Jo Schwartz

Abilene Democrat Jo Schwartz is making her first run for public office in the 70th District race.

She has worked as director of the local Red Cross, responding to disasters including the Oklahoma City bombing. She spent five years troubleshooting insurance claims for a church-affiliated insurance company, and was a nursing home director and a driver for scientists in Antarctica. She and her husband, Tom, have three daughters and three grandchildren.

Schwartz got into the race because “I’m not a person to complain without being willing to do something about it.”

Schwarz wants to reverse the Brownback tax cuts and the practice of sweeping money from transportation and the Children’s Trust Fund to cover over budget deficits.

Another important issue for Schwartz is health care.

“We have to stop refusing federal dollars for expansion; we have to expand Medicaid,” she said.

Schwartz described herself as a “moderate Democrat,” and believes she will work well with moderate Repbulicans.

Schwarz’s overall goal is to reverse damage she said has resulted from “Brownback’s failed policies.”

“If you are tired of Brownbak, you don’t want the incumbent who voted over 90 percent of the time with Brownback,” she said.