WYCO DEMS NEWSLETTER

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Ashlee Reyes is 21 years old and going on 64. She wants to make legislative changes for the people of her community, and one day, she just may be President of the United States. Ashlee is ambitious - she is a precinct person in Wyandotte County,  the Vice Chair of the WyCo Democrats’ Communications Committee, and she is actively working on a campaign for a Kansas Gubernatorial candidate. And this isn’t the first campaign she’s worked on, either.

A lifelong Dotte and 2023 graduate of Schlagle High School, Ashlee is studying political science at UMKC. She loves history, politics, policy and the art of democracy. She does plan to run for public office one day. One of her inspirational leaders and adopted mentor, Gov. Laura Kelly, suggested she start at the school board level and work her way through different positions.

Ashlee says her biggest inspiration in life has been her father, who immigrated from Nicaragua before Ashlee was born during a period of political unrest. Her father encouraged her to watch C-SPAN at age 11, made sure she understood history, and told her about the parallels he sees between Nicaragua before he left and the United States today.  Ashlee wants to do something about how people are being treated by the government in this country.

What does she think needs to happen for a stronger, more prosperous Wyandotte County? Here are a few items from her list: 1) invest in areas of the county that have been neglected (like the downtown area) - while the development around the Legends in good for Kansas and Wyandotte County, other areas need improvements and investments, too; 2) find ways to direct more funding to youth programs to combat violence, unemployment, and flight from the county; 3) lower property taxes. She wants the local government to invest in its citizens so people will stay here. She loves her community.

Ashlee also wants to see more young people getting engaged and exercising their political power by registering to vote and getting out to the polls. In the fall election, Ashlee took 10 of her friends to the polls to vote.  As a Hispanic woman, Ashlee wants to “take up space” and ensure the voices of all are not only spoken but are heard. She encourages people to stand for something. 

Thank you, Ashlee, for loving our community, making waves, and following your passion for more just Wyandotte County.