Born and raised in Franklin County, Blaine is a 5th-generation and lifelong resident of our community. He graduated from Ottawa High School and Ottawa University before earning a law degree from Washburn University.

Blaine is an attorney and small business owner in downtown Ottawa where he owns and operates Harris Kelsey law firm. He previously served as Mayor of Ottawa and as a city commissioner. Blaine also spearheaded our region’s economic development efforts as President and Interim Director of the Franklin County Economic Development Council, helping to bring hundreds of new jobs to our district.

He has been an active volunteer with the high school site council, our local Chamber of Commerce, Ottawa Police Foundation, Franklin County Historical Society, Ottawa University President’s Advisory Council, and the Franklin County Leadership Program.

Blaine has been our voice in the Kansas House since 2013. He has served as Chairman of both the Judiciary Committee and the Special Committee on a Comprehensive Response to School Finance. He currently serves as House Rules Chairman and as the Speaker Pro Tem, a position he was elected to December 2018 by his fellow House Republicans. Blaine lives in rural Ottawa.

Kellie Warren burnished her reputation as a competent, results-oriented conservative leader first in the Kansas House. She defeated a liberal incumbent in the primary before going on to easily win a General Election. In the Kansas House, Kellie served as a leading voice regarding property tax reform, worked to lower your utility bills, reduce the food sales tax, and preserve access to quality healthcare.

In 2020, knowing that conservative reforms would never happen without changes in the State Senate, Kellie heeded the calls to successfully challenge another incumbent. Her commitment to conservative constitutional principles and solutions-focused approach led her to become the first woman to ever lead the prestigious Senate Judiciary Committee, and as a freshman Senator. Warren also serves as the Vice-Chair for the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules & Regulations and is a member of Utilities, Local Government, and Transparency and Ethics committees.

Kellie’s respect for the rule of law, dedication to the country’s founding principles, and willingness to defend our Constitution quickly propelled her to become one of Kansas’ most respected new conservative leaders. Always one to stand up to the status quo and willing to take on the toughest of battles, Kellie’s legislative successes include passing some of the most consequential conservative reforms of this decade.

During her time in the Kansas Senate, Kellie shepherded to passage the Value Them Both Amendment, which protects existing, common-sense restrictions on abortion; stopped Governor Kelly’s unqualified judicial nominees; re-wrote Kansas’ emergency statutes to stop Governor Kelly’s mask mandate and stop private businesses from being shut down; passed novel legislation to require federal COVID funds be put in the hands of small businesses impacted by COVID shutdowns rather than grow government and fixed the loophole which allowed some sexual predators to prey on minor children.

The Seeber File

Ron Seeber is the President and CEO of the Kansas Grain and Feed Association (KGFA).  Established in 1896, the KGFA is a voluntary state association with a membership encompassing the entire spectrum of the grain receiving, storage, processing and shipping industry in the state of Kansas.  KGFA’s membership includes over 950 Kansas business locations and represents 99% of the commercially licensed grain storage in the state.  Ron is has been with the KGFA since 2008 and the President since 2017.  He is only the 6^th President to serve in the association’s 123 year history.

In his role, Ron directs the vision, mission and strategy of the membership-based organization, advocating for Kansas agribusiness by creating a sustainable business climate through collaborative policy leadership, continuous education and effective communication.  He is responsible for maintaining and nurturing a professional relationship with government, other associations, allied industry, educational institutions and the general public as necessary and in the best interest of the association and for attainment of its objectives.

Ron Seeber is a native Kansan, grew up in El Dorado, and earned a Political Science Degree from the University of Kansas. After graduating in 1991, he worked for Senator Bob Dole in Washington, DC until 1996.  Ron then returned home and worked as the Deputy Secretary of Administration for Governor Bill Graves, Political Director of the Kansas Republican Party, and as a lobbyist for a law firm representing over 30 different companies, associations, and a Native American tribe.

Ron Seeber and wife, Jennifer, have three daughters, a labradoodle and an insane cat.

The Miller File

As President/CEO of the Kansas Cooperative Council (KCC) Miller oversees and executes on the strategic vision of the Council. She works on behalf of Kansas Cooperatives providing educational programs, promotion and advocacy to make Kansas the best state to operate a cooperative business.

The Stookey File

Randy Stookey was promoted to senior vice president after serving as the association’s general counsel since November 2011. Stookey is the lead lobbyist for the Associations and the contact for government affairs stakeholders from member companies and for lobbying clients. During the Legislative Session, Stookey monitors and responds to all bills of consequence for the industry. In addition, Stookey assists in the management of the Kansas Agri Business Council, the Associations’ Joint Political Action Committee.

Stookey is responsible for keeping current on all issues affecting the agribusiness industries and remaining knowledgeable on the regulations and laws pertaining to the grain and feed, fertilizer and agrichemical industries. Stookey is also the staff contact for Legislative Committees. As General Counsel, Stookey assists the President, Executive staff, Board, and membership with addressing legal questions and compliance issues.

The Stafford File

Shahira Stafford is a lifelong Kansan and has nearly 20 years of experience in all aspects of association management, focused primarily on government relations and communications. Most recently, Stafford served as Vice President of Government Affairs for the Kansas Grain and Feed Association and its affiliated agribusiness organizations and lobbying clients. Prior, she filled the role of Vice President of Marketing and Communications.