Q Why did you decide to run for city commission?
A As a lifelong Emporian, I’m interested and I deeply care for what goes on in Emporia. I’ve always had some interest in politics and some interest in leadership and taking a leadership role and trying to make things better.
Q What do you think are the three biggest issues facing Emporia and how would you address them?
A The first one is industrial and commercial development. It’s something that should be done constantly. I think we’ve done a tremendous job as a community with industrial development over the last 20 years, but we’ve never really done much with commercial development. We’ve got some opportunities to do that. As far as addressing that, I want to make it an atmosphere where Emporia is an attractive place to do business. I’d like to see us try to remove obstacles that may hinder business from either locating here or continuing to do business here. That’s both on the commercial side and the industrial side.
The second biggest issue is always the budget and the taxes that are associated with the budget. I’m a believer in the fact that I think the city has an obligation to provide quality service and quality infrastructure but they need to do that in the most efficient way possible.
The third area of the biggest concern to me is our self esteem, our morale, the way we think of ourselves. We don’t have a lot of momentum. We’ve had some setbacks and we need to address those setbacks.
Q What qualities do you think a city commissioner should have?
A The first characteristic that they have to have is they have to be a good listener. They have to be able to weigh different opinions and ultimately make a decision that is best for the people as a whole.
They need to have strong budget experience, business background, accounting experience, something so that they truly understand the budget and how the budget process works and how to manage the budget.
I think it also helps to have experience with the process. Whether it’s local politics or statewide politics or national politics.
Q What thoughts, if any, do you have about the city’s current process of hiring a city manager?
A I think overall, the process has gone very well. First of all, let me say that I do believe in transparent and open government, which has been the issue of the last week or so. Prior to that though, I know the city commission asked for public input on characteristics and qualities, those types of attributes that the community would be looking for in a city manager. I think the community has had opportunity to give input. I don’t have a feeling for the number of applicants and the quality of applicants because I haven’t seen them.
Q Why should we vote for you?
A I would say the main reason is I really really care about Emporia. I’m a lifelong Emporian, I’m a third generation business owner. I have some qualities that I can bring to the city commission. I’m very experienced in economic development. I’m currently the chair of the RDA so I understand economic development. I have a strong business background.
I feel like I have a pretty good nose for the community. I come in contact with enough people with my business and my personal dealings that I have a pretty good sense of how people feel.
Q Is there anything you wanted to say that I haven’t asked?
A I have a really simple goal. But it’s not very easily attainable. But I believe that if we work together as a community we can make it happen. That goal is simply that I want to make Emporia the best place in the state of Kansas to live, work and raise our families.