ELLSWORTH, Kan. - Rookie State Representative Don Svaty (D-108th) is a man of many accomplishments. However, he is usually introduced to people as "Josh Svaty's father." Svaty, speaking to Rice County Democrats on Wednesday night, seems smitten with the situation, and is justifiably proud of his son, Joshua Svaty, the new Agriculture Secretary for the State of Kansas.
Josh SvatyFresh out of Sterling College in 2002, Josh Svaty had barely reached the legal drinking age when he challenged two-term Republican State Representative Jerry Aday. Svaty stunned the political establishment when he upset the incumbent in the 2002 general election, becoming the youngest member of the Kansas House of Representatives.
When Governor Parkinson recently tapped Joshua Svaty to become Kansas Agriculture Secretary, Josh's Dad, an Ellsworth County farmer, was unanimously selected by 32 Democratic precinct committee members in the 108th District to replace his son. This is probably the only time in Kansas history that a parent has succeeded his or her child in the legislature.
When Jesus talked about the "salt of the earth," he must have had people like the Svatys in mind. With deep roots in Ellsworth County, the Svaty clan is tied to the soil, and committed to public service. In addition to Joshua and his father being involved in public service, Don's brother, Ron Svaty, a Stanford Law School graduate, was appointed by Gov. Sebelius several years ago to serve as a District Judge in the Twentieth Judicial District at Ellsworth, and has been reelected with no opposition.
Don SvatyRep. Don Svaty, like many men of his generation, mentions the 60's as his inspiration for public service. But Svaty is talking about the 1860's - not the 1960's. The Civil War period is when his maternal great-grandfather left Prussia and came to America. Henry Diehl enlisted in the Union Army, and had an enviable war record fighting to preserve a nation he barely knew.
Like many Union veterans, Henry Diehl was offered free land in Western Kansas - then known as part of "The Great American Desert." Diehl jumped at the chance to accept a quarter of Ellsworth County ground from a grateful nation.
Rep. Svaty, with a keen sense of history, also mentions another event in the 1860's: the Homestead Act, signed by President Lincoln during the Civil War. This allowed Svaty's paternal grandfather, Frank Svaty, to immigrate from Czechlosovokia and to also accept free land under the Homestead Act in Ellsworth County. Rep. Svaty describes the land opportunity as "a government stimulus" that gave both sides of his family pedigree a shot at the American Dream. Prussia and Czechlosovokia's losses were the USA's gain, as the Svaty family continues to farm in the Smoky Hills, raising wheat, milo, soybeans, corn, sunflowers, a cow-calf operation and sheep.
The Democrats have generally welcomed immigrants with open arms, and the Svaty family was no exception. Rep. Svaty still remembers his father's reaction when word reached Ellsworth that Franklin Delano Roosevelt had died. "My Dad was digging a basement. When he received the news about Roosevelt, he put down his shovel and
wept," he said. The Svatys have always been loyal Democrats, and launched many successful political careers for others, like Smolan farmer John Carlin. Now it's their turn for public office.
When 21-year-old Joshua Svaty entered the legislature in 2002, he quickly won admirers, and is often described as a "political rock star" among the Democratic faithful.
But Josh would be the first to tell you he stands on the shoulders of giants - his Dad and Uncle Ron.
The Svaty's are proud of our state and it's institutions. "There seem to be those who want to put a giant "CLOSED" sign on the state of Kansas right now," says newly-minted State Rep. Don Svaty. But Svaty is a booster of Kansas, it's schools, universities, highways and history. Kansas and America are much better places for having the Svatys in public service.
Don Svaty speaking to Rice County Democrats
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