Candidate for US House - District 2

• cheryl@hudspeth2010.com
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phone: 6207041580

About

Cheryl Hudspeth is a life-long Democrat. She brings the mix of skills, knowledge and expertise required to carry out the legislative and oversight duties of Congress and will work to restore the vitality of our economy.

Her experience in governance includes representing citizens and community agencies on advisory committees, serving on business and government boards, and work as a professional liaison to government, business and communities. 

She first became politically active during the early 1970’s and has worked on numerous campaigns and local initiatives.

This variety of experience, spanning more than twenty years, gives Cheryl a deep understanding of a range of perspectives and solutions. “The strength of our economy comes from a balance between business and government, creating a responsive system of checks and balances.”

Cheryl is a specialist in the fields of finance, housing and community development.  Her highest achievements have been in the creation and delivery of services that empower people and communities to help themselves.  With this background, she will build a solid team for the delivery of constituent services to the 2nd Congressional District office.

Cheryl believes that positive change occurs through inclusion and empowerment.

Cheryl’s work resulted in the first Self-Help Housing program to break ground in Kansas.  This new construction project utilized a public/private-lending model that decreased government funding and increased private investment.  Building on this concept, Cheryl then expanded this model to existing homes sales and developed a pilot program that created a path to home ownership for people with chronic disabling illnesses.  These efforts lead to her recognition by USDA Rural Development, for building one of the largest public/private partnership lending programs in the nation.

Cheryl worked to stabilize resources for a network of community agencies, volunteers and churches.  This effort resulted in increased resources for church food pantries, domestic violence and emergency shelters, and crisis response training for law enforcement, ministerial volunteers, and social service providers.

“When we joined together, instead of competing against each other, the pool of resources increases.  We all become stronger.”

Working with women from across the country, Cheryl orchestrated the creation 

of the Women’s Economic Self-Sufficiency Training Company or WEST Company.  

This entrepreneurship program focuses on business creation and development through education, mentoring and micro lending.  With input from hundreds of women a ten-year business plan was created.  The project raised over $600,000 of private money during the first four years of operation.  No public funds were used in the development or initial operation of the project.

Cheryl’s work as a loan officer at a regional bank focused on building partnerships.  Her efforts resulted in the highest possible Community Reinvestment Act rating for the bank’s mortgage-lending activities and increased access to loans for first-time homebuyers.

Having established a solid career in the development of rural projects, 

Cheryl turned her attention to the mitigation of troubled urban projects.  

Her work included the identification of misappropriated federal funds, resolution of litigation in public/private investment projects, debt reduction and financial restructuring, and the enforcement of publically funded contracts.  Her work has resulted in the financial solvency of hundreds of units of affordable housing, correction of health and safety issues, staff and management reorganization, increased valuation of properties, and stronger communities.

Cheryl later worked for a national bank and as a private consultant.  Her work has resulted in millions of dollars of community investment.

Cheryl and her husband Tom live in Girard, in southeast Kansas.  Cheryl moved to Kansas in 1998 after meeting Tom, a technology consultant.  They have two 

children, one in college and one entering his senior year in high school.  

Like Cheryl, Tom grew-up moving around the country.  Tom’s father retired from the Army, a decorated Vietnam era war hero.  Cheryl’s family originated in the Erie Canal region of New York, Tom’s parents are native Kansans.