NEWS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26. 2005
6A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
POLITICS
Sebelius campaign in stealth mode
BY JOHN HANNA
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TOPEKA — Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is running for re-election next year, but the first-term Democrat isn't ready to acknowledge it publicly.
She remains coy about when her campaign will kick off, but her administration is testing themes for next year's advertising: The governor is committed to better schools, the governor is working to grow the state's economy, the governor is making state government more efficient.
Consider an August statement from her office that began, "Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is committed to strengthening our schools and believes sharing ideas and innovations with other states benefits Kansas kids and schools."
How pervasive is the spin?
Following that puffery was announcement of Sebelius' appointment of two people to the Education Commission of the States.
"She's doing all those things people do when they're running for re-election," said Allan Cigler, a University of Kansas political scientist. "They're doing some testing as to what the campaign agenda should be."
Sebelius recently found herself confronted with a minor embarrassment because of the liberal, Washington-based Emily's List, which helps Democrats support abortion rights, such as New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
It quoted Sebelius on its Web site announcing her re-election bid, although she had not officially made such an announcement. The group later eliminated the statement, though it still fawns over Sebelius as "one thing that is definitely right about Kansas."
"There'll be plenty of time for talk of politics and campaigns in the months ahead," Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Coco-
ran said. "But, for now, she is as focused as ever on the challenges of growing our economy, strengthening our public schools, and keeping Kansas safe and secure."
It's common, of course, for seasoned politicians such as Sebelius to pretend they aren't running when, in fact, they're in campaign mode. She wants to control the announcement and undoubtedly will schedule what amounts to a queen's triumphant progress before adoring crowds in cities throughout her realm. But there are other considerations, too.
"Let her stay above the fray; it's an incumbent's preogative to try and stay above it as long as possible," said Jennifer Duffy, the managing editor of The Cook Political Report in Washington. "Once you really start running, then everything you do is viewed through this political lens, which is a difficult way to govern."
Republicans watched U.S.
Rep. Jerry Moran take a pass on
the race, followed by Secretary of
State Ron Thornburgh and State
Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, leaving
Kansas House Speaker Doug
Mays as the biggest candidate left
Also, Sebelius may not need to have an active-looking campaign vet to reassure her backers.
— facing the hurdles of building statewide name recognition and overcoming moderate distaste for his conservative leanings.
The Cook report so far sees the race as a likely Democratic victory — one that could be competitive but isn't now.
Finally, testing themes and building a positive image are smart. Cigler said, as long as the message remains vague, and a little bland.
That means, for example, having Sebelius talk about her desire for strong schools, without mentioning her doomed 2004 plan for phasing in $300 million-plus worth of tax increases.
Just another face in the crowd
Kathy Bennett, Fairway, looks at the artwort of Iowa City artist Bekah Ash Saturday at the Plaza Art Fair in Kansas City, Mo. The art fair ended yesterday.
David Pulliam/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARTS
The show must go on for Tallgrass Film Festival
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WICHITA — The Tallgrass Film Festival will be shortened this year but will go on, despite the death of founder and executive director Timothy Gruver.
didn't want to lose momentum."
"It was important for us to continue in some form to keep from dropping off Wichita's radar screen," said Tallgrass board member Emily Bonavia. "We
Gruver, 33, collapsed on the street near his home July 27 and died at a hospital. An autopsy could not determine the cause of death.
Randy Phillips, Tallgrass board president, said a shorter festival this year will allow it to come back in full force next year.
"We looked at trying to pick up the pieces after Tim's passing and do a full festival," Phillips said.
"But, quite honestly, that would probably have been a formula for failure. Tim had so many of the plans still in his head. It would have been worse for us to try."
The festival will begin with a fundraiser the evening of Oct. 21, followed by a full day of screenings and discussions with filmmakers from Los Angeles and New York on Saturday, Oct. 22. Past festivals have gone four days.
the minifest, dubbed "Shortgrass" by Lela Mezdow of Chicago, who has produced the festival since the beginning, will also feature a brunch with filmmakers, presentation of the Ad Astra Award and a closing gala.
"So many people enjoyed them before that we feel that the community deserves to have a film festival, even if it is short," she said.
Ticket
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
directly from the permit printer to staff.
Online parking permit sales will be made available to students before parking ticket payments, Hultine said.
Hultine said students should be able to buy their parking permits next fall online.
Staff and faculty were able to buy parking passes online through a payroll Web site last spring. The permits were mailed
Because students change addresses and freshmen often don't know where they will be living until close to the beginning of the school year, mailing the permits could pose a problem.
Faculty and staff are a smaller population and have more stable home addresses so they were able to buy permits online first, Hultine said.
Staff from the department are meeting with KU information services next week to discuss using Kyou to pay tickets online.
Hultine said she hoped that the department would know more about what kind of parking payment services would be available on the Kyou after the meeting.
As of now, students can only view parking holds on the portal.
— Edited by Nate Karlin
Your checking account on your KU Card. Almost too simple for college.
We can make your KU Card work as a debit card. Use it everywhere you see the KU Card or Interlink* signs – on campus and around town. Head to commercebank.com for a complete list of locations.
It's how we ask listen solve to make your college life just a little easier.
- Ask about overdraft protection
- FREE KU Checking Account
- FREE Commerce ATM transaction
- FREE Online Account Access
- No minimum balance
call click come by
(14 Commerce ATMs citywide)
COFFEE Online
Commerce Bank
864-5846
We can help you keep your finances in shapel Redeem this coupon at the Commerce Bank Branch on the KU Campus when you open a Free KU checking Account, and attach a Free Visa® Check Card. Already have an account? Attach a Free Visa® Check Card to an existing account, sign up for online banking, overdraft protection, or receive a Free Financial Needs analysis, and choose one of the following*;
$10.00 Amazon.com® Promotional certificate**
commercebank.com
amazon.com.
$5.00 Blockbuster Card***
1 Free Order of Checks
864-5846
Commerce Bank
- Only one copy per person while supplies last. Available at the KU Commerce Bank branch only.
** This offer is subject to Amazon.com's terms and conditions. Please see www.amazon.com/promos for details. Amazon, Amazon.com
** Membership rules and certain restrictions apply for rental at BLOCKBUSTER® BLOCKBUSTER® are subject to complete terms and conditions found on GiftCard and/or packaging. GiftCards cannot be used to purchase GiftCards. GiftCards are redeemable at participating BLOCKBUSTER store locations. BLOCKBUSTER name, design, and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster Inc.
2005 Blockbuster Inc. All rights reserved.
8
A
---