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Vicki Tiahrt, wife of Todd Tiahrt, Republican 4th District Congressman who is locked in a fight against Jerry Moran (R-Hays) for Sen. Sam Brownback’s U.S. Senate seat, is on the campaign trail making appearances around the state and last week she stopped in Augusta. She shared a woman’s perspective with Gazette reporter, Belinda Larsen.
Q. The Senate race has gotten negative. How hard is it for you to hear negative things about your husband?
A. I’ve been at this a long time and developed a thick skin. With the Internet and blog comments it can get pretty rough. But I’m older, wiser and I pick my battles.
Q. What do you see as your role on the campaign?
A. Women have unique perspectives. Something is happening with our gender. At least 55 percent of those attending TEA parties are women. Women are very responsive. They are leaving the kitchens and jobs and making their way to the public arena. This is very good for our country. We are encouraging women, as well as minorities and youth. These groups have been marginalized and deserve a place at the table. The passion is there. The minority community may be a little more hesitant.
We’re determined to build friendships and relationships. They all need to lift their voices and America needs to hear.
Our young people have been ignored. We’ve found that when we reach out that they are very informed. They bring a new energy and any campaign would be foolish to ignore them.
Q. What are the most important issues for you?
A. The economy and jobs. Three quarters of the U.S. households have women contributing to the household. The economy is definitely impacting moms and kids.
Q. Can you share your favorite story about Todd helping a constituent?
A. Todd has a great staff working with him and almost every day someone calls with problems. But, I would have to say the Burnhams (Kansas missionaries taken hostage by terrorists in the Philippines) come to mind first. Kansans carried that situation in their hearts. We were shocked that people could be taken hostage. Todd stepped up and was vocal when America could not rescue them due to the rules of engagement in dealing with terrorists.
He works hard, he’s motivated, aggressive and a fighter -- he can be a bull dog. Kansas has real needs and he’s always aware of those needs.
Federal help is needed to deal with the meth labs; there are communities that don’t have resources to to update water treatment and sanitation systems -- if you don’t have a Todd Tiahrt to get those funds, those communities lose out.
Todd stepped up and assisted with getting $1 million to help with the technology in the BTK case, which resulted in the capture and arrest of Dennis Rader a couple of weeks later.
There is a lot of talk about earmarks. Earmarks are not new spending -- that money is on the table already going somewhere -- he strongly believes in targeting the money wisely.
Vicki Tiahrt, wife of Todd Tiahrt, Republican 4th District Congressman who is locked in a fight against Jerry Moran (R-Hays) for Sen. Sam Brownback’s U.S. Senate seat, is on the campaign trail making appearances around the state and last week she stopped in Augusta. She shared a woman’s perspective with Gazette reporter, Belinda Larsen.
Q. The Senate race has gotten negative. How hard is it for you to hear negative things about your husband?
A. I’ve been at this a long time and developed a thick skin. With the Internet and blog comments it can get pretty rough. But I’m older, wiser and I pick my battles.
Q. What do you see as your role on the campaign?
A. Women have unique perspectives. Something is happening with our gender. At least 55 percent of those attending TEA parties are women. Women are very responsive. They are leaving the kitchens and jobs and making their way to the public arena. This is very good for our country. We are encouraging women, as well as minorities and youth. These groups have been marginalized and deserve a place at the table. The passion is there. The minority community may be a little more hesitant.
We’re determined to build friendships and relationships. They all need to lift their voices and America needs to hear.
Our young people have been ignored. We’ve found that when we reach out that they are very informed. They bring a new energy and any campaign would be foolish to ignore them.
Q. What are the most important issues for you?
A. The economy and jobs. Three quarters of the U.S. households have women contributing to the household. The economy is definitely impacting moms and kids.
Q. Can you share your favorite story about Todd helping a constituent?
A. Todd has a great staff working with him and almost every day someone calls with problems. But, I would have to say the Burnhams (Kansas missionaries taken hostage by terrorists in the Philippines) come to mind first. Kansans carried that situation in their hearts. We were shocked that people could be taken hostage. Todd stepped up and was vocal when America could not rescue them due to the rules of engagement in dealing with terrorists.
He works hard, he’s motivated, aggressive and a fighter -- he can be a bull dog. Kansas has real needs and he’s always aware of those needs.
Federal help is needed to deal with the meth labs; there are communities that don’t have resources to to update water treatment and sanitation systems -- if you don’t have a Todd Tiahrt to get those funds, those communities lose out.
Todd stepped up and assisted with getting $1 million to help with the technology in the BTK case, which resulted in the capture and arrest of Dennis Rader a couple of weeks later.
There is a lot of talk about earmarks. Earmarks are not new spending -- that money is on the table already going somewhere -- he strongly believes in targeting the money wisely.
Q. Another important issue for you is literacy?
I love books and have always enjoyed reading. I’ve been involved with The Big Read program in Wichita. Just this morning I read to some second graders. (Vicki is the Honorary Chair of The Big Read program in Wichita. The Big Read was started by the National Endowment for the Arts to restore reading to the American culture after a study showed literary reading declining rapidly in America. The Kansas Library Association and the Mountain Plains Library Association noted Vicki's work for literacy by naming her the 2009 Emerging Leader Library Advocate award winner.). We have to encourage Kansans to keep reading and to be life-long learners. It’s important to have an informed electorate.
Kansans are smart and well-informed. You give them information and they’ll make the right choice. I’m always amazed at how informed people in Kansas are.
Q. If you weren’t married to him, what would be your favorite thing about Todd Tiahrt?
A. What an interesting question!
He has a wicked sense of humor...and I’ve always liked his walk. He has a football player walk. The first time I saw him at college, it was his walk I noticed.
Todd is a kind person. Whenever he has toured weather-damaged areas around the state, he has been touched by the impact on his fellow Kansans. It always touches his heart.
Todd’s efforts have always been to do the right thing with his constituents’ best interests in mind.
