After a tornado of lockdown drills, lock in drills, active shooter drills, emotionally drained students, overburdened parents, overextended teacher colleagues, and out-of-touch politicians watching it all happen, Eli had had enough. While teaching and building relationships with students was his passion, it quickly became clear that the issues preventing learning and necessary progress to the education system were beyond the control of a high school teacher.
Building communication, critical thinking, and other skills that prepare students for life after high school is important. When citizens in our community possess and use these skills, our world becomes a better place. But when school buildings are crumbling, the roads to drive on them are crumbling, and our personal financial situations are crumbling, too, growth is almost impossible.
Raised by two working-class parents, Eli learned from a young age the importance of authenticity. As a teacher, as a friend, as a son, as a husband-- and now as a candidate, "what you see is what you get." Eli is a proud Kansan, a fierce ally for those in need, and a patient listener. He is a diehard fan of smoked barbecue, Sporting Kansas City, and college sports (Jayhawk basketball is how he met Amy).
Eli believes that authenticity should extend to the statehouse, as well. For many-- Eli included-- politics can seem exhausting sometimes, hearing about out-of-touch politicians spending time and resources on issues that regular people aren't truly worried about. Strangely enough, that is one of the reasons Eli decided to step out of Education and into seeking public office. He believes if more everyday Kansans run for office, our politicians can truly be representative of this state.
Eli graduated from Robinson Middle School, Topeka High School, Washburn University, and the University of Colorado Denver. Throughout high school, Eli competed in speech and debate and in college competed as a part of the Washburn Mock Trial team. These experiences led Eli to learn that while many people can learn to become good speakers, only few become quality listeners. He credits a few, truly monumental teachers and educational professionals for not only helping him along his journey as a student but also sparking his inspiration to become a teacher himself.
Additionally, Eli notes he owes his passion for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging to attending public schools and years spent at the Boys and Girls Club of Topeka with his dad. "We are all Americans, and we are all Kansans, but we all have unique stories and experiences worth listening to. And we all deserve to be represented by someone who 'gets' that, no matter where we come from and no matter how many dollars we have to our name."
Building communication, critical thinking, and other skills that prepare students for life after high school is important. When citizens in our community possess and use these skills, our world becomes a better place. But when school buildings are crumbling, the roads to drive on them are crumbling, and our personal financial situations are crumbling, too, growth is almost impossible.
Raised by two working-class parents, Eli learned from a young age the importance of authenticity. As a teacher, as a friend, as a son, as a husband-- and now as a candidate, "what you see is what you get." Eli is a proud Kansan, a fierce ally for those in need, and a patient listener. He is a diehard fan of smoked barbecue, Sporting Kansas City, and college sports (Jayhawk basketball is how he met Amy).
Eli believes that authenticity should extend to the statehouse, as well. For many-- Eli included-- politics can seem exhausting sometimes, hearing about out-of-touch politicians spending time and resources on issues that regular people aren't truly worried about. Strangely enough, that is one of the reasons Eli decided to step out of Education and into seeking public office. He believes if more everyday Kansans run for office, our politicians can truly be representative of this state.
Eli graduated from Robinson Middle School, Topeka High School, Washburn University, and the University of Colorado Denver. Throughout high school, Eli competed in speech and debate and in college competed as a part of the Washburn Mock Trial team. These experiences led Eli to learn that while many people can learn to become good speakers, only few become quality listeners. He credits a few, truly monumental teachers and educational professionals for not only helping him along his journey as a student but also sparking his inspiration to become a teacher himself.
Additionally, Eli notes he owes his passion for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging to attending public schools and years spent at the Boys and Girls Club of Topeka with his dad. "We are all Americans, and we are all Kansans, but we all have unique stories and experiences worth listening to. And we all deserve to be represented by someone who 'gets' that, no matter where we come from and no matter how many dollars we have to our name."
Amy Woody (Stotts) is a 6th generation Kansan, starting with her 3rd-great grandmother and every generation having a daughter thereafter. Her hometown is Baldwin City, Kansas, where she graduated high school in 2001.
