Founder and chief executive of Capitol Strategies, John has been lobbying continuously since 1976. He served in the Kansas House prior to his lobby career. Peterson received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Stanford University and his J.D. from Washburn University School of Law. John is considered a Dean in the Kansas lobby community and his understanding of the legislative process is second to none. He has been an active participant in nearly every major piece of business legislation in the last three decades.
John PEterson
Michelle Butler
Michelle joined Capitol Strategies in 2009 after serving as the Chief of Staff for the Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives during the 2007-2008 biennium. She brings a wealth of legislative experience at both the state and federal levels having also served as Chief of Staff to three Kansas House Majority Leaders as well as serving as Chief of Staff to a former Member of Congress. Michelle received her Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Kansas.
Brad is well known around the Statehouse, having served in the Kansas House for six years prior to joining CS in 2023. He also chaired the task force created by the Kansas Supreme Court to revise and update our DUI laws, and has been active in issues regarding rail transportation service in the State. Brad has been in private law practice for more than three decades representing a large range of clients, including school districts, municipalities, insurance companies, and hospitals.
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Brad Ralph
A graduate of University of Kansas School of Law, Sean earned his Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M and then worked for the University's alumni association until 2004 directing alumni outreach and legislative affairs. In 2004, he moved to Kansas to attend KU Law where he focused on Environmental and Natural Resource law. He worked for the Kansas Water Congress and served as campaign manager for the gubernatorial campaign of former House Speaker Robin Jennison before joining Capitol Strategies in 2007. Sean became a partner in the organization in 2015.
Sean Miller
Keely joined the Capitol Strategies team after a postgraduate internship in 2022. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Northern Arizona University. She has a keen awareness of social systems and utilizes her training in the systems approach as the lens for understanding critical policy issues. Keely has held a variety of legal and political positions, including political canvassing and advocacy work. She brings strong research skills, and knowledge of the legislative process and the Kansas legislature to CS.
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Keely Carney
Tom joined CS in 2021 after working in the Kansas Office of Recovery as part of the State’s Covid-19 response. Prior to working in Kansas, he served as the legislative liaison for the Iowa Office of the Chief Information Officer, helping develop Iowa’s broadband program and handling procurement matters. He holds a bachelors in Journalism from the University of Kansas and a J.D. from Washburn University School of Law.
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tslaughter@kansasstatehouse.com
Tom SLaughter
Jake joined Capitol Strategies in 2024 after a successful tenure at Tyler Technologies, where he focused on Government Relations and Business Development, aligning business solutions with government needs. A proud veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Jake served during Operation Enduring Freedom, bringing his leadership and dedication to his role at Capitol Strategies. His unique background positions him to effectively navigate the complexities of state policy and regulation for our clients.
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