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Posted on Mon, Nov. 10, 2008

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Kansans scrambling to attend Obama inauguration

BY CHRISTINA M. WOODS

The Wichita Eagle

Margo Lysell of Lindsborg said she "desperately" wants to attend the 2009 Presidential Inauguration with her 4-year-old son, Haven, who considers President-elect Barack Obama a superhero.

Mom's a fan, too, saying Obama's background inspired her on a number of levels --she's a high school history teacher, a Democrat and a single mother raising a biracial son in a mostly white small town.

She's among a number of Kansans -- including community organizations and college groups -- trying to attend the 56th Presidential Inaugural Ceremony set for Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C.

Inauguration tickets are free and available through Congress or U.S. senators' offices, said officials with the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

Only about 250,000 tickets have been printed, and they will be hard to get.

But people don't have to have tickets to watch the swearing-in. Giant viewing screens will be set up on the National Mall for the swearing-in ceremony, and no tickets are required for the presidential parade.

The inaugural committee said tickets won't be released to Congressional offices until the week before the inauguration, and will require in-person pick-up.

Spokespeople for Sen. Sam Brownback's and Rep. Todd Tiahrt's offices said they're still waiting for information from the Congressional committee before they accept requests for tickets.

Lysell said she's on a ticket waiting list with Sen. Pat Roberts' office, though she placed her request on Wednesday.

"They said the response has been huge, and that they couldn't promise me anything," Lysell said.

Congressman Dennis Moore's office is accepting e-mail ticket requests from his constituents in Johnson, Wyandotte and parts of Douglas counties.

"Tickets are very limited," said Brandon Naylor of Moore's office in an e-mail to The Eagle. "We will certainly do our best to provide tickets, as is possible, to our constituents. We have already received numerous requests even in the short time since the election."

Groups in Wichita are trying to quickly organize people and submit ticket requests.

Wichitan Jean Carter-Boniface said her nonprofit, Hope Inc., which provides affordable housing among other services, is accepting registration forms until Nov. 30.

"We're trying to come up with a well-organized, well-planned trip, so that not only will they have a mode of transportation, but once they get there, there will already be housing for them," said Carter-Boniface.

The group, which is establishing an Obama Kansas Heritage Committee, is also trying to reserve a section at the inauguration.

Wichita State University's College Democrats may charter a bus or van, said William Hoston, an assistant professor of political science, who is coordinating the trip.

"For me, it's a great opportunity to see something I never thought I'd see in this lifetime," Hoston said. "The electricity in the air, the energy and how people are charged about Obama will be exciting for me to absorb."

Students such as Drew Steadman share Hoston's enthusiasm.

"This is a monumental milestone for our country," Steadman said, "and I believe it would be the chance of a lifetime to go to D.C. to witness the first African-American be sworn in to office and usher in a new era in American politics."

Reach Christina M. Woods at 316-269-6791 or cwoods@wichitaeagle.com.