Oletha Faust-Goudeau
Oletha A. Goudeau is a Democratic member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 29th district since 2009—the first African-American woman in the Kansas Senate. Most recently, she is the Senate Assistant Minority Leader.
She was previously a Kansas Representative, serving from her appointment in 2004 until 2009.
She is a community activist from Wichita.
Early life and education
Born August 5, 1959 in Wichita, Kansas, Faust-Goudeau is one of five children of Oretha Faust, a prominent inner-city Wichita community activist and politician.Faust-Goudeau studied pre-law at Wichita State University, and became a photographer and community activist.
Kansas House of Representatives
In 2002, she ran for the seat of retiring Kansas State Representative Jonathan Wells, representing the 84th District - but was defeated by fellow Democrat Donald Betts. However, in 2003, Betts was appointed to fill a state senate vacancy, and by a vote of precinct committeemen and committeewomen, Faust-Goudeau was appointed to fill Betts' vacant seat in the Kansas House of Representatives. In 2004, she was elected to the seat, becoming the first African-American woman elected to represent the district. In 2006, she was re-elected to the seat.Kansas Senate
In 2008, Faust-Goudeau was elected to the Kansas Senate, representing the 29th District -- becoming, upon inauguration in 2009, the first African-American woman in the state senate's history, and one of the only two African-Americans in the Kansas Senate. She is currently Senate Assistant Minority Leader.She was re-elected by wide margins in 2012, 2016, and 2020, when she received 71.1% of the vote.
Her 29th Senate district—predominantly inner-city central/north-central and northeast Wichita—includes most of the minority neighborhoods—and the city's poorest people, along with its richest.
Positions
Faust-Goudeau characterizes herself as a "Republicrat," representing her district's voters regardless of party. Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley has characterized her as "the strongest pro-family legislator in the Legislature," building her career chiefly on helping families and children.Faust-Goudeau's chief activity has been in protecting rights and services for seniors, the disabled, and children—including children in state custody—and in promoting business/development interests. Some legislation which Faust-Goudeau introduced, which became law:"Grandparents' rights" bills, three of which she introduced, became law in 2006-2012—latest became law in 2012 with unanimous Legislative backing—essentially forcing the State and the courts to consider grandparents' for possible custody requests in most child-custody cases in which the State has intervened. Prior laws she introduced required grandparents to be heard in foster-care cases, and—if caring for their grandchildren as foster parents—to be reimbursed by the state the same as foster parents.Firefighters' insurance bill — became law in 2012 with unanimous Legislative backing—ensuring that the families of firefighters killed in action are able to continue receiving protection under their firefighter's insurance coverage for the first 18 months following their firefighter's death in the line of duty.Drug paraphernalia prohibition bill — outlawing the distribution of certain kinds of drug paraphernalia, became law.Poor/working-class issues - Representing the inner-city area of Wichita, Faust-Goudeau frequently takes the lead in speaking out on, and advocating for, the needs and interests of poor and working-class Kansans. Examples include: