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Mary Williams (Kansas)
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Mary Williams (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Kansas House of Representatives to represent District 47. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Williams completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Mary Williams was born in Lawton, Oklahoma. Williams earned a high school diploma from Jefferson County North High School. She earned an associate degree from Highland Community College in 1993, a bachelor's degree from Washburn University in 2002, and a graduate degree from Emporia State University in 2011. Her career experience includes working as a teacher.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Kansas House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Kansas House of Representatives District 47
Incumbent Ronald Ellis defeated Mary Williams in the general election for Kansas House of Representatives District 47 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ronald Ellis (R) | 66.1 | 8,298 | |
 | Mary Williams (D)  | 33.9 | 4,248 | |
| Total votes: 12,546 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 47
Mary Williams advanced from the Democratic primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 47 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mary Williams | 100.0 | 627 |
| Total votes: 627 | |||
| = 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 47
Incumbent Ronald Ellis advanced from the Republican primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 47 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ronald Ellis | 100.0 | 1,991 | |
| Total votes: 1,991 | |||
| = 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 Williams in this election.
Pledges
Williams signed the following pledges.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Mary Williams completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Williams' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am currently a teacher in my local district. I have taught for 22 years and am also the president of my local NEA. Prior to teaching, I owned my own business (TLC Daycare Centers-3 different sites), was a para-educator, and treasurers for the cities of Winchester and Oskaloosa. I've been married since 2015 to my husband Clint and have two grown children and 6 grandchildren.
- I believe we must adopt the Medicaid Expansion Act. We have many constituents including veterans who cannot get the health care they need and many die as the result. Past legislative bodies here in Kansas have had the opportunity to make sure all Kansans have the needed healthcare devices but choose to ignore their constituents.
- I am a strong believer that early childhood education and care are the foundation of a strong society. It has been statistically shown that for every dollar spent on our future generations, four dollars in benefits is derived. We need to continue to maintain the public education system in our state and fully fund special education services (not just band-aid for one year).
- We need to take a strong look at the foster care system and make it less stringent for families to become part of the system (not less safe-less stringent). In addition, we have children whose parent's death benefits (including military death benefits) are confiscated to pay for foster care. This is a travesty that MUST be rectified!
As I have stated above, I am a strong proponent of Medicaid Expansion, Early Childhood, Public and Special Education as well as a better Foster Care system. Beyond that, our major focus should be on Voter Rights as the Supreme Court has deemed those rights in jeopardy!
I would say my father is my biggest role model. He was a farmer and worked hard every day of his life. He didn't allow adversity to keep him down and when things became tough, he would find ways to work around the problem and find solutions. I believe that is what keeps me balanced as I work in the myriad of jobs I do. He was always open to the ideas of others but had no problem debating his convictions when he felt they were important.
I do not believe I know of a media source that explains MY philosophy BUT I can recommend an opposite-Civil War-the movie that came out earlier this year regarding a modern day Civil War that occurs because of the LACK of civil discourse and understanding the beautiful experiment we call DEMOCRACY.
First and foremost, elected officials are the voice of their CONSTITUENTS-not THEMSELVES! A good elected official makes sure to visit with all constituents, not just the ones that come for a coffee during a work day (yes, this grates me and needs to change-there should be various times to go meet with constituents, not just during the work day!)
All elected officials should accept the voting process and help insure that a democratic populous is intact.
I have excellent time management and I listen to people. I think these qualities are important for officeholders. We must listen to our people if we want to be effective and truly be a legislator of the people.
The first responsibility (and one I am working on) is to build a "cabinet" of constituents who can help better determine policy. There is no way an elected official can know the ins and outs of all bills brought to the floor. But the official SHOULD go to the people in their district to find out what is the best way to help and sometimes ask the people in their district that know way more than the official. Every representative should have someone that is a veteran, someone in education, someone in the medical field, etc. FROM THEIR DISTRICT that can help determine policy.
This is an open question. Personally, I would like my legacy to be educated, kind adults (both with my own children and grandchildren but also all of the students I have taught over the years). As a legislator, my legacy would be that we make Kansas a better place for our citizens (all citizens) and address the issues that divide us so we can become united as a state.
I would say it was when the Challenger exploded in 1986. I had worked at the Dept. of Education and was part of the process when they chose Christa McAuliffe to be the teacher going into space. It was truly a sad day! I would have been 23 at the time.
My first job was working at a horticultural shop, planting trees, bushes, flowers and creating corsages and flower arrangements. I only had it for a summer job but it was a fun start.
This is a difficult one (I read a lot ) but My Sisters Keeper by Jodi Picoult always comes to mind. 20 years ago, I gave my sister a kidney transplant (she had been ill since childhood and was in need). This book is about that and so much more. I always find it surreal.
Katniss Everdeen (Hunger Games). She is a warrior but also kind.
