We commend our 70th District representative, Bob Brookens, for the way he served us during the recent session of the Kansas Legisla?ture. In his Capitol Ideas columns published in the Free Press during the session, the second-year representative from Marion described with candor the enormous and often conflictive issues he and his colleagues had to work through, particulary in regard to balancing a revenue-anemic state budget. His investment of time and energy in orchestrating a district-wide survey demonstrated a significant effort to listen to the varied voices within his constituency?then using his best judgment to make the best decisions for Kansas, even if they weren?t the most politically expedient ones. He said it best in this week?s column: ?Thank-you also for listening as I have tried to explain things the way they are, not the way you or I would simply want them to be.?
Mr. Brookens, thank-you for your servant-like commitment to the 70th district and our great state, and for having the courage to take a reasonable stand to protect the interests of the most vulnerable citizens in our midst: our children, our seniors and our citizens with special needs. You have served us well. ?DR