Peggy Dunn: No contact yet; Will Leawood mayor be tapped?

Leawood Mayor Peggy Dunn has been a prominent Johnson County Republican a number of years. Her list of accomplishments and honors as well as the number of organizations and boards to which she belongs is impressive.

Are they impressive enough to warrant her as a serious Republican candidate to go up against incumbent 3rd District U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Lenexa, a year from now?

Certainly.

How about Kansas lieutenant governor?

Most definitely.

Dunn’s name has been mentioned in many Republican circles as a possible candidate against Moore. Some Republican insiders in Johnson County say current U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, the leading Republican candidate for governor, would like a female from Johnson County to join him on his gubernatorial ticket.

And, they say, Dunn’s name is on the short list.

Dunn said that’s news to her.

“I have not had discussions with (Brownback) and I have not heard that,” she said. “It would be hard (for me) to consider something that I haven’t even heard about. I’m very content doing what I’m doing right now as mayor.”

Attempts to reach Brownback or someone from his campaign staff were unsuccessful.

It’s still early in the political campaign season, and Dunn didn’t say she wouldn’t talk to Brownback about a possible lieutenant governor berth on his ticket. In fact, she’s already endorsing him for governor.

“I feel very good (about him being governor),” she said. “And I actually have put my name on his campaign for governor. I have also done so with Jerry Moran for the Senate; Jerry’s been a friend for many, many years.”

But before making a definite yea or nay statement, Dunn said she would need to have a conversation with someone of authority, either Brownback himself or someone high in his political camp.

“I would have to hear (the proposal) from someone other than hearsay,” she said.

As far as running for Moore’s seat, Dunn said a definite no.

“I’m very happy being the mayor of Leawood; I have no interest in seeking the 3rd District nomination,” she said. “I think the 3rd District race has quite a few names (in contention) from what I’ve heard.”

Dunn said she has not supported Moore privately or publicly in the past.

“He certainly has been to a lot of events that Leawood has hosted and Dennis has always been very participatory and has attended many things, and we certainly, as our congressman, have included him in invitations, etc.; Dennis has always been very friendly.

“But I have never endorsed him and I’ve never written a check.”

The position of Leawood mayor is nonpartisan, but Dunn is a registered Republican. She said she likely would not endorse any 3rd District candidate until after the primary election next August.

“At this point I remain neutral on all of those possibilities, so I’m not really ready to get out and put my name behind a candidate at this point,” she said. “As a sitting mayor, I very seldom do endorse because I know I will be working with whoever is elected.

“I have made exceptions when the person has been a close friend. I would think once the primary is over, I think there would be a better possibility that I would (endorse), but I would like to wait and see how it all comes out.”

Trackback(0)

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Write comment