Johnson County Senate 23 Democrats

04/08/2021

While Senate 23 may not have won in the pasta contest between senate districts, we are very proud to have helped collect and donate so much pasta for Harvesters! Way to go Johnson County Democrats!

04/01/2021

💙📣💙Meet Shabina Kavimandan, Precinct Leader for Olathe 4-18! Here's a bit about her in her own words:

Suren and I came to United States in 1998 to get our Master’s degrees at K-State. Coming from a big city (New Delhi), the Little Apple was a shock. I was used to seeing people, cars, cows, and cats on the streets everywhere but in Little Apple I saw nothing on the streets. However ,what I saw and felt was freedom, a certain respect for humankind, and the power of human relationships. After completing our degrees, we moved to K.C. First to Overland Park and then to Olathe in 2001. Olathe instantly became home due to the warmth of the people that surrounded us. It is from this community that I learned the power of fostering and cultivating inter-personal relationships, a trait I like to carry out even in my political adventures.
I first became enamored with politics when I attended an Obama rally in Colorado. I was there for work with my boss and eager to come home after 3 long days however on our way back to the airport when we saw Obama’s entourage, there was no stopping us. Yes, we almost missed our flight however that moment was a pivotal point in my life to realize that everyday people like me are needed in politics. It is not the arena of the elite as it is made to be. If we want to set this country and our world on an inclusive and equitable trajectory then we must be active participants in this democracy. From that point on, I never looked back. After becoming a citizen in 2015, both Suren and I actively participated in the presidential election of 2016. We caucused and I ran for the state delegate position. Of-course I didn’t win but that was such a minute thing when you put into perspective that a woman from India and a Male from Afghanistan were chosen by so many people to represent them as delegates. U.S is a multicultural and a multilingual democracy and the smaller cities and communities that make the core of American dream are no different.
Olathe is my home now and will always have a special place in my heart and politics will always be my favorite activity to indulge in. You will often find me sending emails to our elected representatives, writing postcards, canvassing, and holding events for the candidates because our immediate world needs to see that everyday people like me care and want to bring in the change. I am a precinct committeewoman within the democratic party because it is the right thing to do and it honestly brings me peace, joy, and love.

03/31/2021

🌻🏳️‍⚧Thank you Governor Kelly for your support and your work to promote LGBTQ+ rights in Kansas! 🏳️‍⚧🌻

Being inclusive and welcoming makes Kansas the vibrant, strong state it is. I hope all Kansans take time today to recognize and reflect on how we can improve our state for all.

03/25/2021

💙📣💙Meet Claire Reagan, Key Volunteer for Olathe 1-15! Here's a bit about her in her own words:

My husband, Scott, and I have three kids — Evan 6, Abbie 4, & Baby Isaac — Fun fact: All three have November birthdays! We decided to plant roots here in Olathe in February 2018; we closed on our house the week before the Parkland tragedy. While I have always been a voter, that horrific loss of life combined with our son’s identification as being on the autism spectrum prompted me to, as they say, get off the couch. I became and remain a mama on a mission. I want good governance and leaders who, as we tell our children, want everyone to have what they need, even if those needs are different for each one of us.

During the 2018 election, I knocked on hundreds of doors, made dozens of phone calls, and found a robust community of like-minded, compassionate friends and neighbors here in Olathe. I became a key volunteer in 2019 rather than a precinct leader because my neighborhood was already well taken care of. Now, I regularly spend time advocating for early childhood education/intervention and am always looking for ways to become more civically engaged and to encourage similar engagement in others. As the pandemic begins to look less bleak, I’m looking forward to attending city council and school board meetings in person again.

02/22/2021

Meet Amy Voelker, Precinct Leader for Olathe 3-21! Here's a bit about her in her own words:
I grew up here in Olathe am a product of Olathe public schools. As a pediatrician I wanted to return here after medical school and residency and raise my family here. I have always been politically aware but was not really politically active until the 2016 election. Soon after that night I met a group of likeminded neighbors who were determined to do whatever we could to resist policies that would cause harm. I figured out who my representatives were at every level. I met candidates and volunteered for campaigns that matched my values. I became active as a volunteer in Senate 23 and am now the precinct leader in my Olathe precinct 3-21. Along the way I have come to realize I am not the only Democrat in town—there are so many of us working for change. My teen daughters have done their share of volunteering for campaigns too. My senior is a Civics Unplugged fellow this year and my sophomore plans on a degree in political science when she heads to college. Activism is a family affair in my house for sure!

02/17/2021

💙🇺🇸Get to know your local Democrats! 🇺🇸💙

Senate 23 is home to an active, diverse group of Democratic volunteers who work together to make our community a better place!

Up next, is our co-leader, Brad Boyd! Brad and his wife Myisha have lived in Kansas for 15 years spending the last 5 years in Johnson County. The have 4 kids who all attend Olathe Schools. Brad works in sales & operations for Lennox International. Brad likes to fish, hunt & travel. He currently serves on the Olathe School Board and represent district 2.

02/09/2021

💙🇺🇸Get to know your local Democrats! 🇺🇸💙

Senate 23 is home to an active, diverse group of Democratic volunteers who work together to make our community a better place!

Up first, is co-leader, Wendy Budetti. Wendy and her husband Brett have been raising their family of five kids in Senate 23 for almost twenty years. She is a substitute teacher in Olathe. She is an avid reader and frequent attender (pre-Covid) of both school board and city council meetings.

01/22/2021

Did you know that Senate 23 has TWO residents on the Johnson County Democratic Party Executive Committee? We are so proud to be home to our county chair, Deann Mitchell AND our amazing treasurer, Mark Adams! Mark is a behind-the-scenes hard worker, keeping the JoCo Dems books up to date!

Today is his birthday, and while most people would want a break on their birthday, we know Mark would like some more work to do, and you can help! Make a donation to the county party today in honor of Mark's birthday 🎉🎁 Even better, sign up to be a monthly donor, amounts as small as $10/month make a huge difference!

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Hey friends, I just donated to the JoCo Dems

01/20/2021

🇺🇸💙It's a great day to be a Democrat 💙🇺🇸

Looking forward to the Biden administration for ALL Americans!

It’s a new day in America.

01/06/2021

🌻💙Feeling inspired by the results in Georgia? Come join your local Democrats to continue the work right here in Olathe! Message us for how to get involved! 💙🌻

01/05/2021

Great opportunity to help out our community! Must be 18 to volunteer! Join the JCYD at Harvesters this Saturday! 💙