Community

PHOTOS: Kansas Politicians Turn Out For Lenexa's Independence Day Parade

KCUR | By Elle Moxley

Published July 4, 2016 at 1:36 PM CDT

1 of 11

The Lenexa Louie-Louie Band performs in the 2016 Lenexa Community Days Parade.

Elle Moxley / KCUR 89.3

2 of 11

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, waves to the crowd at the Lenexa Community Days Parade on Monday, July 4, 2016.

Elle Moxley / KCUR 89.3

3 of 11

Incumbent Greg Smith, in red, walks in the Lenexa Community Days Parade. Smith is seeking reelection in Senate District 21.

Elle Moxley / KCUR 89.3

4 of 11

Supporters of Dinah Sykes march in the 2016 Lenexa Community Days Parade. Sykes, a moderate Republican, is challenging incumbent Greg Smith for the Senate District 21 seat.

Elle Moxley / KCUR 89.3

5 of 11

Johnson County Democrats gather before the 2016 Lenexa Community Days Parade.

Elle Moxley / KCUR 89.3

6 of 11

Supporters of Helen Stoll, a Democrat running in House District 17, chant in support of public education before the parade.

Elle Moxley / KCUR 89.3

7 of 11

Lenexa Mayor Mike Boehm rides in the Lenexa Community Days Parade on Monday, July 4, 2016.

Elle Moxley / KCUR 89.3

8 of 11

Kansas City Royals historian KayCee rides in the Lenexa Community Days Parade.

Elle Moxley / KCUR 89.3

9 of 11

Cub Scout Pack 3400 from Rosehill Elementary School rides in the 2016 Lenexa Community Days Parade.

Elle Moxley / KCUR 89.3

10 of 11

Members of the Abdallah Shrine Temple in Shawnee Mission ride in the Lenexa Community Days Parade on Monday, July 4, 2016.

Elle Moxley / KCUR 89.3

11 of 11

The Lenexa Historical Society sponsored several classic cars in the 2016 Lenexa Community Days Parade.

Elle Moxley / KCUR 89.3

Incumbents and political hopefuls lined up Monday morning before the 2016 Lenexa Community Days Parade.

Kansas Sen. Greg Smith was near the front, right behind U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran and U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder.

“It’s just a fun event,” Smith said, adding that he participates even in non-election years. “If you’re in Northeast Johnson County, this is the place to be.”

Smith’s primary challenger, Dinah Sykes, was in the middle of the parade pack, marching alongside other moderate Republicans campaigning on public education.

Johnson County Democrats brought up the rear. It’s the first time in three decades a Democrat is running for every Kansas Senate seat.

Many of the candidates also planned to attend the Monday evening fireworks show in Overland Park.

Elle Moxley is a reporter for KCUR. You can reach her on Twitter @ellemoxley.