Faith, Family, Freedom
Submitted by Gregg Motley
One must spend very little time with Kaety Bowers to discern the drive, the leadership skills, and the passion that motivates her every day. Behind those desirable qualities is a person who earned her stripes through hard knocks, failure, and the faith to get back up again and keep trying. How did this capable party chairperson transition from a small Western Kansas town in a home led by a single mother to leadership in Bourbon County?
Anyone with a pulse and a social media account in Bourbon County knows how difficult the political arena has been inside the county and some its incorporated towns. Disagreements on weighty issues facing us, along with questionable choices and methods displayed by some of our elected officials have left a significant number of local voters jaded and cynical. Into that maelstrom stepped Kaety Bowers to preside over a party that was struggling to recruit good candidates and support those in office.
Perhaps it was her challenging early years that gave her the courage and confidence to step into the role. Ms. Bowers excelled in school, so much so that she earned a full-ride scholarship to the University of Kansas. Fate had another destiny for her, as marriage at a young age, motherhood and a desire to serve others in the beauty industry changed her course. During her career in the industry, she noticed that unlicensed operators were victimizing those in unfortunate circumstances, such as cancer patients, over-charging them and giving them poor results. Ms. Bowers took her concerns to the state capital and fought for regulation and licensing for these unscrupulous vendors. She learned to navigate the halls of the capital, and a political career was born.
Political success requires a drive that is committed to principles that form the core of a person, and Bowers is an excellent example of this truism. To a mother who is raising a family, education is a critical element of the development of her young charges. When the large school district in which her family lived began to make questionable choices, Bowers became an organizer of parents who wanted to make a difference. The process helped her hone her leadership skills, and her passion for the issues led her to a successful run for school board of this giant district, eventually ascending to the role of vice president of the board. She soon began consulting with Republican Party leaders and helping political candidates with their campaigns.
It was natural for Bowers to get involved in party politics when her family recently moved to Bourbon County. Republican Party members soon recognized the drive, leadership and passion possessed by Ms. Bowers and selected her for Chairperson of the party in 2024. Soon after taking office, she was faced with redistricting to add two county commissioners, the resignation of two existing commissioners and the inevitable strife that results from leadership voids. Bowers has met the challenges by consulting with past leaders, seeking the advice of those who are currently active and calling upon her years of experience.
Bowers has a vision for the future of Bourbon County, which centers around our youth. Her desire is to engage youth leaders in schools and other organizations to educate and inspire our young people to engage pollical activities and get personally involved. Bowers notes that she was blessed to have faith-based mentors as a youth and into her young adult years to guide her into productive, caring choices that have motivated her involvement over the years. She would like to see concerned citizens of Bourbon County fill that role for our young people. Her plan is to create active roles for youth in our political structures, provide scholarships for deserving achievers, and get them involved and voting.
As for the future of struggling rural communities, Bowers points to technology and leveraging the resources we have. We must ask the question, “Why do people move here and why do people stay?” We must understand why people choose a Bourbon County lifestyle and invest in making it better. We must create structures that encourage ideas, creativity and dreams. If we do not, we will be passed by and devolve into more complaining and backbiting. We must work together on these issues.
In the end, it is all about the faith which informs us, the family which motivates and supports us, and the love of freedom which keeps us working together. With these core values, Bowers has used her drive, leadership skills and passion to cast a bigger, better vision for Bourbon County.