Amy grew up very close to both sets of her grandparents with her paternal grandfather being a Methodist minister and community advocate, while her maternal grandpa was a United States Postmaster and US Army veteran. Grandpa Jardon was a state commander and very involved with the American Legion. So much so that when Amy’s mom told her parents they were going to be grandparents to a baby girl, Marvin paid for Amy’s first membership dues to the American Legion Auxiliary.
Ever since then, Amy has been a lifelong member, and very active with Sunflower Girls State, the government in action program sponsored by the ALA. She attended the summer after her junior year of high school, and began returning each summer as a counselor, a staff member, and also serving on the Board of Directors.
Amy’s parents were government employees and teachers, so coupled with her grandparents, always found herself interested in public service. Amy remembers being asked in kindergarten “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Firmly and confidently she replied, “A Supreme Court Justice.” This lead to Amy having her first job with a County Attorney’s office and progressed to her studying criminal justice and paralegal studies.
While Amy’s initial plan of going to law school was delayed due to being her mom’s caregiver during cancer treatments, she found that being a paralegal was an excellent way to be involved with the judicial system and be a part of a team, without being in the spotlight. Amy graduated from Ohio University with a degree in criminal justice and obtained a certified paralegal certificate from Columbus State Community College. She has worked in the legal field for the past 13 years.
Amy enjoys playing tennis and pickle-ball, watching any sports, and any opportunity she can get to visit the ocean. She also enjoys cooking together with Eli and spending quality time together, including walks with their dogs, Luna and Tonks.
Amy is most passionate about care for veterans, access to affordable and preventative healthcare, and ending homelessness.
Amy grew up very close to both sets of her grandparents with her paternal grandfather being a Methodist minister and community advocate, while her maternal grandpa was a United States Postmaster and US Army veteran. Grandpa Jardon was a state commander and very involved with the American Legion. So much so that when Amy’s mom told her parents they were going to be grandparents to a baby girl, Marvin paid for Amy’s first membership dues to the American Legion Auxiliary.
Ever since then, Amy has been a lifelong member, and very active with Sunflower Girls State, the government in action program sponsored by the ALA. She attended the summer after her junior year of high school, and began returning each summer as a counselor, a staff member, and also serving on the Board of Directors.
Amy’s parents were government employees and teachers, so coupled with her grandparents, always found herself interested in public service. Amy remembers being asked in kindergarten “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Firmly and confidently she replied, “A Supreme Court Justice.” This lead to Amy having her first job with a County Attorney’s office and progressed to her studying criminal justice and paralegal studies.
While Amy’s initial plan of going to law school was delayed due to being her mom’s caregiver during cancer treatments, she found that being a paralegal was an excellent way to be involved with the judicial system and be a part of a team, without being in the spotlight. Amy graduated from Ohio University with a degree in criminal justice and obtained a certified paralegal certificate from Columbus State Community College. She has worked in the legal field for the past 13 years.
Amy enjoys playing tennis and pickle-ball, watching any sports, and any opportunity she can get to visit the ocean. She also enjoys cooking together with Eli and spending quality time together, including walks with their dogs, Luna and Tonks.
Amy is most passionate about care for veterans, access to affordable and preventative healthcare, and ending homelessness.
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Elgin O. Woody III, more informally known as “Coach Woody” passed away on October 11, 2022. Elgin served the Topeka and Lawrence community as a public servant for decades, including over 30 years as the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club in Topeka. His love for his community was unmatched, and he worked tirelessly to improve it and give back to it through coaching sports teams, fundraising, donating, and offering time to help with any task a fellow community member needed.
Elgin’s hobbies included following local sports teams, participating in sports, collecting sports cards, going to car shows, being outdoors in any capacity, and listening to music, specifically “oldies” and Jazz. Elgin also enjoyed spending time with his family, applauding their career and personal accomplishments and offering insightful feedback.
