Candidate for Kansas Senate - District 29

About

The people of the 84th District elected Representative Faust-Goudeau to three consecutive terms, to be their legislative representative in Topeka. Why? Because citizens know that she is a Dedicated, Committed, and Experienced public servant, championing the peoples’ causes. Representative Faust-Goudeau is concerned with the day-to-day needs of fellow Kansans.

A lifelong citizen of the City of Wichita, Representative Oletha Faust-Goudeau was born and raised in the heart of the 29th district. Representative Faust-Goudeau learned early, the values of hard work, and the reward of helping those less fortunate. She often witnessed her mother, the late Dr. Oretha A. Faust, champion the rights of the disenfranchised. An avid community activist, Dr. Faust helped to eliminate food stamps with the replacement of the first Vision Card; providing a level of self-respect and diminishing shame for individuals requiring food assistance. Representative Oletha Faust-Goudeau made the promise to her mother on her deathbed, that she would continue being the voice that would speak for better education, jobs with a living wage, health care accessibility, and fair tax cuts for working and middle class families. Thus, this worthy candidate is a living legacy.

Recent legislative activities include:

• Grandparents as Care Givers Act – Representative Faust-Goudeau built a bipartisan coalition, ushered the bill through the committee system and helped pass it in the House and unanimously in the Senate.
• Fatherhood Initiative Program – providing funding for male mentoring programs.
• Drug Paraphernalia Law – No longer can dangerous paraphernalia be purchased at the corner convenience store.
• Piatt Memorial Fund – For forty years there was talk of creating a memorial to those who died when an Air Force jet plunged into a residential neighborhood. Many said she could not raise the money necessary for a proper memorial. Because it was a labor of love, in July 2007 a proper memorial was dedicated in Piatt Memorial Park.
• Faust-Goudeau supported Senate Bill 2006 (1,000 Cessna Jobs)- the $33 million bond package to build a plant in Wichita for new Citation Columbus business jet. She has been a longstanding champion of job creation for the State of Kansas.

Determined to make a difference in her community and in Topeka, Faust-Goudeau remains a lifetime community activist for social and economic justice for all people. She has served as Precinct Committee-Woman, the Democratic Co-Chair for the Kansas South Central Legislative Delegation, member of the National Black Legislative Caucus (NBLC), Board member of Legal Services of Wichita, member of NAACP, financial supporter of the Strong Kids Program and the YMCA Teen Achievers, Wichita Habitat for Humanity Board Member, Power CDC, Nehemiah Group Board Member, Neighbor Works Board Member, Fairmount Neighborhood Association Board Member, supports Dress for Success, Piatt Memorial Fund Sponsor, Vice President of the Wichita Chapter of Colored Women’s Association, Member of League of Women’s Voters, Coleman Middle School Site Council Member and Human Services, City of Wichita Board Member (1995-1997).

Faust-Goudeau currently serves as the State Representative for the 84th District. She brings to the “political table-of-democracy” her experiences serving on the following Legislative Committees:
Insurance and Financial Institutions,
Federal and State Affairs,
Energy and Utilities,
Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee, and
Joint Committee of Arts and Culture Resources

Faust-Goudeau is a trailblazer. As the next senator for the 29th district, Oletha Faust-Goudeau will be part of the American fabric of “history-in-the-making,” as the first African-American female to serve as Senator in the State of Kansas. Representative Faust-Goudeau has the experience in working in an intractable political system, while delivering for her constituents through bipartisan collaboration and commitment.

Faust-Goudeau’s community activism provides valuable lessons from which she draws to be a dedicated Kansas State Senator. She believes Kansans have the right to know, the right to be heard, and the right to be represented. She listens to her constituents and makes the personal, the political.

Continuing to work for Citizens in the Community and in Topeka
Faust-Goudeau has not forgotten her roots. Throughout her career, she continues to return home and work in and for the community of Wichita. From the legacy of community activism at her mother’s knee; to Kansas Senator, Representative Faust-Goudeau has never changed her view that all politics and policy is local and that her job, as a public servant, is to serve the people.
Representative Oletha Faust-Goudeau is an asset, not only to the 84th District, but to the greater community of the 29th District. Working tirelessly for her beloved community, Representative Faust-Goudeau is inspired to do more and will continue to champion citizen’s concerns as the next Kansas State Senator in the 29th District.