Democrat Joy Koesten announced her plans to run for the Kansas Senate, District 11 on Nov. 12.
“Voters deserve a candidate who will not have to constantly endure extreme political pressure to follow their party’s agenda,” Koesten said in an event at the Johnson County Democrats headquarters last week. “They deserve a leader who will always advocate for sound public policy that aligns with the values and priorities of the district.”
Koesten was elected as a Republican as Kansas state representative for District 28 in November 2016 and served one two-year term. She lost her bid for re-election in the August 2018 primary and changed her party affiliation later that year.
District 11 encompasses parts of Leawood and Overland Park as well as parts of the Aubry and Oxford townships. The district is served by Republican John Skubal, who is in the last year of his first four-year term.
Koesten is currently collecting signatures from Democrats in District 11 and will file by petition to be placed on the ballot later this year. Sandi Fried will serve as the Joy for Kansas campaign treasurer. So far no candidates have officially filed to be placed on the Aug. 4, 2020, primary ballot for that Senate seat.
Inspired by the success of Gov. Laura Kelly and Congresswoman Sharice Davids, Koesten joins more than a dozen Johnson County women who are seeking positions in the Kansas Legislature in 2020. During her time in the Kansas House of Representatives, Koesten served on three committees: Corrections & Juvenile Justice, Government Technology & Security and Transportation & Public Safety Budget. She also served as co-chair of the Mental Health Caucus, as a founding member of the Early Childhood Caucus and as a member of the Women’s Caucus.
She and her husband, Stewart, founded Aspyre Wealth Partners in 1996, a fee-only financial planning firm that offers traditional financial planning, investment management and executive and career coaching services. In addition, Koesten has a doctorate in communication studies and has served on the faculty at Washburn University and all three campuses at the University of Kansas. She currently serves as a lecturer at both the Lawrence and Edwards campus.
During her academic career Koesten’s teaching and research has focused on human interaction within different contexts. Her research has been published in educational journals.
She is a founding member of the Greater Kansas City Mental Health Coalition, advocating for individuals and families who are challenged with mental health and addiction disorders. She has also served on the board of Jackson County CASA, an organization that supports and trains volunteers to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children caught up in an overburdened legal system. Prior to joining the CASA board, Joy was a trained advocate for CASA. This past year she engaged in a variety of volunteer activities — fundraising for Jackson County CASA’s 2019 Light of Hope Breakfast, taking a more active role with Jewish Federation and leading a substantial capital campaign for Children’s Mercy Hospital along with her husband that focused on community behavioral health.
The Koestens are members of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. They have two grown daughters and two grandchildren.