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2008 Elections : NOW PACs Profile
Kay Barnes (D-Mo., 6th District)
Kansas City's First Female Mayor Vies to Take Charge of Missouri's Economy
March 25, 2008
NOW has endorsed candidate Kay Barnes in her bid for the Congressional seat in the 6th District of Missouri. Barnes is a supporter of women's reproductive rights and will be an advocate for equality for women as a member of Congress. Born and raised in St. Joseph, Mo., she graduated from St. Joseph Central High School and then from the University of Kansas with a degree in secondary education. Barnes also earned two masters degrees - one in secondary education and another in public administration - from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Barnes became one of two women on the Jackson County Legislature in 1974 and was then elected to a four-year term on the City Council. In 1999, Barnes was elected the first female mayor of Kansas City, the largest city in Missouri. Recognized locally, nationally and internationally, Barnes played a key role in the revitalization of downtown Kansas City. Barnes founded the Women's Resource Service Center at the University of Missouri-Kansas and was president of Kay Waldo, Inc., a human resources development firm. She is currently a professor at Park University in Parkville, Mo.
In Congress, Barnes will work on a stimulus package to create financial opportunities in the Midwest and has criticized the Bush administration for its regressive policies and their impact on the U.S. economy. "Now is not the time to recycle the failed economic policies that got our nation headed in the wrong direction, but rather to make a clear change in direction that recognizes that the middle class and working families need their elected leaders to step up and help in time of crisis," Barnes said. Barnes plans to work actively for change by finding bipartisan solutions for rural communities, promote economy opportunities, and fund programs for families living in poverty.
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