ABOUT ME
In the House: My role as a State Representative
Out of the House: My life, my passions, my purpose
Passion. We've all got it for someone or something. And if we're lucky, we get to live out our passion. Of course, there are seasons in our lives that change our focus, our attention, and our opportunities.
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My work is also my passion: serving others, solving problems, improving policy, debating issues, and applying commonsense to issues facing us daily: taxes, freedoms, quality of life, health, safety, education, and infrastructure.
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My work serving as the State Representative of the 77th District of Kansas (Augusta, Rose Hill, Douglass, and part of Andover) is the 'IN THE HOUSE' portion of this blog. My passion for people and politics began at an early age with dreams of serving someday, somewhere. As most people often do, I forgot those dreams and became a teacher -- which was also a love and pent-up dream of my childhood. Those days teaching were pretty sweet. I loved the districts I worked for, the teachers and students I worked and learned with daily, and enjoyed every moment of those five years. But, once Sydney was born, I had a choice to teach and mother or -- to just take a chance and leave the profession for motherhood. I took the chance and have no regrets. My role as a parent has been, and continues to be, the most important role, and ultimately legacy, I could ever imagine. Side note: I maintain my teaching licensure.
OUT OF THE HOUSE is where other life passions comes into play. If it's controversial, there's a good chance I like to talk about it: from religion, to politics, to all those existential questions of life. With that in mind, I'm not afraid to believe what I believe.
My core beliefs:
Jesus is the Son of God (John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Romans 3:23, Romans 10: 9-10).
My life, and your life, has purpose (Ephesians 2:10).
All things, even our biggest failures, work together for good...(Romans 8:28).
We should be carriers of faith, love, and hope (I Thessalonians 1:1-2) and not carriers of fear, hate, & despair.
God's got us and Jesus has prepared a place for us (John 14:2). I believe this life is a shadow of what is to come.
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And because of the fullness I have in God, I'm happy to enjoy the beauty He created in nature, in our cultures, in people around the world. I. Love. Travel. The sites, the sounds, the smells, the flavors, the natural beauty, the architecture, the fashion, the history, the customs, the people, and the foods. So, undoubtedly, this blog will include travel.
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Most of all, this is just a new experience for me -- blogging. My mini-adventure during the Covid-19 pandemic. When life gives you lemons, well, you make lemonade... and that's gonna have to do for now. It's the choice for each of us.
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So, here's to this adventure of blogging. Hope you find your adventure, your passion, your purpose. Just know it's there for the taking. Let's enjoy this life together and be grateful for whatever moments we have! God bless!
Kristey
The Rep, the wife, the mom, the adventurer-in-the-making!
Education
1989
1993
1997
Graduated Augusta High School
University of Kansas - BSEd (with distinction: biology, general science)
University of Kansas - MSEd
Leadership Awards
2007
2014
2015
2017-2019
2017-2018
2019-Present
2017-Present
Home Town Hero Award, KDHE
Eisenhower Series
Leadership Kansas
RHCC Chair
Local Government Chair
K-12 Budget Chair
Legislative Post Audit
Work & Volunteer
Experience
1989-1996
1994-1996
1996-1999
1999-2009
Lehr's Restaurant (Augusta)
Carlos O'Kelly's Mexican Cafe (Wichita, Lawrence, Hutchinson)
Prairie Hills Middle School, Buhler #313
Andover Middles School, USD #385, Science teacher
First Baptist Church, CLC Coordinator & fitness instructor
2001-2002
Play Park Pointe General Coordinator
2004-2005
Save Our State Street Fundraising Chair
2007 and 2010
2007-2014
2014 - Present
City of Augusta KS, Elected Mayor
Mayor of the City of Augusta, KS
Elected State of Kansas, House of Representatives
Filed for State of Kansas, House of Representatives