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Linda Kirby
Linda Kirby has been a practicing attorney in Wichita since 1988, and is running for Sedgwick County District Court Judge in the 2012 Primary. Previously, Ms. Kirby was Professor of Law at the University of Richmond. She teaches seminars on Executor's Training, Estate Planning, Pre-Marital Agreements and Retirement Planning. Ms. Kirby focuses her legal practice in the areas of Estate Planning, Pre-Marital Agreements, Wills, Trusts, Probate and Tax. She is the author of The Executor's Guide. Ms Kirby can be contacted at (316) 686-2000. Her office is located at 6135 East Central, Wichita, KS 67208, and her website is at www.LindaKirby.com.
Politics
2012-08-02 09:39:50
Why run for District Court Judge?
Q- Linda, you have been a successful estates and property law attorney here in Wichita for a number of years, why are you running for judge and why would you run against such a well-known incumbent judge?
A- As a practicing attorney here in Sedgwick County for the past 23 years I was drawn to challenge the current Republican incumbent candidate by the fact that he has clearly strayed from the core values of the Republican Party. I believe that elected officials have a responsibility to work hard for the voters who elected them and a responsibility to uphold the values that they were elected upon. Those values include putting in a full day’s work for a full-day’s pay, managing taxpayer money as if it was your own, giving total priority to the job you have been elected to fulfill, and speaking truthfully. Those values once appeared to be practiced by my opponent, but since leaving the Legislative branch four years ago to become a judge, my opponent seems to have lost his way. We cannot afford to let our past loyalty to a politician blind us when our core values are not being practiced by an incumbent judge and the values of our party and community are being eroded. After 23 years practicing law and raising a family here in Sedgwick County, I am proud to have the opportunity to serve my community with my full and complete attention to the people of Sedgwick County and with unwavering commitment to the core beliefs of our Republican Party. As an attorney I have worked with thousands of clients throughout our community to represent them fairly with a clear understanding of our laws. I have not been a lawmaker nor have I been a political operative in Topeka: pushing political agendas and engaging in legal grandstanding is not my style. I have dedicated my professional life to a clear analysis and understanding of the law and how it intersects with my clients’ lives right here in Sedgwick County. I simply cannot stand by and watch a Judicial incumbent expect voters to give him an automatic renewal when he is taking advantage of voters’ trust. My opponent served honorably in the Kansas Legislature, but since leaving the Legislature and moving to the judicial branch four years ago, he seems to have lost his way. He pushed court spending to record highs with a ‘therapeutic court’ for DUI offenders at taxpayer expense. He puts in a part-time work schedule for full time pay. He has misrepresented to thousands that he was endorsed by KFL, a socially conservative organization, which has withdrawn their support after his performance during his first term as a judge and his clear disregard for the values he embraced during his time as a Kansas Legislator. I ask that you break the cycle of incumbents who feel entitled to be re-elected and consider a change for the better. I ask for your vote and the opportunity to serve you and all citizens of Sedgwick County as Division I Judge in the 18th Judicial District.
 
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