Rosebud*

A personal announcement

About four months ago, I contacted the VA to get help. It had been about 11 years since I left Afghanistan as an Army Intelligence Officer, and my tour over there still impacted me every day. So many men and women who served our country did so much more than me and were in so much more danger than I was on my four-month tour. I can’t have PTSD, I told myself, because I didn’t earn it.

But, on some level, I knew something was deeply wrong, and that it hadn’t felt that way before my deployment. After 11 years of this, I finally took a step toward dealing with it, but I didn’t step far enough.

I went online and filled out the VA forms, but I left boxes unchecked – too scared to acknowledge my true symptoms. I knew I needed help and yet I still stopped short. I was afraid of the stigma. I was thinking about what it could mean for my political future if someone found out.

That was stupid, and things have gotten even worse since.

By all objective measures, things have been going well for me the past few months. My first book became a New York Times Bestseller in August. Let America Vote has been incredibly effective, knocking on hundreds of thousands of doors and making hundreds of thousands of phone calls. I know that our work is making a big difference. And last Tuesday, I found out that we were going to raise more money than any Kansas City mayoral campaign ever has in a single quarter. But instead of celebrating that accomplishment, I found myself on the phone with the VA’s Veterans Crisis Line, tearfully conceding that, yes, I have had suicidal thoughts. And it wasn’t the first time.

I’m done hiding this from myself and from the world. When I wrote in my book that I was lucky to not have PTSD, I was just trying to convince myself. And I wasn’t sharing the full picture. I still have nightmares. I am depressed.

Instead of dealing with these issues, I’ve always tried to find a way around them. Most recently, I thought that if I could come home and work for the city I love so much as its mayor, I could finally solve my problems. I thought if I focused exclusively on service to my neighbors in my hometown, that I could fill the hole inside of me. But it’s just getting worse.

So after 11 years of trying to outrun depression and PTSD symptoms, I have finally concluded that it’s faster than me. That I have to stop running, turn around, and confront it.

I finally went to the VA in Kansas City yesterday and have started the process to get help there regularly. To allow me to concentrate on my mental health, I’ve decided that I will not be running for mayor of Kansas City. I truly appreciate all the support so many people in Kansas City and across the country have shown me since I started this campaign. But I can’t work on myself and run a campaign the way I want to at the same time, so I’m choosing to work on my depression.

I’ll also be taking a step back from day-to-day operations at Let America Vote for the time being, but the organization will continue moving forward. We are doing vital work across the country to stop voter suppression and will keep doing so through November and beyond.

Having made the decision not to run for mayor, my next question was whether I would be public about the reason why. I decided to be public for two reasons: First, I think being honest will help me through this. And second, I hope it helps veterans and everyone else across the country working through mental health issues realize that you don’t have to try to solve it on your own. Most people probably didn’t see me as someone that could be depressed and have had PTSD symptoms for over decade, but I am and I have. If you’re struggling with something similar, it’s OK. That doesn’t make you less of a person.

I wish I would have sought help sooner, so if me going public with my struggle makes just one person seek assistance, doing this publicly is worth it to me. The VA Crisis Line is 1-800-273-8255, and non-veterans can use that number as well.

I’ll close by saying this isn’t goodbye. Once I work through my mental health challenges, I fully intend to be working shoulder to shoulder with all of you again. But I’m passing my oar to you for a bit. I hope you’ll grab it and fight like hell to make this country the place we know it can be.

Jason

Jason Kander (D) – Warrensburg, Missouri – June 20, 2013.

A few of the responses on social media this afternoon:

Kathy Griffin @kathygriffin
Thank you for sharing your story @JasonKander…not an easy thing to do. I wish you all the best and look forward to your return when you’re ready.
[….]
1:44 PM – 2 Oct 2018

Jennifer Palmieri @jmpalmieri
@JasonKander is so talented & accomplished, could be hard to imagine he was enduring so much private pain, but I have seen it happen to a lot of folks in politics. You never know what’s happening in someone’s life. Be kind. Love to him and @dianakander
[….]
2:17 PM – 2 Oct 2018

Sarah Kendzior @sarahkendzior
I have so much respect for @JasonKander, a great Missourian. Wishing him the best during these hard times.
[….]
1:44 PM – 2 Oct 2018

Molly Knight @molly_knight
This will save lives. You are an extraordinary human, @jasonkander.
[….]
1:47 PM – 2 Oct 2018

In the front yard:

Jason Kander (D) announces for Mayor of Kansas City

25 Monday Jun 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Jason Kander, Kansas City, Mayor, missouri

Jason Kander (D) [2016 file photo].

