The Statehouse BUZZ

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Feb 13, 2005 by Capital-Journal

A clean sweep

The more people coming through the doors of the Statehouse, the more work for janitorial cleaners Lionel Parker and D'Sean Hendricks.

With each open door comes new dirt and dust.

"It takes a day to dust the marble --- that's an eight-hour shift," Parker said.

"This Statehouse stays dusty, with the doors opening and shutting," Hendricks added.

Keeping the Capitol clean takes a nine-member daytime staff, plus a nighttime crew, they said.

Parker and Hendricks don't know how many cleaners work at night.

"We see them but we don't speak to them," Hendricks said. "It's a whole different family."

On a recent Friday, Parker and Hendricks were helping Sen. David Haley move out of his office. Haley is running for mayor and CEO of the unified government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan.

Parker and Hendricks like the hustle-bustle of the Statehouse and the interaction they have with legislators and other Capitol workers.

"It's like 'Cheers' here," Hendricks said. "Everybody knows your name."

Jan Biles can be reached at 295-1292 or jan.biles@cjonline.com.

FEBRUARY 13, 2005

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