A Million Dreams-A great song about dreaming that we can all have a better perspective and if we dream it, we can do it.
I have had quite a few struggles. I have lived in poverty as a child which gives me a good perspective on those that struggle now. I was in a domestic violence situation for 25 years in my first marriage. This was a struggle as I extricated myself but has also given me perspective for those finding themselves in those situations.
Since the governor has veto power and the legislature has override power, any opportunities to create bills that can be worked through by both entities prior to going to the governor's desk saves time and money. Too much time (and in essence, money) are wasted on creating and passing bills that are known to be vetoed and then possibly overridden. If we are listening to our constituents, if we are working across the aisle, if we are working with the governor to create strong, well-thought out, fiscally responsible legislation, so much more can occur in our state.
I see one of our biggest challenges in the State of Kansas being financial management-at the state level AND at the personal and family level. As the populous continues to age, many are not properly prepared for retirement and I believe this will put an even greater burden on state and federal resources to keep families and elderly out of homelessness. We need to make sure the state is financially responsible and help teach our youth to be as well. We can overcome past issues but it will take all of us working together to help that happen.
Environmental concerns will continue to be an issue and continue to affect farmers and our food supplies. We must address these concerns and work to find a balance with alternative sources of energy. We must also work as a state to protect the family farm and stop corporations from going on land grabs.
Environmental concerns will continue to be an issue and continue to affect farmers and our food supplies. We must address these concerns and work to find a balance with alternative sources of energy. We must also work as a state to protect the family farm and stop corporations from going on land grabs.
I think this is a balance question-I think having some knowledge of how government works, how politics works (which I'm still working on) and how to be fiscally responsible are imperative to be a productive legislator. However, I do not believe that the "career politician" is appropriate for our governments and creates issues with no longer looking to their constituents for policy. I think fresh eyes and fresh ideas should always be part of our governmental entities.
ABSOLUTELY! Working together is the only way good government works. We have to know about our fellow legislators in order to be able to work together. With that said, voting for something just because your "buddy" is isn't good politics. We should always consider our district and our constituents.
When I look back at our state government, past and present, I would consider these Governors to be fair, fiscally responsible leaders: Governor Laura Kelly, Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Governor Bill Graves, Governor Mike Hayden and Governor John Carlin. All seemed willing to work across the aisle and had the best interest of Kansas in their work. I would consider those my legislative role models.
I never say never although I truly just want to be the best House of Representative member I can be for my district and my state. I do not perceive myself moving into a higher office.
I have a student that is currently in a loving foster care home. His foster parents have chosen to adopt him and his mother relinquished parental rights (something that took at least 3 years to happen even though the mother hasn't had positive interaction in that time). As the adoption process was close to finalization, an aunt has come forward who wants to take custody even though she also has addiction issues. So now, this young man, must go through the heart-wrenching process of right separation AGAIN in order to be adoptable by the foster parents he has grown to love. This has created even more trauma for a young man who has lived his life in trauma and it may well be that he will be 15 or 16 before he is adoptable. This is one of the stories that has made me want to help our youth in the foster care system.
My teacher called me average ... that's just mean.
Emergency powers would be used in that manner-EMERGENCY. If the Governor sees the need for an Emergency Order, there isn't time for legislative oversight. We have rarely had to have the use of Emergency Powers but I feel the legislature should grant the use of those powers so things get taken care of as needed, not waiting for a zoom call among legislatures or a call back to Topeka to handle such matters.
The first bill I believe I will introduce is to stop the confiscation of death benefits from children placed into the foster care system. Those children have the right to those benefits and an ombudsman should be assigned to oversee the funds in a trust for that child. We do not "charge" other children put into the foster care system and we should not be doing so for children due to the death of parents.
KNEA has given their recommendation. I hope for more as we continue.
I believe since I have extensive experience in early childhood, public and special education that these would be good fits for committee work. I also believe I could be helpful with any committees dealing with the foster care system or Medicaid Expansion.
I truly believe that all budgetary items should be transparent and that there is no room for hidden "agendas" built into a budget. The government is the steward of our state's finances and responsible to the people of the state. Just as families in our state are responsible to budget and take care of the bills required of them, so isn't the state government. And when a family purchases outside the family "business", it creates issues. It is the same with our government. We must used our dollars wisely and make sure our constituents know where and why money has been spent.
Kansas does not currently have a ballot initiative process. I don't think this process is "good or bad". I feel if the people of the state feel they're being heard, then an initiative process wouldn't be necessary. The process does allow for constituents to push back against poor legislation and could be a fail-safe for the populous. I do think the process creates fiscal issues since a voting process would have to be put in place for the citizens to vote on such referendums.
