Manhattan/Riley County
Manhattan/Riley County
Advocate. Educate. Inform. Empower.
In these trying times, it will take us all to have a future based on justice, our Constitution, and the power of an informed electorate. After 100 years of pushing forward, the League is not willing to stop now.
Please Vote! Exercise your most fundamental right as a United States Citizen because:
"Democracy is NOT a spectator sport."
Get Ready to Vote!
Learn about candidates on YOUR ballot and more voting information at Vote411.org (The LWVUS sponsored voting info site)
See your polling place, how to use the voting machines and more at Riley County Elections website, and your local county clerk! Check here.
Upcoming Event: Dinner with League: December 4. "In Defense of an Independent Kansas Judiciary"
You and y
our guests are welcome to join our League of Women Voters of Manhattan-Riley County for good food, an engaging conversation and connection with each other on Thursday, December 4th.
In 2026, we will face a Kansas Constitutional Amendment on whether to ELECT Kansas Supreme Court Judges or KEEP the current selection process. Come hear former State Senator Tom Hawk & Attorney Doug Sebilius give a background on the current system, and why they think the best choice is to retain it.
WHAT: "In Defense of an Independent Kansas Judiciary"
SPEAKERS: Former State Senator Tom Hawk & Attorney Doug Sebilius
WHEN: Thursday, December 4th. 6pm Dinner (optional), 6:30 pm Conversation
WHERE: Prairie Star Restaurant, Meadowlark Hills, 2121 Meadowlark Road, Manhattan, KS 66502
MENU: House Salad, Cup of Chili, Rolls/Butter, Coffee, Tea or Water. Prairie Star Bar will be open for your convenience.
COST: Price: $15 by check to LWVMRC or cash at the door. Meadowlark residents may sign up at the front desk. Dinner is OPTIONAL.
Please reserve your DINNER by responding to this email by Tuesday, Dec. 2nd. No RSVP Needed to attend the meeting.
We hope you can Join us, and bring a friend! We welcome your suggestions for future programs anytime.
Thank You!
Your LWV MRC Leadership Team: Sara Fisher, Barbara Anderson, Tim May, Elke Lorenz, Linda Uthoff
R. Douglas Sebelius of Manhattan is a semi-retired attorney in general practice with Sebelius, Griffiths & Horn, LLP, Norton, Kansas. He attended Kansas State University and Washburn University School of Law where he served on the Washburn Law Journal. He served 8 terms as Norton County Attorney and 40 years as County Counselor. Doug also served as a commissioner of the Kansas Wildlife & Parks Commission. He is presently a director of Valley Hope Association, a substance use treatment provider, and a trustee with the Nature Conservancy of Kansas. He has been married for 48 years to Nancy Gruver Sebelius, a retired teacher and gifted facilitator.
Tom Hawk grew up in Colby, Ks working for his family’s wholesale food business as a youngster. Tom earned three degress from KSU: Math Education and later a M.A in Counseling and a PhD in Administration. He spent 33 years in the Manhattan USD#383 school system serving as a mathematics teacher, a counselor, and school administrator, retiring as Superintendent. In addition to his school work, he was also a small businessperson starting a multi-state event and internet photography business for over 40 years.
After his retirement from USD 383, he became State Representative for District #67 in the Riley County/Manhattan area. Serving three terms in the House, he focused on Utilities, Social Services, Vision 2020, and Tax Committees. The Governor also appointed him to serve on the Governor’s Military Council.
Following his House tenure, he was selected to serve as Executive Director of the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB) of Kansas. Earning his LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) license, he led the BSRB in the licensing and regulating of mental health professionals in the fields of psychology, social work, counselling, marriage and family therapy, and addictions.
In 2012, Dr. Hawk was elected to the Kansas Senate for the 22nd District that included Riley, Clay and portions of Geary County. He served 3 ½ terms serving as ranking minority on Senate Ways and Means and Transportation. He also served on Utilities, the Joint Committee on the Transportation Vision Task Force, the Joint Rules and Regulations Committee, the Joint Building and Construction Committee, and the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on the State Water Plan. He also served as the Senate Democratic Caucus Chair, and as a Senate liaison on the State Forestry Service Advisory Committee and the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee. Senator Hawk retired from the Senate in January, 2023. He lives in Manhattan with his wife Diane, has four adult children and five grandchildren.