Above all other hobbies, though, was his enjoyment of storytelling. With a hand on a shoulder, for support and bestowing wisdom, or his hands gesturing wildly, while retelling a story about the longest home run he ever hit in softball, Elgin had a passion for oratory. Even if that passion held up the line at the grocery checkout line, his determination to understand and connect with others through stories was unparalleled.
Without a doubt, Elgin’s appreciation for diversity, equity, inclusion, and multiculturalism were ahead of his time. All were treated equitably, in his time working in the community. To him, there was and is no room for ignorance, prejudice, and discrimination in this world. His opinion on people was the same as his opinion on barbecue and hats— “all are welcome.”
Elgin’s hobbies included following local sports teams, participating in sports, collecting sports cards, going to car shows, being outdoors in any capacity, and listening to music, specifically “oldies” and Jazz. Elgin also enjoyed spending time with his family, applauding their career and personal accomplishments and offering insightful feedback.
Above all other hobbies, though, was his enjoyment of storytelling. With a hand on a shoulder, for support and bestowing wisdom, or his hands gesturing wildly, while retelling a story about the longest home run he ever hit in softball, Elgin had a passion for oratory. Even if that passion held up the line at the grocery checkout line, his determination to understand and connect with others through stories was unparalleled.
Without a doubt, Elgin’s appreciation for diversity, equity, inclusion, and multiculturalism were ahead of his time. All were treated equitably, in his time working in the community. To him, there was and is no room for ignorance, prejudice, and discrimination in this world. His opinion on people was the same as his opinion on barbecue and hats— “all are welcome.”
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Gretchen (Eli's mom) was born at the Allen County hospital, because her county lacked a hospital. As a young girl, she could be found learning customer service at her parents’ hardware store. Eventually, she tagged along on service calls around central Kansas. The family moved to Burlington, where she graduated high school. Of the many family trips, two planted seeds: meeting a curator at the Eisenhower Museum and meeting then Rep. Bob Dole.
Gretchen’s passion for service led her to Washburn University. To pay for college she started what became a career as a civil servant. She worked as a social service caseworker, community liaison with a public utility commission, records management specialist, and a long list of transportation initiatives. Gretchen was awarded a Woman of Excellence Award by the Topeka YMCA in 2015 for her work on a community service project. She moved from the Kansas Department of Transportation to Washington State DOT’s Office of Equal Opportunity to improve Title VI compliance. Her deep roots of civil service and exposure to social inequities continue to fuel her passion for serving others and pursuing equity.
Retirement hasn’t ended her commitments to others. She continues that work in many ways, like volunteering with the League of Women Voters and as precinct committee person or judging high school speech and debate. Gretchen enjoys getting her hands dirty in the yard, painting, and music. As a grandmother, she cheers and encourages the interests and development of her grandchildren, Lily, and Bowen. Her rescue dog, Ashe, works hard to keep her active.
Gretchen’s passion for service led her to Washburn University. To pay for college she started what became a career as a civil servant. She worked as a social service caseworker, community liaison with a public utility commission, records management specialist, and a long list of transportation initiatives. Gretchen was awarded a Woman of Excellence Award by the Topeka YMCA in 2015 for her work on a community service project. She moved from the Kansas Department of Transportation to Washington State DOT’s Office of Equal Opportunity to improve Title VI compliance. Her deep roots of civil service and exposure to social inequities continue to fuel her passion for serving others and pursuing equity.
Retirement hasn’t ended her commitments to others. She continues that work in many ways, like volunteering with the League of Women Voters and as precinct committee person or judging high school speech and debate. Gretchen enjoys getting her hands dirty in the yard, painting, and music. As a grandmother, she cheers and encourages the interests and development of her grandchildren, Lily, and Bowen. Her rescue dog, Ashe, works hard to keep her active.
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Luna & Tonks are the official campaign dogs of Woody 4 Congress. Eli and Amy adopted Luna & Tonks in 2019. Tonks serves as a very outspoken advocate of exercise and Luna serves as a more introspective advocate of education and critical thinking. Both are certified emotional support dogs and are readily accepting donations in the form of pets and affirmations.
