Speech given to those gathered for the precinct election, July 18, 2007 at the Four Colonies Club House.

Good evening.  I am Jill Quigley.  I am a candidate for the House of Representatives in the 17^th District.

Thank you, Stephanie, for your nomination, kind words, and support.  Thank you, Bob, for the second.  And thank you, precinct committee men and women, for coming tonight.

First, let me review my background.  I was born and raised in central Missouri.  I graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelors in nursing.  I received my masters in nursing from the University of Michigan.  I am currently the Outreach Coordinator at Southwest Boulevard Family Health Care, a safety net clinic in KCK that serves the people living in the 3 poorest zip codes in the state.

I have been married to my husband, Jim, for 32 years.  We have three children, Matt, Andrew, and Emily, all alums of the Shawnee Mission School district.  We are long time residents of the district having lived in Lenexa for 23 years.  I have been a leader in the PTAs at Rising Star, Trailridge, and SMNW.  I have been a girl scout leader, a cub scout leader and a master volunteer in the Junior League of Wyandotte and Jo. Counties.  I belong to St. Paul’s United Methodist church where I have directed numerous mission projects and am a confirmation leader.  So although I am fairly new to politics I am not new to the community; I am not new to community service and leadership.

As a community leader, I have had personal experience with many community concerns.  I have identified 3 areas where I believe I can make a difference.

As a parent of 3 children who received their entire K-12 education in the SMSD, I have seen what quality education looks like and I have seen how cuts in funding and loss of local control have threatened that quality.  I want to be involved in ensuring the quality of our public schools.

As a nurse and in my role at the clinic, I have seen working people with limited dollars unable to get the care they need.  I want to be involved in improving access to health care for all Kansans.

In my more than 2 decades as a Lenexa resident, I have seen friends’ businesses and employment opportunities change with the economy.  I want to be involved in supporting an environment that is favorable to business development, creating jobs that will bring people to the area and keep them here.

My involvement in these areas will be guided by traditional Republican values.  I believe in the value of the individual.  Each person’s dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored.  I believe in equal rights, equal justice, and equal opportunity.

I believe that the role of government should be small.  Government should provide only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individual or private organizations.

I believe that diversity within the party, while challenging, makes the party stronger.  We must commit to resolve differences with civility, trust, and mutual respect.

Personally, I am a hard worker, responsible, diligent.  I do what I say I will.  I give 100%.  I am fair, open, and respectful.  I don’t believe in name calling, labeling, or mudslinging.  I am a consensus builder.  I welcome divergent views.  I like to sit at the table and find common ground.