Kultala Files for Second Term in Kansas Senate

Senator Kelly Kultala, D-Kansas City, today filed for a second term to the Kansas Senate’s 5th District, covering Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties.  Kultala was first elected in 2008.

“It’s been a privilege to serve as your voice in the Kansas Senate these past four years,” she said.  “If re-elected, I’ll continue to focus on creating jobs, growing the economy and protecting public schools.”

This session, Senator Kultala introduced legislation to help students living on the Fort Leavenworth military base.  “The Federal Government announced it would no longer pay for buses needed to transport more than 100 kids to and from Leavenworth High School, essentially stranding them at home.  Senate Bill 11 would allow USD270 to continue transporting these students without losing transportation state aid.”

As Ranking Member on the Senate Transportation Committee, Senator Kultala also helped craft a comprehensive 10-year transportation plan.  “At a time when local economies are still struggling, it’s vital for the state to support programs that attract new companies and create good-paying jobs,” said Kultala.  “In the next decade, this plan will create 175,000 new jobs and bring $6.4 billion to our state’s economy.”

In 2009, Senator Kultala worked with local and state leaders to bring the Sporting Kansas City soccer stadium, the Cerner office building and the CPAC call center to Wyandotte County.  “These investments have already created thousands of new jobs and a number of new economic development opportunities to Kansas City and Leavenworth,” said Kultala.  “They should be models for all regions of our state to follow.”     

Senator Kultala is Ranking Member of the Senate Transportation Committee and the Senate Utilities Committee.  She is also a member of the Senate committees on Ethics and Elections; Ways and Means; Local Government; the Special Committee on KAN-ED Study Commission; the Joint Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice Oversight; the Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations; the Joint Committee on Home and Community Based Services; and the Joint Committee on Special Claims Against the State.

Senator Kultala previously served as 5th District Commissioner on the Wyandotte County/Kansas City Unified Government from 2001 to 2005.  She also served on the Piper USD 203 School Board from 1999 to 2001 and 2006 to 2007. 

As a Commissioner, Kultala sponsored local laws making it illegal to leave a child under the age of 10 unattended in a car, enhancing the penalties against people who vandalize property, and requiring sidewalks on at least one side of the street in new housing subdivisions.

Senator Kultala and her husband Daniel live in Kansas City, Kan.

7 months ago