GREAT BEND, Kan. - There is no evidence that Senator Brownback is even slightly worried about losing this year's governor's race. However, a new poll by the Associated Press-GfK suggests he should be worried.

Americans detest Congress, Republicans and Democrats. A dismal 22 percent approve of the job Congress is doing. Over half of people want to fire their congressman. The American people want the two parties in Congress to work together to solve our nation's problems. And they aren't doing anything.

VALLEY FALLS, Kan. - On Sunday, March 7, our next governor, Tom Holland, spoke to a group at The Barn Bed and Breakfast Inn, Valley Falls. I think Sen. Holland is precisely who we need to lead our state through the difficult times we are in. Don't write him off. That was the mistake made by the last two Republicans he ran against. Both were incumbents; first in a state House race, then a state Senate race. Both districts were conservative. Sen. Holland is a very pragmatic and formidable candidate who will pull no punches in the race against Sam Brownback.

SALINA, Kan. - Few folks are against free speech. But what one says is always limited to what one sees. Many good talkers are not necessarily good seers.

Case in point: Chapman Rackaway's recent editorial on the Supreme Court Citizens United case. His misguided missile, intended to strike its critics, instead winds up wounding the very free speech he advocates.

That arrow struck especially deep, given Rackaway's solid contributions to free speech, particularly through his hosting of candidate forums on Smoky Hills Public Television and his college teaching at Fort Hays State. His achievements illustrate, however, that all truth is relative, and easily blinded.

To defend free speech, Rackaway scaled Mount Everest rhetorical heights, only to fall off the cliff of corporate, moneyed influence. It's a common error.

GREAT BEND, Kan. - A sitting Republican U.S. Senator runs for governor of her state and gets thumped, 51% to 30%. On Tuesday Texas Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison became a prominent symbol of the powerful anti-Washington sentiment this year. She lost a Republican primary to Republican Governor Rick Perry, whose message was simple: anti-Washington, anti-Washington, anti-Washington.

Hutchison's Republican U.S. Senate colleague Sam Brownback should take notice. Like Senator Hutchison, Brownback sees an easy transition from U.S. Senator to Governor. But the voters of Texas seem to have said "not so fast." Republican primary voters were comfortable with the candidate who lived in Austin, Texas -- not Washington, D.C.

Kansas voters now have a choice for governor. Should they hire a guy who has been in Washington, D.C. the last 16 years, or hire a guy who has been in Baldwin City, Kansas the last 16 years?

GREAT BEND, Kan. - Circular firing squads are stupid. There are so few Democrats in Kansas that it is important that we stick together, and not shoot each other. 2010 was my seventh consecutive trip to Topeka for "Washington Days," the annual Kansas Democrat gathering. But this was the first one where I felt some overt dissension among the party faithful.

The major complaint: Kansas Democrats have no "bench." But the thing is, we have so many "starters" holding statewide office, we have a great lineup right now.

Democrats need to count their blessings. Eight years of a Democrat Governor has done wonders for the Kansas Democratic party. Governor Sebelius and now Governor Parkinson are both extraordinarily talented. And a lot of new political talent came forward over the last 8 years due to Democratic control of the Governor's Mansion.

ELLIS, Kan. - Two Kansas politicians have been getting the kind of media attention in the last week that should make citizens of this state cringe with embarrassment. One of these Kansas politicians is a sitting U.S. Senator, and the other one wants to be.

"Kansas needs strong leadership - now. Holland can provide that, without the political baggage his opponent carries." - Baldwin City Signal

TOPEKA, Kan. - After months of speculation about who would compete against Sam Brownback, Wednesday brought good news for the Kansas Democratic Party when Tom Holland announced his candidacy for governor. Already, endorsements are rolling in.

"Tom has what it takes to be a great governor and I fully support him. Governors are CEOs of their states and as a successful small business owner, Tom's experience in balancing the books and getting the most out of every penny is exactly what Kansas needs," Governor Mark Parkinson explained.

Holland's name recognition may not yet be as widespread in Kansas, when compared with Brownback, but as Kansans learn more about Holland's experience, they are likely to find him a worthy and impressive candidate for the job of governor.

GREAT BEND, Kan. - State Senator Holland's biography offers some interesting comparisons and contrasts with his Republican opponent U.S. Senator Sam Brownback. One of these men will be the next Governor of Kansas.

One area where Holland has a huge edge over Brownback is in business experience, time spent working in the private sector. Holland has spent 29 years in the information technology business, first working on a major IT systems initiative at the ATSF railway.
Sen. HollandHe founded Holland Technologies, Inc., an information technology firm in 1992, serving as the company's president. Holland is clearly a "private sector" guy, who got involved in politics fairly late in life to push for better education opportunities for Kansas children.

Senator Brownback's resume is pretty thin on private sector experience. He worked for a radio station as a broadcaster for about a year after his undergraduate work at KSU, and then went to law school at KU. After law school, he spent several years practicing law in Manhattan before becoming State Agriculture Secretary in 1986.

Brownback left the private sector permanently in 1986. Brownback has spent the last 24 years working for the government, while Holland continues to run a small business while serving as a part-time citizen-legislator.

"I'm standing here today to let Kansans know they DO have a choice for Governor. My name is Tom Holland, I'm a problem solver and a small businessman and I'm running to be the next Governor of Kansas!"

TOPEKA, Kan. - Announcing his candidacy for Kansas Governor before a crowd of supporters today, Tom Holland said he will use his small business experience to solve the problems facing our state.

"Kansas needs a problem solver with a business mindset for its next governor," Holland said. "I have a proven track record in running a successful business, making a payroll for over 15 years, creating jobs and bringing people together to find solutions."

Holland, joined by his wife, Barbara, and their four children, announced his candidacy near Lowman Hills Elementary School in Topeka. The location called attention to problems facing communities across Kansas dealing with public school closures and overcrowding.

GREAT BEND, Kan. - Senator Tom Holland is the opposite of a "sacrificial lamb." A "sacrificial lamb" is a metaphor that refers to a person or animal sacrificed for the common good.

If Tom Holland were an animal, a lamb would be the last species you would think of. The lion-hearted Holland has a certain swagger about him: call it guts, confidence, courage, ambition, or whatever you want. But he's not running against Sam Brownback to get run over. He's running to win.

And Holland's confidence is coupled with likability, two qualities that are usually mutually exclusive. When I was a long-shot candidate for State Representatives in 2004 against House Tax Committee Chairman John Edmonds, Holland treated me well, while also expressing respect for my opponent.