Kris Trimmer announces candidacy for the 79th District of House of Representatives
Kris Trimmer
Sumner Newscow report — Kris Trimmer, a former Winfield High School teacher, filed for the Kansas House 79th district as a Democrat on Friday, June 10.
“I always encouraged my American Government students to pay attention to their elected officials, ask questions, do their own research and participate in the process,” Trimmer said. “Now, it is my turn to step up and do what I can.”
She is the fourth candidate to file. She will be competing against Cristel Heffron Love in the Democrat primary. If she wins she will be battling either incumbent Cheryl Helmer or Webster Roth in the general election.
Trimmer’s work history includes one year at First National Bank (Winfield), four years at Douglass High School, two years at Winfield Presbyterian Church as a Christian Educator, twenty-two years as Co-administrator of Nutrition Plus (a Child and Adult Care Food Program), and twenty-four years at Winfield High School. While at WHS, Kris taught American Government, Advanced Placement American Government, State and Local Government, Leadership, Psychology, and College Speech.
As a teacher, Kris received several awards, including WNEA Master Teacher (2005) and Kansas Student Council Sponsor of the year (2017). She was also inducted into the Southwestern College Education Hall of Fame (2018) and the Kansas Teachers’ Hall of Fame (2021).
Trimmer has lived in the Winfield community for the past 47 years. She is a member of the First Presbyterian Church and is a past active elder. She served on several school site-councils and was an active Swim Club parent for years. She is also a member of P.E.O. and she serves on the Winfield Public Library Board as Vice-President.
Kris evoked the names of former Winfield representatives, Dorothy Flottman and Judy Showalter, as her guides to the kind of representative she would like to be. One a Republican and the other a Democrat, they both took care to listen to their constituents and then vote, not with a particular ideology in mind, but with what would best represent the people in their district. They cared about the legislation and its impact on the district and the state, not on which party supported it. They were also both known for working in a bipartisan manner and were well respected by both sides of the aisle. These two legislators were inspirational because they lived the values of common sense and caring about others.
Trimmer knows how important it is for legislators to communicate with their constituents. If elected, she plans to reach out to the people in her district with email updates, newsletters, surveys, and attendance at various community meetings and forums. She will communicate with ALL of her constituents, regardless of party, ideology or whether of not they voted for her.
Kris is married to Ed Trimmer and they have two daughters along with their husbands and four grandchildren.
