RAMSEY COX
rcox@kansan.om
A University of Kansas student is running for a seat in the Kansas House of Representatives.
William Stewart-Starks, Whittier. Calif., senior, filed campaign
papers with the Kansas Secretary of State's office, June 9. He is running as a Libertarian for the Kansas State House 10th district, which includes part of Lawrence, south of Clinton Parkway.
The central ideas of Starks campaign are
increasing personal freedoms and reducing the size of the government by making it more local.
Stewart-Starks
"I feel really strongly about education," Starks said. "I think people should have more choices about where their kids go to school if they're not satisfied with their public school."
Starks said eventually he would try for legislation that would stop citizens from paying for public school if their children were not using it. He ran for Student Senate under a similar platform, calling the University bus system "socialist."
"If you don't use the service you shouldn't have to pay for it," Starks said.
Starks said his campaign was also about getting honest people back into politics. Adam Wood, Lawrence senior and friend of Starks, said honesty was one of Starks' best persona
qualities. He plans to help Starks campaign in any way he can.
"Will is actually honest and running for a good reason," Wood said. "The thing about politicians is some get in it for money and power, but Will is doing it to get things done
and help people."
Starks moved to Kansas from California when he joined the National Guard in 2003 and was stationed at Fort Riley. He started attending the University in 2006. He got involved in politics a year later when he campaigned for Ron Paul for President.
He was encouraged to become more active in government by Patrick Wilbur, an administrative professional at the student financial aid office.
"I am very impressed with William's focus and energy," Wilbur
said. " [The Libertarian Party] has been seeing an increase in outreach and fundraising over the past couple election cycles. I think William's campaign will continue this trend."
The Libertarian Party, founded in 1971, is the third-largest political party in the U.S., behind the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The Libertarian Party also says it has 200,000 registered voters, making it the fastest growing third-party in the U.S.
The Libertarian Party is liberal on social issues. It stresses the importance of individual liberties, like gay marriage and drug use, but is economically conservative.It advocates free trade and fewer taxes.
"Overall, I think young people want to be let alone, and libertarians promise that," said Burdett Loomis, professor of political science. "But the idea of community is also important, and many young folks have not had quite the experience of how community and reliance on both others and the government may well be crucial for living in an interdependent society."
The Libertarian Party may be growing, but in the U.S. third-party candidates typically struggle to get elected. Wood fears the Libertarian label could hurt Starks' electability.
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"I hope people really check him out and don't just write him off because he's a Libertarian," Wood said. "He's honest and is all about common sense issues, so people shouldn't be turned-off by the word Libertarian."
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The Kansas Congressional primary is August 5 and the general election is Nov.4.
—Edited by Rustin Dodd
THE FALL (R)
WED.THU: 4:35 7:05 9:35
FRI: 3:05 9:30 ONLY
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SUN: 10:05 7:05 9:35
THE VISITOR (PG13)
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GOVERNMENT
Gov. appoints alumnus to judge
BY RAMSEY COX rcox@kansan.com
Governor Kathleen Sebelius appointed David Hauber District Court Judge of the 10th Judicial District in Johnson County on June 5. Hauber, University alumnus, takes his post in July. Sebelius interviewed 3 of the 17 applicants.
Hauber earned his bachelor's degree in Journalism in 1977 before returning to earn a law degree in 1983. Hauber said he would not have been able to become a successful lawyer and judge if it were not for his education at the University.
District Court Judge David Hauber
"I feel very fortunate that at both schools, I got the best of the best when it came to teachers," Hauber said.
He first became interested in
law while taking the "First Amendment Law" journalism course. After earning his bachelor's degree, he worked for the Topeka Capital Journal as a reporter, where his interest in law was rekindled while covering courthouses.
"He is a very bright and a great writer. KU prepared him well and he'll be a great judge."
Hauber has practiced law for 25 years and his wife Kate, 1976 graduate, is a lawyer as well.
was a decision he thought long and hard about.
The two met 35 years ago during the first week of their freshman year on the steps of Ellsworth Hall while watching a storm.
Hauber and Kate married by the end of their freshman year. Kate returned to the University with Hauber to earn a law degree as well. She practices real estate law at the law firm of Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP in Kansas City, Mo.
Kate said she was proud of her husband after he was appointed District Court Judge and that it
"He's always felt strongly about the importance of the judiciary system," she said.
"I had never seen anything like it before," Hauber said. "Being from New Jersey, we don't sit outside looking for tornados."
KEN HOLM
1966 graduate
Hauber will leave his law firm at Baty Holm and Numrich, P.C., in Shawnee, where he practices both plaintiff and defense work for small businesses, insurance companies and individuals.
One of his law firm partners, Ken Holm, 1966 graduate, has known Hauber for 20 years.
"I'm very proud of him, but sad to see him leave," Holm said. "He is very bright and a great writer. KU prepared him well and he'll be a great judge."
Hauber's son Michael, Shawnee sophomore, said he too was proud of his father and that this would be a dramatic change for the family.
"My dad joked that I can't be wild anymore because he can't bail me out," he said.
Hauber filled the spot of the retired Honorable Janice D. Russell. His term runs until November 2010 and his name will appear on the ballot for Johnson County voters to decide if he is retained.
— Edited by Asher Fusco
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