National, Kansas experts to analyze election results for Dole Institute series

LAWRENCE -- The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas will host a series of three postelection roundtables in December. The series will feature experts on national and Kansas politics analyzing the outcome of the fall elections.

Each roundtable discussion will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Dole Institute. The discussions are free and open to the public.

" Our experts for this series are phenomenal,” said Dole Institute Director Bill Lacy. He noted that one panel will include Neil Newhouse, whose firm, Public Opinion Strategies polled for four of the GOP Senate takeovers plus a number of other races; Michele Stockwell, a KU graduate who works for the Democratic Leadership Council's Progressive Policy Institute; and Steven Jacques, who spent most of the past year with Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign.

“ The experts for the Kansas panel are equally noteworthy and include political reporters and consultants active during the 2004 election process," Lacy said. "And our high-tech politics panel should be a real treat. People will have the opportunity to hear how technology like dial groups, the Internet and polling are changing the way we wage campaigns."

The Dole Institute's fall programming on political campaigns has included a variety of lectures for students and the community. “We're pleased to conclude our 2004 programming year with panelists offering such diverse expertise,” Lacy said.

The three events are:

National Elections 2004: What Happened? What's Next?
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7
National political experts will dissect the 2004 election results and discuss the impact on future elections, including the 2008 presidential race.

MODERATOR
• Laura Lorson, on-air host, producer, Kansas Public Radio

PANELISTS
• Neil Newhouse, partner, co-founder, Public Opinion Strategies, Alexandria, Va.
• Michele Stockwell, director of Social and Family Policy, Democratic Leadership Council's Progressive Policy Institute, Washington, D.C.
• Steven Jacques, former advance and communications adviser, Kerry campaign, Washington, D.C.
• Bill Lacy, director, Dole Institute of Politics; former campaign strategist

Hi-tech Politics: Elections 2004 & Beyond
7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13
Simons Media Room, Dole Institute of Politics
A panel of scholars and journalists will explain how the latest technology (dial groups, the Internet and polling) changed the way we select our leaders.

MODERATOR
• Bill Lacy, director, Dole Institute of Politics

PANELISTS
• Mary Banwart, KU assistant professor of communication studies
• Rob Curley, director of New Media and Convergence, World Co., Lawrence
• Don Haider-Markel, KU associate professor of political science

Kansas Elections 2004: Outlook for 2006
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14
A politically diverse panel will analyze the recent elections in Kansas and discuss how the terrain has shifted for local and statewide races in 2006.

MODERATOR
• Peter Hancock, statehouse bureau chief and reporter, Kansas Public Radio
PANELISTS
• Lew Ferguson, member, Kansas Board of Regents, and former political reporter for the Associated Press, Topeka
• State Sen. Lana Oleen (R-Manhattan)
• Sarah Kessinger, senior reporter, Harris News Service, Topeka
• Jim McLean, Special Assistant to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius
• David Kensinger, campaign strategist, former chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.)