Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Marci Francisco (D-Lawrence) won a second term as Kansas state senator last night. Francisco, who defeated Scott Morgan (R-Lawrence) 62.3 percent to 37.7 percent, will continue to represent the 2nd congressional district, which includes West Lawrence.
“I knew I had quality voters,” Francisco, who has worked at the University for 34 years, said. “I’m pleased also to have quantity.”
Marci Francisco, 2nd District State Senator, dances with Jacob Hill, Wichita senior, at Abe & Jake's Landing Tuesday night after watching President Elect Obama's acceptance speech on a large-screen television. Fransisco, the 2nd district incumbant, retained her seat with 62 percent of the vote.
Gina Burrows, Salt Lake City junior, attended the Douglas County Democrats election night watch party at Abe and Jake’s Landing and said Francisco was committed to reaching out and speaking to students.
This semester Francisco attended Young Democrats meetings and made an appearance at “Take Back the Night,” a sexual violence prevention program.
Students involved with Young Democrats volunteered mainly with the Kansas Democratic Party, but also handed out literature about Francisco’s campaign while tabling for voter registration.
George Dungan, Lincoln, Neb., junior, who also spent last night at Abe & Jake’s Landing, said students needed to pay more attention to local candidates and issues. He said Francisco represented the “green” side of issues that many students agreed with.
“She usually fights for that cause tooth and nail,” Dungan said.
Burrows said Francisco was one of the greenest candidates the Democrats had to offer and that it wasn’t likely she would compromise on issues.
“I know she’s really willing to fight for what she believes in,” Burrows said. “I never feel like she’s going to lose herself to the bigger machine.”
Francisco said she had a strong reputation for representing higher education and already had relationships with students. She has been employed by the University as both an instructor and staff member.
During her campaign, Francisco addressed a number of other issues including minimum wage, the smoking ban and the drinking age.
Francisco said she introduced a bill to increase the Kansas minimum wage because it was one of the lowest in the nation. She said she would also work to impose a smoking ban, similar to the one currently in place in Lawrence, on the entire state.
Although federal highway funds are currently dependent on a drinking age of 21, Francisco said she also encouraged discussion about changing the age to 19 in the future.
With the election, Francisco said she had been concerned that voters would be swayed after controversy surrounding her “pass” votes. She said the results showed voters understood a “pass” was also a “no” vote.
“It meant that their voice was being heard,” Francisco said.
Francisco is a 1977 graduate of the University. She served on the Lawrence City Commission from 1979 to 1983 and was Lawrence mayor from 1981 to 1983.
Francisco began serving as Kansas state senator for the 2nd congressional district in 2005.
Burdett Loomis, professor of political science, said Francisco was a good senator who was elected easily in a Democratic town.
“She won pretty handily this evening,” Loomis said.
— — Edited by Arthur Hur
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