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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 47 |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 7, 2024
Current members of the Kansas House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Daniel Hawkins
Majority Leader:Chris Croft
Minority Leader:Brandon Woodard
Representatives
District 1
Dale Helwig (R)
District 2
Kenneth Collins (R)
District 3
Chuck Smith (R)
District 4
Rick James (R)
District 5
Carrie Barth (R)
District 6
Samantha Poetter (R)
District 7
Dan Goddard (R)
District 8
Chris Croft (R)
District 9
Fred Gardner (R)
District 10
Suzanne Wikle (D)
District 11
Ron Bryce (R)
District 12
Doug Blex (R)
District 13
Duane Droge (R)
District 14
Charlotte Esau (R)
District 15
Lauren Bohi (R)
District 16
District 17
Jo Ella Hoye (D)
District 18
Cindy Neighbor (D)
District 19
District 20
Mari-Lynn Poskin (D)
District 21
Jerry Stogsdill (D)
District 22
Lindsay Vaughn (D)
District 23
Susan Ruiz (D)
District 24
Jarrod Ousley (D)
District 25
Rui Xu (D)
District 26
Chip VanHouden (R)
District 27
Sean Tarwater (R)
District 28
Carl Turner (R)
District 29
Heather Meyer (D)
District 30
Laura Williams (R)
District 31
Louis Ruiz (D)
District 32
Pam Curtis (D)
District 33
Carolyn Caiharr (R)
District 34
Valdenia Winn (D)
District 35
Wanda Paige (D)
District 36
Lynn Melton (D)
District 37
Melissa Oropeza (D)
District 38
Timothy Johnson (R)
District 39
Angela Stiens (R)
District 40
David Buehler (R)
District 41
Pat Proctor (R)
District 42
Lance Neelly (R)
District 43
Bill Sutton (R)
District 44
Barbara Ballard (D)
District 45
Mike Amyx (D)
District 46
District 47
Ronald Ellis (R)
District 48
Dan Osman (D)
District 49
Nikki McDonald (D)
District 50
Kyle McNorton (R)
District 51
Megan Steele (R)
District 52
Jesse Borjon (R)
District 53
Kirk Haskins (D)
District 54
Ken Corbet (R)
District 55
District 56
Virgil Weigel (D)
District 57
John Alcala (D)
District 58
Alexis Simmons (D)
District 59
Rebecca Schmoe (R)
District 60
Mark Schreiber (R)
District 61
Francis Awerkamp (R)
District 62
Sean Willcott (R)
District 63
Allen Reavis (R)
District 64
Lewis Bloom (R)
District 65
Shawn Chauncey (R)
District 66
Sydney Carlin (D)
District 67
Angel Roeser (R)
District 68
Nathan Butler (R)
District 69
Clarke Sanders (R)
District 70
Greg Wilson (R)
District 71
Steven Howe (R)
District 72
Avery Anderson (R)
District 73
Rick Wilborn (R)
District 74
Mike King (R)
District 75
Will Carpenter (R)
District 76
Brad Barrett (R)
District 77
Kristey Williams (R)
District 78
Robyn Essex (R)
District 79
Webster Roth (R)
District 80
Bill Rhiley (R)
District 81
Blake Carpenter (R)
District 82
Leah Howell (R)
District 83
Henry Helgerson (D)
District 84
Ford Carr (D)
District 85
Steven Brunk (R)
District 86
Silas Miller (D)
District 87
Susan Estes (R)
District 88
Sandy Pickert (R)
District 89
KC Ohaebosim (D)
District 90
Steve Huebert (R)
District 91
Emil Bergquist (R)
District 92
John Carmichael (D)
District 93
Brian Bergkamp (R)
District 94
Leo Delperdang (R)
District 95
Tom Sawyer (D)
District 96
Tom Kessler (R)
District 97
Nick Hoheisel (R)
District 98
Cyndi Howerton (R)
District 99
Susan Humphries (R)
District 100
Daniel Hawkins (R)
District 101
Joe Seiwert (R)
District 102
Kyler Sweely (R)
District 103
Angela Martinez (D)
District 104
Paul Waggoner (R)
District 105
Jill Ward (R)
District 106
Lisa Moser (R)
District 107
Dawn Wolf (R)
District 108
Brandon Woodard (D)
District 109
Troy Waymaster (R)
District 110
Ken Rahjes (R)
District 111
Barbara Wasinger (R)
District 112
Sherri Brantley (R)
District 113
Brett Fairchild (R)
District 114
District 115
Gary White (R)
District 116
Kyle Hoffman (R)
District 117
Adam Turk (R)
District 118
Jim Minnix (R)
District 119
Jason Goetz (R)
District 120
Adam Smith (R)
District 121
John Resman (R)
District 122
Lon Pishny (R)
District 123
Bob Lewis (R)
District 124
Martin Long (R)
District 125
Shannon Francis (R)
Republican Party (88)
Democratic Party (37)
