1.28.2007

How To Get Elected. Part 1

Monday - Jan 22nd
After months of discussions with my friends and family, I have decided that I would like to have my own voice in my local government. So after work, I ran down to the Wichita City Hall and went to the city clerk on the 13th floor. I filled out a few forms, wrote 2 checks, one for $10 and one for $35 and I was on the primary ballot. That's it. It took me about 15 minutes (including the snap shot the clerk took for me) and $45 to become a candidate. I walked out of city hall very proud, this is my first time running for an elected office. Even though it was 5pm, my day was just beginning. I ran home, formulating plans as I drove, and grabbed a quick bite of dinner and my school books. Monday night is Micro-Economics and it was the first day of class. The professor makes us mingle for an exercise and I use the opportunity to introduce myself as a candidate for the first time. There is an excitement in those words, every time I say them. It motivates me even more to be successful. After class, I took 5 minutes to ask the professor a few questions about her thoughts of the Wichita economy, what she says validates my months of ramblings. When I get home, I stay up til 1am studying the incumbent's record for the last 4 years and to find any information I can. The hard work is just starting.

Happy Birthday Ethan!

Congratulations to my cousin Jill and her husband Kevin on the birth of thier first baby on Saturday Jan. 27th. Ethan Craig is a beautiful healthy baby boy that I got to spend some time with yesterday, and he is absolutely peaceful. Mom and baby are resting peacefully at Wesley, stop by the birthing center if you can and give them your best wishes!

1.24.2007

Jason Wenke Announces Bid for City Council District 2 Seat

Wichita KS January 24 2007

Jason Wenke is now a candidate for Wichita City Council for District 2 after filing with the city clerk on Monday. Jason was born and raised in Wichita until age 14 when his family moved to Halstead Kansas where he graduated high school in 1993. After high school, he worked and attended college until joining the US Navy as an aircraft mechanic at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City. After 3 years he was promoted to an E5 and ran the high-tempo Airframes shop during his last year of service. Jason returned to Wichita in 2000 after he was honorably discharged and was hired on at Raytheon Aircraft as a line assembler. He has continued successful employment in a number of jobs from the shop floor, to production control and is now a part of Supply Chain Management. He is a member of APICS Wichita, a production and inventory control certification association. Jason is currently working toward his degree in Business Management at WSU. He is also an active member of the Young Professionals of Wichita as part of the Leadership Link action team.


Jason is an advocate of civic and personal responsibility. He believes the city council needs to be accountable and transparent to the citizens through a more effective use of the tax dollars and by ensuring projects are completed on time and on budget.

Jason supports both residential and business development to draw people back to the center of Wichita and supports a higher level of cooperation and communication between city, county and Wichita education leaders to better the community as a whole.

Jason feels that the key to a strong economic future is attracting more diverse businesses to Wichita while continuing to support the strong manufacturing industry. He feels this can be done by providing a foundation for other industries in the region and supporting better education to develop the future generations into a more diverse and productive workforce.

As part of the city council, Jason would like to develop economically viable attractions. He feels this can be done by working to make the current attractions self-sufficient and also developing innovative entertainment destinations that the community will support.


See the annoucement in the Wichita Eagle here