This morning via Twitter from Jason Kander (D):

Jason Kander @JasonKander
First conversation I had today:

“Daddy, why do you want to be mayor?”
“Because I love Kansas City and I want to help people.”
“Because Kanders help people, right?”
“Sure do, Bud.”
“Can I help you be mayor?”
“Sure can.”
“Ok I’m gonna help you help a lot of people!”
#TrueStory
9:51 AM – 25 Jun 2018

The press release from Jason Kander (D):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 25, 2018
Jason Kander to Run for Mayor of Kansas City [pdf]

Kansas City, MO – Jason Kander today announced that he will kick off his campaign for mayor of Kansas City on July 14, 2018. Kander, a former Army captain who served in Afghanistan, previously served Kansas City in the state legislature and was elected Missouri Secretary of State in 2012.
“The next mayor has the opportunity to shape the future of Kansas City for generations,” Kander said. “I’m running because I am up for that challenge.”
“Kansas Citians deserve a mayor who can guide the progress already underway in our city and help us reach the next level. I’m eager to take the reins on major issues that have developed in recent years – like building the new airport, implementing the infrastructure improvements voters approved through the GO Bonds, and expanding the streetcar. And I want to make sure we continue addressing critical issues like economic inequality, crime, inclusive housing and economic development, and access to a quality education for every child in the city.
“But I also want to tackle problems that aren’t talked about enough, like the fact that too many streets in Kansas City aren’t well lit and are therefore less safe, and that too many residents don’t have convenient access to grocery stores, banks and other basic services. There should be more racial and gender equity in city contracts and programs. City services – from fixing bridges, roads and potholes to customer service across departments – can always be more efficient.
“We’ll know Kansas City is at its absolute best when no one feels they have to move from one part of the city to another, or out of town altogether, to live the life they want and deserve. I’m running for mayor of Kansas City because I want to make sure no matter where you live in the city or how you grew up, you have a chance to build a successful life right here. Under Mayor James’ leadership, Kansas City has made great progress, and it is crucial that whoever follows him builds on that success. That isn’t a short-term project, so our city needs a mayor committed to the job for the long haul. If I’m elected, Kansas Citians can count on me to work tirelessly for them every day for four years, and, if they’ll have me, four more years after that.
“Diana and I are proud to be raising our son as a sixth generation Kansas Citian. I want to do my part to make sure Kansas City is an even better place to live for him, and every other kid in our city, than it has been for my generation,” Kander said.
Kander has the support of leaders from across Kansas City.
“Kansas City deserves a Mayor who can deliver results for everyone across the city from the start, and I believe that’s Jason Kander,” former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes said. “As a longtime friend and colleague of Jason’s, I’m supporting him for a variety of reasons. Whether it was his military service, as a state representative or as Secretary of State, Jason has committed his life to public service. I know that if elected mayor, he will provide effective and steady leadership for our city for years to come, and I’m confident that he’s the best person to keep Kansas City moving forward.”
“I have dedicated my entire career to serving the people of Kansas City. It would be easy to put my own interests first and turn this election cycle into a long, expensive, and divisive fight, but that does not serve the best interests of the people of Kansas City. That is why I have chosen to run for re-election to the Fourth Council District and work together with Jason to build on the success we’ve enjoyed under Mayor James and tackle the challenges that still remain,” Kansas City Councilwoman Jolie Justus said. “I’ve known Jason for a long time and we share a common vision for our city. I look forward to the future we create together.”
“I’ve known Jason Kander for several years and have always been impressed. More recently, I’ve had the chance to work with him as a fellow board member at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum,” said Mamie Hughes, a former Jackson County Legislator, community volunteer and activist. “I’m convinced he will be an outstanding mayor and I’m pleased to support him.”
“Jason Kander and I share a vision of a Kansas City where no one feels they have to move across town or outside the city limits in order to enjoy basic amenities for themselves or their family. I believe as mayor he can turn his passion into progress for every Kansas Citian and I’m thrilled to stand with him in this campaign,” said Dr. Emanuel Cleaver III, Senior Pastor of St. James United Methodist Church.
“As both a legislator and Secretary of State, Jason was a great advocate for the citizen of Missouri. As mayor he will be committed to improving the lives of all Kansas Citians,” Missouri State House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty said. “He will work hard to continue to make Kansas City a world class city. I am confident that he will approach each day with the same dedication and commitment that he displayed as Secretary of State.”
“I first met Jason 17 years ago and served over five years with him in Jefferson City. Jason has always truly cared about Kansas City. It is what drove him to public service after his deployment to Afghanistan in the Army,” Kansas City Councilman Kevin McManus said. “I’m pleased he is running for mayor and am happy to support his campaign.”
“I am excited about Kansas City’s future. A lot of good people are rising to leadership, and one of our best and brightest has decided to invest his energy and ideas in our city by running for mayor. I have known Jason Kander for many years – when he represented Kansas City in Jefferson City, and then when he was elected statewide to be Missouri’s Secretary of State,” Kansas City Councilwoman Teresa Loar said. “His service to our nation in the war on terror was brought vividly to life in a campaign commercial a few years ago as he ran for the US Senate. You know how much I love and respect our veterans! So when Jason Kander told me he was ready to bring his leadership to City Hall, I said “Let’s go!”
“Jason and I served together in the State House, so I saw first hand how hard he worked for his constituents in Kansas City. I’m supporting Jason because I know he’ll do the same as mayor,” Missouri State Senator John Rizzo said. “He’s the best person to tackle the major issues facing our city, but he also digs in on the details. Jason will be a great mayor and will make an outstanding ambassador for Kansas City. I look forward to campaigning with him.”
“I wasn’t planning on endorsing in the race for mayor, but Jason Kander is the right person for the right time for Kansas City,” former Kansas City Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Circo said. “When I served on the city council, I worked with Jason on a wide range of issues impacting every corner of the city. He fought for Kansas City every day as a state representative. He’s going to make a great mayor and I’m proud to support him.”
“Jason Kander has the vision to lead Kansas City for the long haul. While serving our city in the legislature, he always put Kansas City first,” Missouri State Representative Jon Carpenter said. “I’m standing with Jason in his campaign because he’s going to bring out the best in our city. With Jason Kander as our mayor, Kansas City has limitless potential.”
“Jason Kander is an extraordinary leader and I’m proud to support him for mayor of Kansas City,” said CiCi Rojas, business leader and former President and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City. “Our city needs someone that will unite all of us to make Kansas City the best city it can be, and Jason is the best person to get that done. Jason has always been there for Kansas City, and I know he’ll be a wonderful mayor.”
“I’ve known Jason as a friend, neighbor and elected official serving Kansas City. I can’t think of anyone better to serve as the next mayor,” said Jim Heeter, former member of the Kansas City Council and President and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. “Kansas Citians can trust Jason to lead us into the next phase of our growth without leaving any part of the city behind. There’s a lot going on in Kansas City right now, and we need a mayor that is up for the challenge. Jason Kander is that person, and I’m proud to support his campaign.”
“I’m excited that Jason Kander is running for mayor of Kansas City. When he was Secretary of State, I ran his Kansas City office. I saw Jason’s work to bring innovation, effective processes and quality services to our city,” said Michele Watley, community advocate and local small business owner. “As mayor, I’m confident Jason will be committed to serving all of Kansas City and can take on the tough challenges we face so we can continue to make Kansas City even better.”
Kander lives with his wife, Diana, and four-year-old son, True, in South Kansas City.

