About Me

I moved to Eastborough, Kansas in 2021 with my wife, daughter, and cats. I work as a Senior Product Engineering Architect for Cadence Design Systems, previously having retired after 27 years from Intel.

My education includes a B.A. in Mathematics from Princeton University, an M.S. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University, and a New Jersey Teaching Certificate in Mathematics.

Now as a proud new Kansan, I'm also an outsider who can bring a fresh perspective to Kansas politics.

Why Erik Seligman for State Representative?

It’s time for some change in Kansas State Representative district 83. Here are some of the key points that would drive my agenda if elected:

  • - Reduce the tax burden on average Kansans. When my family moved here in 2021, we were disappointed to learn that Kansas has an exceptionally high tax burden for a “red state”. The small tax reductions passed in the June 2024 special session were a start, but there is much more to be done.
  • - Educational opportunity for children at all income levels. Every child is a unique individual, and deserves a variety of educational options, even if their parents cannot afford private school. We need to strengthen Kansas charter school laws, and expand school choice programs throughout the state.
  • - Protect children from unnecessary medical interventions with lifelong consequences. It has become increasingly clear that “gender-affirming” medical care allows children— many too young to get a tattoo— to decide on medical treatments that will affect the rest of their lives, and are not truly necessary. The incumbent voted against outlawing these treatments.
In addition, I will provide open and transparent communication at a level rarely displayed by any officeholder. When I previously served in elected office, on the board of one of Oregon’s largest school districts, I published a detailed blog describing my reasoning behind every major vote. You can still read it at https://hillsboroerik.com. You will always know exactly how I voted, and what my reasoning process was— and be able to meet me at monthly Constituent Coffees to share your view, whether you agree or disagree.

Please email (erik@wichitaerik.com) or call me (503-312-1665) if you have any questions, and I’ll look forward to receiving your vote!

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Vote Jacqueline Kelly for Judge on August 6th

Usually in this blog, I’m focusing on reasons you should vote for me.    That is the point, after all!   But in next week’s primary, I’m unopposed— the place I really need your vote will be in the November election.   So this week, I thought I would focus this blog on a fellow candidate I endorse, who does face a contested primary:   Jaqueline Kelly.

As you can see at her website, https://www.kellyforjudge.org/, she has a great resume:  legal experience in civil cases, criminal cases, and as a city attorney, positions on the Kansas Real Estate Commission and Wichita Ethics Advisory Board, and numerous other volunteer positions— all while raising three children.   I was very impressed with her on the several occasions when we met.


One other important element of her background, which she told me about recently, may not be so obvious from her campaign flyers:   she is an adopted child of Zimbabwean birth.   Having studied the contrast between the systems of government in Zimbabwe and in the US, she especially appreciates being here!    This contrast has deeply informed her legal philosophy, and her sense of how special our system is.    


Zimbabwe is one of the many nations around the world that promised improved “fairness” and a "just society", if only the government could reduce the inconvenient barriers of personal freedom and give itself complete power— and ended up creating misery for the vast majority.   (You can see many more examples of those failures in my Stories of Communism podcast.)   It is very important that we have judges in place who understand our country’s fundamental and unique principles of individual freedom and limited government power.


Thus, on August 6th, I’ll be voting for Jacqueline Kelly for judge, and hope you will join me.