I first met Jan Garton when I was working on the Boyda for Congress race in 2004. She yelled at me because while we were sitting in the line of a parade I had the car ideling away and she asked me to turn it off “as an environmentalist.” As an energetic activist, she was always the go-to person for staffing Boyda in Manhattan and surrounding areas.
Jan Garton and other Teamsters visit Nancy Boyda in Washington in 2007
Her death comes both as a shock and as a disappointment. As democrats that remain more on the outside of the establishment we pride ourselves that we are a close nit group and we are loyal to each other, and it is heartbreaking to lose one of our own.
Chad Manspeaker who worked with Jan after the 2006 election said
“Jan was a great advocate for all things she was involved in. Be it as a unionist, a democrat, or an environmentalist, her no-compromise attitude was a breath of fresh air. My thoughts go out to those who she touched in her life.“
Jan’s hands were in so many activities and her causes extended beyond the usual political party politics. Her dedication to environmentalism was apparent, but she lived her life as an environmentalist, decreasing her carbon footprint, eating organic, gardening, and more. It was this loyalty to the earth that personally will miss. It is rare to see someone in politics who doesn’t just talk about the environment but lives the cause every day.
Manhattan radio talk show host Christopher Renner
“Jan was dedicated to the causes of justice and peace. In her activities in Manhatan she always worked toward making sure that people who did not have access to health care, a living wage were heard from. She was a proud Democrat and worked very hard to make the county party active and responsive to its member.
I remember one time in particular after she retired we were talking to the Human Rights and Services board of Manhattan to change the city discrimination ordinance to include sexual orientation. She stood up and gave a wonderful testimony to what this city needed to put that in the ordinance, and she blew everyone away. No one asked her or expected her to do that, but she knew it was the right thing to do. And that’s how Jan lived her life.. she did the right thing when it was called for.”
I’m not sure if she would want this, but I would ask that you please consider making a donation in Jan’s name to the Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy here or to the Riley County Democrats by mailing a check to
RCDP c/o Katha Hurt
1927 Anderson Avenue
Manhattan, Kansas 66502
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