Learn about the LWVUS new initiative, Unite and Rise, A campaign to defend Democracy
We encourage you to sign up with the League of Women Voters for current news releases and blog postings. (Newsroom Link) (Please note: The following statements are non-partisan as candidates are now elected officials. Our resistance is based on our national positions, not political parties.)
- LWV Declares United States in a Constitutional Crisis
- League of Women Voters, Lawyers Committee, NAACP, and Equal Justice Society File Brief Opposing Executive Order Attacking Birthright Citizenship
- How to Support the Immigrant Community
- Reflection on the Election: We Will Speak Up and Speak Out
Remember a very easy App to use to help communicate with your legislators via Voice messages: 5 Calls
For those of you who could not join us for the June DINNER WITH THE LEAGUE featuring Indivisible MHK! Find out more at their Website: Indivisible MHK
Don't forget to visit the Kansas Statehouse to see the new Suffragist memorial, "Rebel Women." This is first work by a woman artist in the Kansas Statehouse. The artist, Phyllis Garibay-Coon is a Manhattan resident. Congratulations, Ms. Garibay-Coon. More here.
League News
Recording of Candidates Forum, October 4, 2025
Manhattan City Commission and USD 383 School Board Forum Recordings posted on News Radio KMAN
This forum was sponsored by: League of Women Voters of Manhattan-Riley County, NAACP, AAUW of Manhattan, KS, Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, KMAN Radio
In the Spotlight: League of Women Voters Encourages Student Participation Ahead of Voter Registration Deadline
From KKSU Website:
[October 15, 2024]
MANHATTAN, Kan. As the voter registration deadline looms, Donna Shenk Hamlin from the League of Women Voters joined Delaney and Cadence on Wildcat 91.9™s Evening Drive Show to discuss the importance of civic engagement among students. With voter registration closing at noon on Tuesday, Hamlin emphasized the ease of checking registration status and making voting plans through the website ksvotes.org.
Hamlin, a long-standing member of the League of Women Voters of Riley County and a participant in Kansas State University's Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy (ICDD), highlighted the collaborative efforts to promote voter participation....(article continues.)
For a recording, visit here or: https://www.wildcat919.com/post/league-of-women-voters-encourages-studen....
Thank you, Donna, for your excellent advice, to Andrew Smith Multi-Media News Director KKSU-TV for the invitation, and to Delany and Cadence for your support!
In Memory of Bob and Jan Kruh
We are forever grateful to the legacies of Bob and Jan Kruh. Their leadership and generosity for the League of Women Voters of Manhattan-Riley County was unbounded. Our thanks to the Kruh family for designating our organization for memorial contributions.
(Donation information: Click Red Donate button or here. Thank you.)
Please Remember to Pay your Annual Dues online or by mail. Thank you for making all our programs possible, and reaching out to new members. (Use the Join/Renew button above.)
LWVK information is available on our website.
Other Online Links to stay informed:
The Kansas Reflector - you can subscribe to have an email update sent to your inbox daily
Legiscan - a national tracking site for legislative actions both at the national and state levels
The link to the new 2025 Kansas Legislature site will allow you to access and watch in real time or you can also watch later as all committee meetings are recorded.
All League Events are free and open to the public
More Information About Our Area?
Be sure to check out our blog for current observer reports on the USD 383 Board of Education meetings and the Riley County Law Board meetings.
Who we are:
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
The League of Women Voters Manhattan/Riley County believes in: respect for individuals, the value of diversity, the empowerment of the grassroots*, and the power of collective decision making for the common good.
What are current League Priorities?
The League of Women Voters of Manhattan-Riley County Supports Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (LWVUS Policy Statement) (Definitions)
LWVKansas Legislative Priorities
LWVUS Positions and Priorities: At the National Level The LWVMRC is part of the League of Women Voters of the United States. Our positions and policies are informed by careful study and are agreed upon by the League members at local, state, and national levels. A complete description of our national positions, Imact on Issues, is available Here.
