Fred Gardner has been getting better acquainted with the communities he will soon represent.
It’s a big change for the retired Garnett veterinarian, and he wants to be prepared.
It’s also a big change for area residents, who will have a different voice representing their interests in Topeka.
Gardner was elected Nov. 8 to serve District 9 in the Kansas House of Representatives after longtime Rep. Kent Thompson retired, and the district was redrawn to include all of Allen and Anderson counties, with small sections of Linn and Miami. It previously covered Allen County and part of Neosho, including Chanute.
The district’s new territory means Gardner will work with four county commissions, about a dozen city councils and several school boards. He’s spent the past few weeks meeting with many of those representatives, along with officials at hospitals, health care clinics and mental health organizations.
“I’m trying to get acquainted with as many city and county government people as I can. I’ve met most of the school superintendents and a lot of health care leaders, just to get to know them before the session begins,” Gardner said.
In a way, he considers it an extension of his campaign. During the weeks of running for office, he found many who are unfamiliar with how government or community programs work, the services they provide, if they are qualified or how to access those programs.
For example, he learned when it comes to education, some families may not know about tutoring programs or that some schools provide medical clinics. In mental health, those who most need treatment are often those less likely to receive it.
On Wednesday, he met with representatives of the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, and learned more about the barriers people face with accessing health care.
“We have quite an extensive list of services available in this part of the state. Quite a few people seem to struggle to understand the systems that are in place and who they need to talk to,” Gardner said.
“I’m not sure I have a solution to that problem, but it surprised me to learn about it. A lot of services are available and those things are not a secret. But getting access to those services can be a problem.”
The conversations and lessons he is learning now will be useful in committee work.
Gardner will serve on committees for local government, health and human services, and agriculture and natural resources.
The agriculture committee was Gardner’s first choice of assignments, because of his experience in the agriculture industry as a large-animal veterinarian. He specializes in horses. Many of his customers have agricultural backgrounds, which gives him an understanding of the challenges they face.
He’s also looking forward to serving on the local government committee, as he believes it’s important for lawmakers in Topeka to have good communication with their peers at the grassroots levels.
He points to Allen County Commissioner David Lee as an example he hopes to follow. Lee organized meetings that introduced Gardner to county employees and residents, who shared their concerns and educated him about county operations.
