Jo Ella Hoye

Jo Ella Hoye was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. She earned a bachelor's degree from Cornell College in 2006 and a master's degree from the University of Kansas in 2009. Hoye's career experience includes working as a senior analyst for the Johnson County Manager's Office.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a public servant, community volunteer, advocate, and leader running for the Kansas House of Representatives to elevate the voices of Kansans and to continue to fight for the health and safety of our families. I am involved with the Shawnee Mission School District's My Volunteer Pal program as a weekly classroom volunteer, I serve as Vice President for Ways and Means of the Rising Star Elementary School PTA, I'm Vice Chair of the Lenexa Planning Commission, and I am the former Kansas Chapter Leader of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

Born in Lincoln, NE, I'm a graduate from Nebraska City High School and Cornell College. I earned my Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Kansas. My husband, Brian, and I live in Lenexa with our third grader, William.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Every Kansas student deserves the opportunity for a quality, well-funded education. Teachers should have access to training, and the state must have high standards for licensing and hiring teachers. Schools should have the capacity to hire student support services staff and prioritize the needs of our most vulnerable students. Our policies must help schools attract and retain excellent teachers. The Kansas Supreme Court found the 2019 school funding formula to be adequate, and the court will make sure that the legislature fully funds schools through 2023. Kansas lawmakers must ensure that school funding reflects the changes in educational costs, and we should not go back on our commitment to adequately fund schools by 2023.Kansas must close the coverage gap and make sure that all Kansans have access to affordable healthcare. The Kansas Legislature failed to move forward with Medicaid expansion during the 2020 legislative session, so I will be a steadfast advocate for Medicaid expansion when I take office in 2021. We need lawmakers who will make sure that we utilize the services that the Federal Government offers such as the Excellence in Mental Health Centers Act. Kansas currently receives zero dollars, because we chose not to participate. We are missing out on billions of federal dollars for healthcare that should be used right here in Kansas. Medicaid Expansion would boost our economy and create more than 4,000 jobs. COVID has taught us some hard lessons, but Kansans are resilient. We won't let our communities fall behind. Our pandemic response must be safe and equitable. We know that the state budget should meet the needs of citizens while being fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars. As a former Senior Analyst in the Johnson County Manager's Office, I have the public budgeting experience to get us back on track.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The gun violence crisis has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Gun sales are historically high, but Kansas permits are plummeting, because permits and training aren't required to carry a hidden, loaded gun. Gun deaths are the leading cause of death for American children and teens. Suicides account for 69% of gun deaths in Kansas; this is nearly 10% higher than the national average. We must do more to keep guns out of the hands of people with dangerous histories by requiring background checks on all gun sales, implementing a red flag law so that family members and law enforcement can help people in crisis, and building on the domestic violence bill that overwhelmingly passed the Legislature in 2018, signed into law by Governor Colyer. Convicted domestic abusers should be required to relinquish guns they may already have to law enforcement for the period of time they are prohibited from having firearms. As a parent and a gun owner, I'll keep fighting for sensible gun laws that save lives.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I often reflect on this quote from my ethics professor, H. George Frederickson, from his book, The Spirit of Public Administration:

"Embracing equity as the third normative pillar of public administration requires public servants to seek out and work toward more just allocations of public goods and services, to represent those who do not otherwise have access to public policy processes, to seek the public interest or greater good, and to represent the dignity of individuals (public employees as well as other citizens) and tirelessly safeguard their rights."

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

As a young girl, I had a big dream to become a lifeguard. I started as a lifeguard at the Steinhart Municipal Pool in Nebraska City, NE when I was 16 and worked there for five summers. I was also a lifeguard in Fort Myers, FL for a year. I took great pride in keeping the facilities clean and safe, and I taught swimming lessons for eight years.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

My experience in nonpartisan, professional local government will be beneficial in helping me build bipartisan coalitions and navigating the legislative process in Topeka. I will be able to hit the ground running to ensure the most responsive representation for the citizens of Kansas House District 17. Previous experience is beneficial but not required. Government should be accessible and inclusive. My civic involvement includes:

o City of Lenexa, Planning Commission, Vice Chair 2015-present

o City of Lenexa, Complete Streets Advisory Committee 2019

o Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, KS Chapter Leader 2016-2019

o Johnson County Govt.-County Manager's Office, Senior Analyst 2010-2013

o City of Mission:

i. Parks & Rec. Commission 2012-2014

ii. Swimming Pool Task Force, Chair 2012-2013

iii. Downtown Visioning Committee, Chair 2010-2011

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

Unfortunately, we were already on the road to a recession prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Kelly balanced the budget with an ending balance to cover for unpredictable issues that could arise. We have learned some hard lessons as we were finally edging toward a restoration of the core functions of our state government only to be faced with unprecedented budget shortfalls. We must take what we have learned over the last few years so that we are prepared for future hardships, and we must not let our state departments and services be devastated by drastic cuts to our most essential services. We need Federal assistance to help right the course and modernize core services.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

I support fair maps. Partisan lawmakers should not draw the redistricting maps; the process must be nonpartisan. I think that an impartial redistricting committee would be a good way to prevent gerrymandering.