LEAVENWORTH - Local candidates, especially 5th Kansas Senate District candidate Steve Fitzgerald are amused by the Sundance Kid, a.k.a. movie star Robert Redford, inserting himself in local politics by sending them a letter.
Candidates for public office typically get a lot of mail – everything from questionnaires from media outlets to queries from would-be constituents but last Thursday's Redford letter was a little out of the ordinary. Redford, a long time environmentalist, was assisting local activists in a continued effort to quash the development of modern clean-coal power plants. In the letter, Redford briefly recounts the battle over the Holcombe coal plant expansion and urges candidates to “lock arms” with Gov. Sebelius and Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Rod Bremby to continue to oppose the plant's construction.
Fitzgerald said, “I gave the letter all the consideration it deserved. It went in the round file pretty quickly,” he said. “What's Robert Redford know about making cheap electricity available for Kansans?”
“I figured he was on another of his environmental crusades,” Fitzgerald said, “If I'm elected, and if the coal plant issue emerges in the Legislature next year, there is no question I will support it. It's overwhelmingly supported by Kansans and it is good for Kansas’ economic development and jobs.”
“I think the Governor is really out of step with the people and with Republicans and even some Democrats on this whole climate issue,” he said. “Sebelius' national ambitions have caused her to find common cause with the extreme environmental wing of the Democratic Party.” “As I go door to door in this heavily Democratic district, working people aren't feeling like all this environmental baloney is helping them.” Fitzgerald said.
The full story is available at http://kansasliberty.com as well as Fitzgerald's website: www.vote4fitzgerald.com