Well, that certainly changes things a bit.

Missouri voter photo ID law challenged in court case

13 Wednesday Jun 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri General Assembly

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General Assembly, HB 1631, Jason Kander, Jay Ashcroft, missouri, Secretary of State, voter ID

In 2016 the republican controlled General Assembly overrode then Governor Jay Nixon’s (D) veto of HB 1631, a more restrictive voter photo ID law.

“…my position is we should make voting available to as many people as we possibly can. I mean, and we should make it as easy as we possibly can for people to vote. Uh, and, uh, so we’re reviewing this, this is relatively similar to a measure that I vetoed a few years ago, uh, that would have, uh, made it very expensive and difficult, especially for senior citizens and others that didn’t have driving privileges to, uh, to get a separate state issued ID. So, um, it’s not an area that my, my general philosophy is let’s make voting, uh, easier for folks, um, so this kind of, uh, comes at that…” – Governor Jay Nixon (D), on HB 1631, June 16, 2016

“…I’m not, I’m gonna let you get back now to today’s opening ceremonies because I know I’m not who you came to hear and I know that none of this was what you wanted to hear. But I am your Secretary of State for a bit little longer, and as a result I feel a responsibility to tell you that even though you have the power to take away the right to vote from the citizens of Missouri, you shouldn’t.
And that if you choose to follow the example of Wisconsin or North Carolina, well then, I guess we’ll see you in court. [applause]” – Secretary of State Jason Kander (D), January 4, 2017

That has come to pass.

