Oletha A. Goudeau (August 5, 1959) is a Democratic member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 29th district (central/northeast Wichita) 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 (inner-city Wichita) - 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 (Wichita) -- 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 (as of January 2016). She is currently Senate Assistant Minority Leader. She was re-elected by wide margins in 2012, 2016 (unopposed), 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.

Committee assignments

Faust-Goudeau serves on these legislative committees:

Major donors

Some of the top contributors to Faust-Goudeau's 2008 campaign, according to OpenSecrets:

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:

Sedgwick County Commission candidacy

In 2010, Faust-Goudeau was the Democratic Party nominee for County Commissioner for the Sedgwick County 1st District. She was defeated by Republican Richard Ranzau.

Awards and recognition

Memberships

Current and former board memberships: