Johnson County, Kansas – Amberwave, a political action committee founded in 2024 by County Chair Mike Kelly, disclosed a major outlay of about $71,000 on printing and direct contributions for two contested county commission seats and a Kansas State Board of Education race. The spending, reported in the PAC’s October financial disclosures, underscores the group’s stated mission to bring attention to local contests that are frequently drowned out by “noise at the top of the ticket.”
Commission‑district spending
Amberwave allocated $45,000 to Greg Mitchell, the Democratic challenger to incumbent Commissioner Michael Ashcraft in the 5th District, and $26,000 to incumbent Becky Fast, who is defending the 1st District seat against Ben Hobert. Both contributions were directed to Callendar Printing in Kansas City, Kansas, covering the bulk of the PAC’s printing costs. In addition, each candidate received a $1,000 individual donation from Amberwave.
Mitchell entered the post‑primary period with $6,283 cash on hand and reported $14,215 in expenditures. The PAC’s $45,000 printing boost dwarfs his own campaign spending, providing a substantial resource for mailers and voter outreach. Mitchell said the Amberwave mailer was a pleasant surprise and expected it to be a “big benefit” to his campaign.
Fast began the same period with $62,000 on hand and had spent $33,000. While she already held a financial advantage over Hobert, Amberwave’s $26,000 contribution further reinforced her ability to communicate with voters. Fast emphasized that the PAC’s support represents only a small fraction of the more than 350 donations and volunteer hours contributed by Johnson County residents.
State Board of Education contribution
Beyond the commission races, Amberwave donated $24,000 to Amy Diediker of Olathe, the Republican candidate for the Kansas State Board of Education, who is challenging Democrat Jim McMullen of Overland Park. The PAC also made smaller donations to other local candidates, including $1,000 to Prairie Village mayoral hopeful Cole Robinson and $4,000 to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cindy Holscher.
Conservative response
While Amberwave’s activities align with its website’s focus on economic development, environmental sustainability, and countering political extremism, some conservative observers have raised concerns. Critics note that the PAC has a track record of supporting Democratic candidates, citing a 2024 race in which former Commissioner Charlotte O’Hara blamed her loss, in part, on Amberwave’s spending for her opponent Julie Brewer. Conservative blogs have speculated that the group functions as “kingmaking” for out‑of‑state interests.
Amberwave treasurer Zach McCracken defended the organization, stating, “While our airwaves and mailboxes are flooded with content about national and statewide contests, Amberwave is focused on educating voters about critical down‑ballot races in Johnson County that will have an immediate and lasting impact on our community.” He added that local candidates often lack the funds needed to get their message out.
Impact on the upcoming election
Incumbent Commissioner Ashcraft, a long‑time ally of Chair Kelly, entered the race with $60,000 on hand and has spent $17,830. He declined to predict how Amberwave’s spending will affect the outcome, noting that the final vote count on Tuesday will determine the result.
In the 1st District, challenger Hobert, who started with $10,600 and spent $7,492, said the PAC’s funding signals a perceived weakness in the incumbent’s re‑election prospects, though he stopped short of quantifying the effect.
Overall, Amberwave’s substantial financial involvement highlights the growing role of political action committees in Johnson County’s local elections, a trend that both supporters and skeptics say warrants close attention as voters head to the polls.
Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.