Today Priorities USA filed a suit in Circuit Court in Cole County over Missouri’s voter ID law:

June 13, 2018 | Press Release
Priorities USA and a Missouri Voter File Suit Against Missouri’s Burdensome Strict Photo ID Law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13, 2018

Washington, DC — Today, Priorities USA and a Missouri voter filed suit in the Circuit Court of Cole County against the State of Missouri and its Secretary of State, John R. Ashcroft, requesting that the court restrain the Secretary from enforcing the state’s burdensome photo identification requirements in upcoming elections and declare that these requirements violate the Missouri Constitution.
In 2016, the Missouri General Assembly passed HB 1631, a bill containing new, burdensome photo identification requirements, over Governor Jay Nixon’s veto. HB 1631 lays out a narrow list of acceptable photo IDs that a voter must present in order to cast their ballot, along with an arduous process for eligible voters without photo ID that involves, at various stages, signing a confusing and misleading sworn statement under penalty of perjury, returning to the polling place with acceptable ID, or having untrained individuals match signatures in order to verify the voter’s identity.
A study conducted by the Missouri Secretary of State in 2014 indicated that the implementation of a comparable photo ID law could disenfranchise 220,000 eligible Missouri voters. The complaint filed today argues that HB 1631 would have similar effects, given the time and effort required to obtain even a free state-issued photo ID and the labyrinthine procedures for voters who forget or are unable to bring their acceptable photo ID.
“When state lawmakers passed HB 1631, they began to chip away at Missourians’ fundamental right to vote,” said Guy Cecil, Chairman of Priorities USA. “The Missouri Supreme Court rightfully found an earlier attempt to do the same thing unnecessary and unfair to Missouri voters. The legislature should not be permitted to evade the law and burden voting rights. In order to ensure that everyone in Missouri who wants to cast a ballot is able to do so, Priorities USA and many others will have to spend significant time, money and effort to educate Missourians about these new, onerous photo ID requirements. We’re asking the court to enjoin this law before the upcoming elections, and we look forward to our day in court when we’ll show HB 1631 to be the unconstitutional farce that it is.”
The lawsuit filed today comes on the heels of separate litigation brought about by the Missouri NAACP, which challenged HB 1631 on the grounds that the state did not provide adequate funding for the new photo ID requirements. While Priorities USA is not involved in the NAACP lawsuit and is presenting the court with a different legal argument based on the constitutionality of HB 1631, Priorities remains supportive of the NAACP’s parallel efforts to invalidate the law.
Earlier this year, Priorities USA joined a lawsuit challenging Florida’s law requiring candidates of the governor’s political party to be listed in the first position on every ballot. The Priorities USA Foundation, an affiliated non-partisan group that engages in voting rights advocacy, has also supported litigation in Indiana, New Hampshire, Florida, and Iowa against laws and practices that restrict the right to vote.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (r) [2017 file photo].

A year ago at Show Me Progress:

…When asked about the appropriation of funds by the General Assembly to assist his office in communicating these new requirements to voters and to assist them in acquiring the photo IDs Secretary [of State John] Ashcroft [(r)] again deflected the question. A local newspaper reporter pointed out in his question to Secretary Ashcroft that there were only twenty people in the room and there are more than 20,000 people in Warrensburg. How is the Secretary of State’s office going to communicate the new ID requirements to those voters? The answer was somewhat vague, along the lines of “we’ll keep doing what we’re doing”. There was no discussion of any estimate of the number of registered voters in the state who do not have the required photo ID or of the costs associated with providing those voters with the proper ID…

Inadequate funding and insufficient notice? If only someone had thought of that a year ago. Oh, wait…

Previously:

Gov. Jay Nixon (D): on SB 656 (“stand your ground”) and HJR 53/HB 1631 (voter ID) (June 16, 2016)

Gov. Jay Nixon: veto of HB 1631 – voter photo ID (July 7, 2016)

Secretary of State Jason Kander (D): at the opening of the legislative session (January 4, 2017)

Jay Ashcroft’s (r) voter photo ID tour – Warrensburg – June 16, 2017 (June 16, 2017)

Hillary Shields (D) in the 8th Senate District: Sunday field operation – a few words from Jason Kander (D)

05 Sunday Nov 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

8th Senate District, Hillary Shields, Jacob Turk, Jason Kander, Mike Cierpiot, missouri, special election

This morning in Lee’s Summit over fifty individuals showed up at the start of a full day of phone banking, literature drops, and canvassing for Hillary Shields, the Democratic Party candidate in the 8th Senate District special election.

