Senator Kelly's committee involvement is astoundingly impressive. You have the Ways and Means committee, the Joint Committee on Health Policy Oversight, the Joint Committee on Home and Community Based Services Oversight, the Judiciary committee, the Joint Committee on Legislative Budget, the Joint Committee on Legislative Educational Planning, and the Public Health and Welfare committee. Although she isn't a CPA, she also serves the Joint Committee on Pensions, Investments and Benefits. Lynn Jenkins also knows about that, though. As State Treasurer, she learned first-hand how damaging neglect can be when she failed to do the people's work in that realm because she had “a lot of balls in the air” misrepresenting Rep. Nancy Boyda up and down the Second District.

Laura Kelly has proven to connect well with all types of people. She currently represents Northern Shawnee and Wabaunsee counties in the Kansas Senate. This, the 18th District, is a largely rural one as is the Second Congressional District. While canvassing Northern Shawnee County in the run up to last Fall's election, one thing was very clear: voters were proud of Laura Kelly and it didn't matter much if they were Democrats, Republicans, rich, poor or anything else.

I have many family members who are solid conservatives, God love 'em. On the Fourth of July, 2008 I ran into my beloved great aunt and uncle Jean and Delores at the annual Holliday Park picnic in Topeka. Jean and Delores are wonderful people and I admire them greatly, but they don't vote for Democrats very often. When I first noticed they were there, I saw them talking with their State Senator, Laura Kelly. I soon discovered that not only were they going to vote for Sen. Kelly, they were going to put one of her campaign signs in their yard.

Laura Kelly is that bright light of hope Kansas' Second District has been without the last year. She has the work ethic, sincerity, knowledge and experience that we need and will certainly put to good use during this challenging time in our nation's history. I will be sad to see her leave the statehouse, but we are dealing with superseding national crises and Congress is Laura Kelly's calling at this moment.