City Commission: Who will get your vote?

[Tee]

Unfortunately though Texie, there are only 4 candidates running for 3 offices. That means 3 will get in. In a race like this, a candidate would most likely try and stay under the radar, being as vague as possible, since most the votes that are casted will be in opposition to other candidates stated agendas. The temptation will be to hide one's agenda until in office, then spring it on us without recourse, until the next election.

[TexKan]

Well perhaps if Brian REALLY wants to stand out from the rest - some pointed answers might be in the mix............... like you wished for Tee! Gee wouldn't that be a new approach??? Here's hoping that perhaps Mike can get his son to at least read what some of the voters are thinking. I truely hope he didn't see it as an easy win since 3 of 4 are going to get elected no matter what.

Good luck with the political life in Dodge - ours isn't much better. Brian could be that kid that makes all the difference.

[Detector]

I was talking with a fellow board member that suggested maybe the Admin could arrange a debate on DodgeBoard with the candidates. Not likely though because as Tee stated there will only be 1 looser, so I'm sure they would rather avoid attention. Doesn't that sound odd? A candidate for office wanting to avoid attention.

What is important to me is that while a leader doesn't necessarily need to come from a humble background, though it helps, they should understand what it's like. That is what I liked about Mr. Lee. In my opinion he was the best true representative of the people of Dodge City. Well, before the mass immigrant flood that is.

We don't need more leaders that hob knob with the rich folk, and have no idea what it's like to live from one paycheck to another. There is a lot more of us poor folk than there is rich, but they call all the shots because they have all the representation in their pockets.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by Detector

I was talking with a fellow board member that suggested maybe the Admin could arrange a debate on DodgeBoard with the candidates. Not likely though .

Yeah...the LAST thing any of those candidates want to do is face the good people of the Dodge Board.....They MIGHT have to answer a question that MATTERS.

[The Drifter]

ya like why can't we get a good pizza around here.
or who's better republican's or democrats
or which kansas collegiate team is best

[Highwayman]

Originally Posted by Detector

I was talking with a fellow board member that suggested maybe the Admin could arrange a debate on DodgeBoard with the candidates. Not likely though because as Tee stated there will only be 1 looser, so I'm sure they would rather avoid attention. Doesn't that sound odd? A candidate for office wanting to avoid attention.....

It’s not likely because then they would have to post their stance on an issue in writing. Something that might be embarrassing next year when they do something different.

[Mike B.]

I spoke with Mr. Brian Weber today on the phone.

Last summer before the election, concerning expanded legalized gambling in Ford County, I heard that he was not supporting the idea. (Unusual for a chamber member.) I asked him if that were true. He said Yes! He also said he made his reasons clear to the chamber and voted against the idea. He said he lost a lot of support when he came forward and expressed his views. And many people were very upset with him. I then asked him how he would handle being a commissioner and still hold to his convictions. He said he knew it would be impossible to stop the casino and would not try to do so. He said his goal would be to make the process as transparent as possible. He also said open and honest communication with the people of Dodge City would be very important. He seemed to be very sincere when he spoke. I was somewhat impressed with his humble spirit and straight forward answers.

I have not decided to vote for him, or any of the canidates yet. One thing I do know...I will not vote for Jim Sherer.

From the Globe....The tourism trade within the city is also a key issue, Sherer said. He worked in the tourism industry for close to 12 years and has said he could use that experience to beef up Dodge's lagging tourism trade.

Jim you've been a commissioner for 4 years now and I would have thought that you would have already put that experience to work. I guess not!!!

Is it just now dawning on Jim that tourism is an issued that needs serious attention? Perhaps a change in direction would be appropriate?

I have noticed all the candidates so far have shied away from the hot potatoes of..."Gangs and illegals." LOL... That tells me alot!!!

[K C Muffin]

As an outsider...I read the list of candidates with interest, including the short descriptions of each. I honestly thought I would have voted for Brian simply because he was young and might not already be 'owned' by any business or citizen interest. One other thought is that he would breathe new life into the city government. Those are things that make it kind of hard to NOT vote for him. It's not that he's the least of the evils presented, but gee...what a fresh view.

[Mike B.]

Originally Posted by K C Muffin

As an outsider...I read the list of candidates with interest, including the short descriptions of each. I honestly thought I would have voted for Brian simply because he was young and might not already be 'owned' by any business or citizen interest. One other thought is that he would breathe new life into the city government. Those are things that make it kind of hard to NOT vote for him. It's not that he's the least of the evils presented, but gee...what a fresh view.

KC,

You're right on point. We need some new faces. If we keep voting in the same people we'll keep getting the same results. Out with the old and in with the new!

I have yet to speak to Dorothy Faulkner, but I will. She has a reputation of being abit excentric. One thing is for sure, if she is elected, Kent Smoll and Rick Sowers will be wishing that Terry Lee was back instead of her. LOL....
From everything I've heard she doesn't hesitate to voice her opinion and isn't afraid to step on a few toes along the way. At least she has the courage to stand up and say NO when it needs to be said!

[old timer]

A fun site is the Kansas Ethics Commission Site: http://www.kansas.gov/ethics/

Note that Mr. Weber was paid by Tim Huelskamp $I,285.68 for consulting. Guess he has more experience than we knew?

http://ethics.ks.gov/CFAScanned/Sena...8TH_200801.pdf

Nice to see Tim accepting money from the beer industry, by the way -- likes beer I guess. And $350.00 from an Indian gaming group -- odd ?

Of course, Pat George's interesting $11,000 plus trip back from California shows up here:
http://ethics.ks.gov/CFAScanned/Hous...9PG_200801.pdf

Also his $360 trip to Hutchinson. But why the donations to local arts council and funeral flowers from this fund ? Seems that Mr. George could afford to make those payments from personal funds ? Oh, well -- free money is always good, especially a lot of it from gaming companies, as would be expected.

More fun info at:

Ethics Commission - View Submitted Forms & Reports

Also, of interest -- the local conflict of ethics laws:
Ethics Commission - Statutes