Networking specialist tackles different kind of networking — politics

By Joe Kleinsasser

It’s one thing to talk politics. It’s another thing to live it.

From January to May, Joe McLeland dons his political hat in Topeka as the Republican state representative of the 94th District in west Wichita. The rest of the year he is a senior networking specialist at WSU.

McLeland, who has been employed at WSU for 16 years, is serving his first two-year term as a state legislator.

According to McLeland, the only other person wearing two hats as a university employee and a state legislator is Barbara Ballard, associate vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of Kansas.

State law prohibits McLeland from being on the state payroll in two places at the same time, so he takes a leave of absence from WSU while he’s in Topeka.

McLeland says, "I attempt to leave the campus network in a stable environment when I serve in the Legislature. I have good backup (at WSU) and am confident if a problem arises they can resolve it."

He started thinking about politics in the early 1990s and got serious about it in the late ’90s. He ran for the Wichita City Council in 1999, winning one of two positions in the primary. He lost his position on the general election ballot in a special runoff.

Supporting higher education comes naturally to McLeland. "In the Legislature I have the ability to represent my constituents including WSU on issues important to the future of the state. On the other hand I have to work hard to separate WSU issues from state issues. I must look at what is best for the entire state, not just WSU. I am also a Fort Hays graduate so I need to split my loyalties."

McLeland admits that as a political newcomer he has had a lot to learn.

"I do not think I fully understood the magnitude of the position until the first time I sat on the House floor and looked up at the beautiful murals on the ceiling of the House chamber. Another milestone is casting the first vote, realizing this vote could have an impact on every citizen of Kansas now and for years to come."

The legislative session only lasts about four months, but being a legislator is a 12-month job, according to McLeland. He struggles to find time for reading and responding to mail. On a normal day he arrives at the Capitol around 7 a.m. and doesn’t get back to his apartment until after 9 p.m.

McLeland serves on the utilities, federal and state affairs, higher education, and e-government committees.

To keep his constituency informed, he meets with constituents and sends several newsletters.

However, McLeland doesn’t hear from as many constituents as he expected. "I have probably visited with 100-200 constituents in the last year.

"I think the best way to influence a legislator is to be realistic and have your facts. It is also very helpful to get to know your legislator. Be patient. We are very busy and human."

McLeland knows he won’t please all constituents on each vote. "I vote the way I feel is best for my district and Kansas. I have received very little feedback from people disagreeing with my vote. I think I am voting the way the majority of my constituents want."

One controversial bill last year would have required cell phone uses to pay a 75-cent monthly fee to develop a system for emergency personnel to locate the origin of an emergency cell phone call.

"My experience in telecommunications and networking helped me identify some serious problems in the bill and I voted against it," says McLeland. "The bill did not pass. It may come up again this year."

The economy is making this year’s session challenging. McLeland says, "This is not a good time to raise taxes. We need to stimulate the economy with good fiscal policies. Tax cuts will not pass this year."

McLeland was among legislators who held a "tax me more" news conference early this year, a concept borrowed from Arkansas. For taxpayers who don’t think they are taxed enough, a fund was created for them to donate money to support the state budget.

He says, "I am being told (by constituents) ‘Do not raise my taxes.’ The only people asking for a tax increase have a special interest. The ‘tax me more’ fund is a way for Kansans to prove they want a tax increase. If demands were there, the money would be pouring into this fund. It is not. I believe the fund has received $100.

"I believe the three major issues facing the Legislature this year are money, money, money," says McLeland. "Remember, when government says we have a shortage what is really meant is the money coming in cannot keep up with spending. The current estimate for state revenue this year is $150 million more than last year. That is an approximate increase of 1.8 percent."

Now that he has a seat in the Kansas Legislature, McLeland doesn’t plan on giving it up without a fight. "My aspiration is to get re-elected this year. If (the) Senate seat (in my district) opens up I will give it some serious consideration."

It took a large group of volunteer supporters and about $10,000 to get McLeland elected. Depending on the challenger, McLeland figures it will take $5,000 to $30,000 to win re-election.