Kansas association head defeats incumbent legislator

Northwestern Financial Review, Sep 1-Sep 14, 2004 by Hilgert, Jackie

After defeating incumbent Bill Kassebaum in Kansas's Republican primary August 3, it appears likely the president and CEO of the Community Bankers Association of Kansas, Shari Weber, will be heading back to the Capitol. Weber defeated Rep. Kassebaum by 288 votes in a rematch of their 2002 race for the House seat in District 68; no Democrat or Libertarian challengers had come forward as of August 10 to run in the November general election, although Kassebaum could still initiate a write-in campaign.

Despite her win, Weber said she has no plans to leave the association although, because of state law, she'll no longer be able to act as its registered lobbyist. Of her dual roles, Weber said she plans to take one day at a time.

"You have to have this planning process that you go through about your responsibilities both for the association, in terms of deadlines, and for the legislature in terms of deadlines," Weber said. "You have to take things as they come after you plan well."

Weber had not met with CBA leadership since the primary win to discuss the future. "I've gotten congratulatory phone calls," she said stressing there's no "sense of urgency," among leadership. "We're an operation that has our strategic plan laid out and we click those things off. No changes are expected in that plan."

Weber said only a couple of CBA members have expressed concern over her quest for the legislature; Weber said she's addressed those concerns to the people she's accountable to at CBA.

Steve Handke, CBA's 2004-2005 chairman, previously said the executive committee fully supported Weber's desire to seek the House seat for her home district. Handke is president of Union State Bank, Everest, Kan.

Weber, hired nearly 18 months ago, said her role will still involve reporting legislative developments to CBA membership.

"I will be at the legislature monitoring things as an insider," she said. Weber also said she believes she'll have more information as a legislator than she would as CBA's registered lobbyist on a greater range of issues. "I'll be able to communicate a bigger picture and how banking pieces fit into that.

"Truly the bankers in CBA are people of character and integrity," Weber added. "They are cognizant of the conflict of interest, but they are also cognizant that the conflict is balanced by me providing expertise in that arena and a conduit of information. I will be able to help other legislators understand about how different choices in public policy will affect banking, which will affect their communities."

Weber said she plans to research options for filling her current lobbying duties before having discussions with the executive committee or making recommendations to CBA's 18member board. "We have a great deal of expertise in-house and much diversity in our staff," Weber acknowledged.

CBA staff members could find their roles expanded after the election. One of them has had experience at the Capitol working with legislators, Weber said, and one of them has longevity with the association. "Like everything in our work day, we handle things together and that's what I see happening."

The 2005 legislative session begins the second Monday of January and, by statute, continues for 90 consecutive days, although legislators are not in session on weekends. Despite having served in the legislature for eight years prior to her 2002 defeat, most recently as House majority leader, Weber will return to the Capitol as a freshman representative. "I know where the bathrooms are," she quipped, "and I know the process having served before in a position of leadership."

When not in session, Weber plans to continue traveling the state to visit each of the association's 115 members.

"We get our direction from our members and we know what we have to do in order to get those things done," Weber said. "One of the things I've wanted to do is communicate with our bankers on a level of understanding that allows them to see the legislature through CBA's eyes as we monitor it every day. I think that part will be enhanced."

By Jackie Hilgert