Hillary Shields, the Democratic Party candidate in the 8th Senate District special election.

Former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander spoke to morning campaign volunteers before they set out to cover their assigned door to door turf.

Former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander (D).

Jason Kander (D): ….I really appreciate all of you being out here for Hillary…

….You know, the reason they’re doing it [negative ads] is they’re scared. You’ve got ’em scared. [cheers, applause] For a really, for a really good reason. Um, you know, I’m, after this I gotta go do some get out the vote stuff up in Virginia today. I’ve been, sure [applause], to tell you that I have now, in twenty-seventeen, spoken to Democratic groups in thirty states. And I’ve, I’ve seen just like the incredible momentum that’s out there. So, I tell you that to tell you that, um, you’re here because you’re excited about Hillary and that’s awesome… But, what I want you to know is like this is not an isolated incident, right? What’s exciting about this is that I, like I know that when you wake up every day if you, if you aren’t actively involved the way all of us are it can be very frustrating because then it feels like every morning is November ninth, right? But, instead, if you’re actively fighting back the way all of you are you’re really part of something pretty great.

[….]

Who was I talking to? Raise your hand, maybe there’s more than just one of you who’s just gotten involved this year. Um, well, yeah. [laughter] Alright, look, but that’ cool. Like, how cool is that? A whole bunch of people out here plus the candidate. This is real, what’s happening in the country.

Some of you have heard me tell this story – a couple months ago I was in Tennessee and a woman picked me up and she was driving me around to different Democratic events where I was speaking for the Tennessee Democratic Party. And her name was Dawn. At every event we went to it was like, remember when Norm would walk into Cheers? [laughter] Norm! It was like that. Dawn! Everybody knew Dawn. She was the ace number one MVP volunteer, it seemed to me, of the Tennessee Democratic Party. So she goes to, she goes to drop me off at the airport later that day ’cause I’m gonna come back to Kansas City and I asked her, I said, ‘Dawn, how many years have you been volunteering with the Tennessee Democratic Party?’ She said, ‘Honey, years?’ She said, ‘I started volunteering on January twentieth, twenty-seventeen.’ [laughter]

And I have, I mean, I’ve just seen that so many places. And, and it’s so appropriate that now you have a candidate who really got involved this year. And I think I about to be a state senator [cheers, applause].

[….]

But what always happened was the same thing, ’cause I would hit that hill, look at my watch and so, ‘Okay, you got it.’ And then I would have this rush of adrenaline and I would sprint like the last quarter mile, right? And I always thought of that ’cause people in campaigns would always say to me, and they’ve probably said this to you a million times, they always say, ‘You know, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.’ Like whenever you look tired, they would say that. And I’d always say, ‘But if I sprint the whole marathon I’m probably gonna win.’ [laughter]

And so, you know, you’ve been through this. It’s been, it’s been a marathon, it’s been, you know, now you’re at the last hill. And the thing is like now you are the adrenaline rush. Like now you are the adrenaline rush for her as she starts to sprint. So that’s what you’ve got to do. You’ve got to get out there, you’ve got to spend a much time a you can today, over the next few days, continuing to do what you’ve been doing, hitting as many doors as you possibly can.

Because, like we’ve seen the polling, we’ve seen where this race is. This is gonna come down to whoever’s side works the hardest. And all along it’s been really clear that this is a good example of passion is persuasive. Like, our side has passion. Their side has a sense of entitlement about the district, right? Yeah, they got tons of money and they got a sense of entitlement. And what we have is passion. We have people standing out here shivering….we have people who are willing to do that because we have a candidate who’s deeply passionate and is going to do an amazing job.

So all you’ve got to do is be the adrenaline rush and print for her over the next few days. Well you do that? [voices: ‘Yes.’][applause]