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Aonya Kendrick Barnett
Aonya Kendrick Barnett (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Kansas House of Representatives to represent District 85. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Barnett completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Aonya Kendrick Barnett was born in Passaic, New Jersey. She earned a high school diploma from Wichita Heights High School and a bachelor's degree from Wichita State University in 2019. Her career experience includes working as a nonprofit executive and prevention specialist. As of 2024, Barnett was affiliated with Safe Streets Wichita, Inc.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Kansas House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Kansas House of Representatives District 85
Incumbent Patrick Penn defeated Aonya Kendrick Barnett in the general election for Kansas House of Representatives District 85 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Patrick Penn (R) | 57.9 | 6,870 |
 | Aonya Kendrick Barnett (D)  | 42.1 | 5,005 | |
| Total votes: 11,875 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 85
Aonya Kendrick Barnett advanced from the Democratic primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 85 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Aonya Kendrick Barnett | 100.0 | 407 |
| Total votes: 407 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 85
Incumbent Patrick Penn advanced from the Republican primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 85 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Patrick Penn | 100.0 | 1,163 |
| Total votes: 1,163 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Barnett in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Aonya Kendrick Barnett completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Barnett's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- Health and wellness for all is committed to ensuring accessible and comprehensive healthcare for everyone. This includes advocating for Medicaid Expansion to cover more Kansans, enhancing reproductive healthcare services, and implementing harm reduction strategies to combat substance misuse. By focusing on preventive measures and supportive healthcare systems, Aonya aims to improve the overall health and well-being of her community.
- Education is the cornerstone of a thriving community. Aonya Kendrick Barnett champions robust public education that equips students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. Her campaign emphasizes the importance of mental health education, youth empowerment, and fostering environments where young people can thrive. By investing in education, Aonya is dedicated to creating opportunities for all and building a brighter future for Kansas. Her vision includes substantial investment in students, teachers, and educational infrastructure, ensuring that every child has access to high-quality learning experiences. Aonya's commitment to education extends beyond academics, encompassing the me
- Protecting reproductive rights and ensuring that everyone has access to safe, legal, and comprehensive reproductive healthcare services. Her campaign firmly supports bodily autonomy, emphasizing the fundamental right of individuals to make informed decisions about their own bodies without government interference. Aonya believes in empowering individuals with the knowledge and resources they need to make the best choices for their health, including access to contraception, family planning, and abortion services. By championing reproductive rights, Aonya is committed to safeguarding personal freedom and ensuring that all Kansans have the autonomy to decide what is best for their own bodies.
Working at Popeyes, I witnessed firsthand how a family-owned business could stimulate the local economy, providing jobs and serving as a community hub. Over the years, our business not only provided employment opportunities but also fostered a sense of community and belonging among our customers and staff. This experience instilled in me the belief that all jobs matter and that supporting local businesses is crucial for economic growth and community well-being.
Collaboration: The governor and the state legislature should work collaboratively, recognizing that their shared goal is to serve the best interests of the public. This involves actively seeking common ground, compromising when necessary, and developing policies that reflect the diverse perspectives and needs of the state's residents.
Mutual Respect: A foundation of mutual respect is essential for a productive working relationship. This means valuing each other's roles, expertise, and contributions, and approaching disagreements with a spirit of cooperation rather than contention.
Constructive Dialogue: Open and honest communication is vital. The governor and legislators should maintain regular channels of dialogue to discuss priorities, challenges, and potential solutions. This helps ensure transparency and keeps both parties informed and aligned on key issues.
Accountability and Checks and Balances: While collaboration is important, maintaining a system of checks and balances is equally crucial. Both the governor and the legislature must hold each other accountable to prevent the abuse of power and ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of the public. This involves rigorous oversight, transparency in decision-making, and adherence to ethical standards.
Addressing climate change and environmental degradation is crucial. This involves promoting renewable energy, protecting natural resources, and implementing policies for sustainable agriculture and waste management. Upgrading and maintaining infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and public transportation systems, is essential for economic development and quality of life. Investing in broadband access is also critical for rural areas. Ensuring equitable treatment and opportunities for all residents, regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status, is a pressing challenge. This includes addressing systemic racism, improving criminal justice systems, and promoting inclusive policies.
Understanding of Legislative Processes: Previous experience in government or politics helps legislators navigate the complexities of legislative procedures, including drafting bills, understanding legislative rules, and effectively collaborating with colleagues. This knowledge can accelerate their ability to contribute meaningfully from the outset.
Policy Expertise: Experience in government or politics often provides a deep understanding of specific policy areas. This expertise can be invaluable in crafting informed, effective legislation that addresses pressing issues and meets the needs of constituents.
Network Building: Experienced legislators typically have established relationships with key stakeholders, including other lawmakers, government officials, and community leaders. These networks can facilitate collaboration, advocacy, and the successful advancement of legislative agendas.
