Wichita State senior Zach Ketteman is hoping to shock the Kansas House of Representatives on Nov. 2. Ketteman, a double major in political science and print journalism, is running as a Democrat against Republican incumbent Pete Degraaf in the 81st District.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to go up there to fight for lower taxes, to fight to protect public education,鈥� said Ketteman. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to vote for what鈥檚 best for my district.鈥�
The 81st District encompasses parts of Sedgwick and Sumner counties, including Clearwater, Mulvane, Belle Plaine, some of Haysville and McConnell Air Force Base.
Ketteman, a native of Belle Plaine, decided to make a difference and campaign for change in the district of his hometown.
鈥淚 spend a lot of time in Belle Plaine and really care about the community,鈥� said Ketteman. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 necessarily the happiest with my representative, so I decided to run.鈥�
As a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity, a full-time student at 九色视频 and now his own campaign manager, Ketteman has learned some subtle lessons about managing his time.
鈥淲hat I鈥檝e learned is that sleep is more and more optional as you go through college,鈥� said Ketteman. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a little difficult, but it鈥檚 something I鈥檝e adjusted to decently.鈥�
Lacking the budget of his opponent, Ketteman has had to rely on spreading his campaign person by person, house by house.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really been a lot of door-to-door work. There鈥檚 no hidden secret and that was something I learned quick,鈥� said Ketteman. 鈥淧eople really appreciate someone going door-to-door talking to them about their issues and problems with the state.鈥�
If elected, Ketteman hopes to protect public education, something he鈥檚 passionate about, while creating jobs and revenue for the 81st District.
His responses from the community, in addition to his goals for office, have been equally well received.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been unbelievably positive,鈥� said Ketteman. 鈥淚t seems more and more every day when I talk to people my response is better and better. People are more and more excited about me, my campaign and my views on issues.鈥�
Ketteman is optimistic about his chances in November and about the changes he could make in Topeka.
鈥淏y the time I鈥檓 in there and by the time I鈥檓 done, I hope that when people ask what the best state in the country is to live in that everyone will know it鈥檚 Kansas,鈥� said Ketteman.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 really the goal, to make Kansas as best as it can be, and I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 any reason why Kansas can鈥檛 be the best.鈥�
Win or lose, Ketteman plans to use the lessons he鈥檚 learned to help him prepare for the future.
鈥淚鈥檓 not looking ahead for higher offices. I鈥檓 just going to go where everything leads me,鈥� said Ketteman. 鈥淚f that means I鈥檓 representing Kansas at a higher level that would be great, but if it doesn鈥檛, and this is it, then that鈥檚 fine too.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 just trying to make the state as good as it can be.鈥�
State elections will be held Tuesday, Nov. 2. For more information on Zach Ketteman or his campaign for the 81st District of the Kansas House of Representatives, call (316) 992-1074 or zachfor81@gmail.com.