Mary Ann Harmon

Mary Ann Harmon earned a high school diploma from Garden Plain High School and an associate degree from Colby Community College in 1980.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

A 3rd-generation Kansan, I grew up in western Sedgwick County, where I’ve spent most of my life. I’m a retired veterinary technician & small business owner. My husband & I served four-and-a-half years in the Caribbean as missionaries. Returning home, we've aided struggling veterans. Our final move was to the District, to care for Mom in her final years. Active in my congregations & communities, I’ve volunteered from post-event cleanup, all the way to leadership roles. And I speak up for the community at public hearings.

My upbringing in the District has given me strong values & a deep understanding of community. Here, education was top-notch, and family & church guarded my siblings & I from the worst of society. Now it's my responsibility to protect and serve our District.

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?

AFFORDABILITY is our biggest challenge, today. The Legislature shapes two main problems: Property Taxes & Minimum Wages.30 years ago, RESIDENTIAL property taxes were only 38 % of the TOTAL property taxes paid. Today we pay 57%, for our homes, largely due to Legislators giving tax breaks to big corporations. I'll see that Big Business goes back to paying its fair share.Big corporations also use the ‘inflation’ excuse to grow their profits, but don't pay & treat their workers fairly. Blame our Legislators: The cost-of-living doubled, but they've not raised the minimum wage from $7.25 in DECADES. Most neighboring states have, without higher unemployment. Let's ensure working Kansans a LIVING wage.DATA CENTERS have been ordinary business for years. But new, HYPERSCALE data centers threaten our way of life. From Oregon to Texas to Virginia, these monstrosities are poisoning local air, water, & peace. Turning night into day, they blast noise harming the most vulnerable people & animals. They use massive amounts of water, as we struggle with depleted aquifers & droughts. They use so much electricity that some utility companies have to find new electricity resources because they can’t produce enough for residents AND the data centers. Increased usage drives up electric rates, and natural gas, too (to fuel the electric power plants). Power grids nationwide struggle with the increased demand. We must control their growth.VETERANS SUPPORT: Kansas is no longer a popular place for military veterans to settle, after they've served our country. Other states -- Texas, Washington, Alaska, Nevada, Illinois, Virginia, and more -- offer them education, property tax relief, & spousal support benefits. Kansas is working on these issues, incrementally, but let's do better. McConnell Air Force Base has service members highly trained in aircraft repair, maintenance, and inspection.

Other members are some of the most highly skilled in America when it comes to cyber-security. We can truly benefit from attracting these talented veterans to enrich our communities. In Topeka, I'll push for opportunities to retain this noble and talented workforce here.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Affordability, fair wages & taxes, utility rates, water, agriculture, data centers, veterans.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

J.C Moore, former State Representative; Dee Stuart, former Mayor of Park City; Justin Shore, Clearwater Councilman