Problem-Solving Skills: Prior experience often equips legislators with practical problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically about complex issues. This can enhance their capacity to develop innovative solutions and respond effectively to challenges.
Collaboration and Cooperation: Building relationships with fellow legislators fosters an environment of collaboration and cooperation. Working together, legislators can pool their knowledge, resources, and expertise to develop comprehensive solutions to complex issues. This teamwork often leads to more robust and well-rounded legislation.
Bipartisanship: Positive relationships across party lines can help bridge ideological divides and promote bipartisanship. By understanding and respecting each other’s perspectives, legislators can find common ground on key issues and work together to pass meaningful legislation that benefits all constituents.
Networking and Influence: Strong relationships with other legislators can enhance a legislator’s influence and effectiveness. Having a network of supportive colleagues can help in garnering support for bills, amendments, and policy initiatives. This network is also invaluable when seeking advice, feedback, or assistance on legislative matters.
Efficiency and Productivity: Building trust and rapport with colleagues can streamline legislative processes. When legislators know and trust each other, negotiations and collaborations become more efficient, leading to quicker and more productive outcomes. This efficiency is crucial for addressing the needs of constituents in a timely manner.
Shared Goals and Vision: Developing relationships with like-minded legislators allows for the creation of coalitions and alliances focused on shared goals and visions. These coalitions can be powerful forces in advocating for specific issues and driving legislative agendas forward.
Shirley Chisholm was known for her courage, integrity, and dedication to fighting for the marginalized and underrepresented. She famously declared herself "unbought and unbossed," emphasizing her independence and commitment to her constituents over special interests. Chisholm's advocacy for civil rights, women's rights, and economic justice set a powerful example of what it means to serve the public with authenticity and dedication.
Her tireless work to create a more inclusive and equitable society, combined with her pioneering spirit and relentless pursuit of justice, embodies the values I strive to bring to my own political career. Shirley Chisholm's legacy reminds me of the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity, and remaining true to the principles of fairness and equality.
The decision to pursue higher office would depend on various factors, including the needs of my community, the opportunities available to effect greater change, and my ability to build on the experiences and successes gained in my current role. If I believe that I can better serve my constituents and further advance the causes I am passionate about in a higher office, I would certainly consider taking that step.
Additionally, I have heard numerous accounts of hardworking families striving for economic mobility. Despite their relentless efforts, many find themselves unable to break the cycle of poverty due to systemic barriers, inadequate wages, and a lack of access to essential resources and opportunities. These challenges demonstrate the necessity of creating policies that support economic mobility and provide a fair chance for all families to thrive.
Checks and Balances: The legislature provides an essential check on the executive branch's power, ensuring that emergency powers are exercised appropriately and within the bounds of the law. This oversight helps maintain a balance of power and prevents potential overreach.
Accountability: Legislative oversight ensures that the executive branch remains accountable to the public. By requiring regular reporting and justification for the use of emergency powers, the legislature can scrutinize decisions and actions taken during an emergency, ensuring they serve the public interest.
Transparency: Involving the legislature in the granting and oversight of emergency powers promotes transparency. Public trust is bolstered when there is clear communication about the reasons for and scope of emergency actions, as well as the duration and limitations of such powers.
Deliberation and Input: The legislature, representing a diverse array of constituents, brings multiple perspectives to the table. This diversity can lead to more balanced and comprehensive decision-making, particularly in how emergency powers are deployed and managed.
Key Components of the Bill:
Medicaid Expansion: The core of the bill would be to expand Medicaid eligibility to cover more low-income individuals and families. This expansion would help bridge the gap for those who do not qualify for existing Medicaid programs but cannot afford private insurance.
Mental Health Services: The bill would allocate funds to enhance mental health services across the state. This includes increasing the number of mental health professionals, expanding access to counseling and treatment programs, and integrating mental health care into primary care settings.
Substance Misuse and Harm Reduction: Addressing the overdose crisis is crucial. The bill would include provisions for harm reduction strategies, such as increasing the availability of naloxone, supporting needle exchange programs, and providing more resources for addiction treatment and recovery programs.
Preventive Care: Emphasizing preventive care is essential for reducing long-term healthcare costs and improving health outcomes. The bill would promote access to preventive services, including vaccinations, screenings, and wellness check-ups.
Healthcare Infrastructure: The bill would invest in the healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved areas. This includes funding for community health centers, telehealth services, and transportation to medical facilities.
Government accountability involves holding public officials and agencies responsible for their actions and decisions. This means implementing rigorous oversight mechanisms, conducting regular audits, and maintaining open lines of communication with constituents. It is essential for preventing corruption, inefficiency, and misuse of resources.
Furthermore, I advocate for policies that require detailed disclosure of campaign finances, lobbying activities, and potential conflicts of interest to ensure that elected officials act in the best interest of the public rather than private interests. Public participation and scrutiny are vital components of a healthy democracy, and I am committed to promoting practices that enhance transparency and accountability at all levels of government.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Kansas House of Representatives District 85 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 8, 2024
