Candidates address top issues in their races

TSnews mailed questionnaires to all candidates in contested general election races. This guide includes all responses that were received by Monday of this week. Those who did not send in answers to our questions are simply listed as “no response.”
We did not contact the candidates who are without challengers this election.
We asked candidates the following questions:

1. What is your background? (Work, family, civic involvement, etc.)
2. What are your qualifications for office?
3. What do you see as the top issues in your race, and how would you address them?
4. What are your reasons for running?

Haysville Mayor
Bruce Armstrong

1. Education: Haysville Public Schools; Fort Hays Kansas State University, BS – Education; Graduate School of Banking, Madison, Wisc.
   Employment history: 36 Years in banking.
2. I have the education, knowledge, and experience to guide our community in positive growth, while still lowering our mill levy. I have served Haysville through several organizations:
   • Haysville Mayor, current.
   • Haysville City Council – Ward I, Ward III.
   • Haysville Park Board, chairman.
   • Haysville Community Library Board & Library Foundation, president.
   • Haysville Pride Committee.
   • Haysville Chamber of Commerce.
   • Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WAMPO), executive committee.
3. Keeping our residents safe is always our top priority. Beyond that, our top issues include business attraction, quality of life, taxes, and residential growth.
   Business attraction: We will continue to contact franchise businesses for a new commercial development on East Grand, and to fill our empty buildings. We’re working with the Greater Wichita Partnership for industrial growth opportunities, with businesses of up to 2,000 employees. So far, three companies have looked at locations just south of Haysville.
   A developmental contract has been signed to build a new assisted living center and additional senior housing in Haysville, providing quality care, and adding jobs in our community.
   Quality of life: I want to update and expand our parks, and continue connecting hike and bike paths to all our neighborhoods. We have plans for the following park additions:
   • Additions to Dorner Park, including lights around the lake, public restrooms, volleyball, and pickle ball courts.
   • Additions to Plagens Carpenter Park – new equipment, public restrooms, and expanded parking.
   • New splash pads on each side of town.
   • Adding new parks in Country Lakes and River Forest, and upgrading LW Roberts Park.
   Taxes: We want to continue to lower the mill levy, as we have in recent years. While we will lower taxes, we don’t want to neglect important infrastructure maintenance, keeping our roads and water safe.
   We will:
   • Continued to mill and overlay our streets.
   • Replace water lines to stop leaks.
   • Replace water meters to reduce labor costs.
   • Conduct a study to take care of storm drainage problems.
   Residential growth: We will work with developers to build more residential housing, which is also a key to attracting new businesses. This will include the following.
   • Adding new housing additions. Two developers have met with the city in the last two months. • Expanding the residential development west of Meridian with 500 new homes, which had been delayed because of drainage issues. I have negotiated with Sedgwick County to fix the problem and help pay for the drainage.
4. To continue to improve Haysville for the residents, by maintaining and improving roads, adding and expanding parks, and increasing businesses and residential development.

Russ Kessler

1. My wife Sherry and I met during our senior year in high school and have been married for 36 years. I attended South High and Sherry attended Campus. We have four children and nine grandchildren. Our youngest is 14 and attends Haysville Middle School, and we also have six grandchildren in the Haysville school system.
   I enlisted in the Navy right after high school and retired 23 years later as a Cryptologic Technician Maintenance Chief Petty Officer. I have held a lot of leadership positions while in the Navy. We knew we wanted to return to this area after retiring from the Navy so we moved to Haysville in 2007, where we both love this community.
   I earned the MiniMPA Professional Development certificate from WSU; associate’s degree from the Community College of the Air Force; bachelor’s degree from Fort Hays State University; and master’s degree in management information systems from Friends University.
   I worked in the finance squadron at McConnell Air Force Base as a civilian from 2007 to 2019 after retiring from the Navy, first as a contractor and then as a federal employee. I earned my DoD Financial Management Certification while working for the Air Force. In 2019, I started working for the Army Reserve as a DoD Army Civilian for the 451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command in a supervisory position, where I currently work today.
   I earned the rank of Eagle Scout when I was a Boy Scout, and I was a Cub Scout den leader for Haysville Pack 893 from 2014 to 2019. I am a member of the American Legion Derby/Haysville Post 408, and a Haysville VFW Post 6957 Lifetime Member. I am a member, trustee, and men’s ministry leader at Haysville Christian Church. Worshiping God and being part of our church plays a large role in our lives.
2. 2011 – Present: Haysville City Council, Ward 4 (third term).
   2013-2017: President of Council.
   2011-2017: Chairman, Haysville Park Board.
   2009-2011: Haysville Planning Commission.
   I have several certifications and college degrees. I am personable and easy to talk with, and I value the opinion of others. I have made a lot of contacts and friends outside of the city, to include elected officials from surrounding cities, county, and at the state level, which is important to do as Mayor.
3. I see the top issue in the Haysville Mayoral race as economically strengthening our city. We need to work at bringing in more businesses, to include more choices for sit down restaurants, more stores to shop at, and manufacturing companies that create jobs. Our 10-year, 1 percent sales tax will be coming to an end in about two years. I think we need to start looking now to see what effect it will have on our budget and work towards a solution. As mayor, I will work with staff, the economic development director, Haysville Chamber of Commerce, and developers to strengthen our city, while keeping the businesses we have and bringing in new ones. Growing our housing and businesses will help increase our economy and rely less on needing a sales tax.
   We need to work with Sedgwick County and property owners to the west of town to divert flood waters to the south. This has been a problem for many years and has not been fixed. In order for the city to expand to the west, the flooding issue needs to be resolved.
   I also see a need to increase our hike-and-bike paths in our city. There are several neighborhoods that do not have a safe way to get around to the rest of the city by walking or riding their bikes. We can’t wait until someone gets hurt to find a solution, we need to work on it now.
4. I am running for mayor because I want to see our city prosper, bring in new businesses and make it better. I have knocked on around 900 doors during this campaign and have talked to a lot of people. Almost everyone that I have talked to has told me the same thing, that they are ready for a change.
   I have served my county, my church, and my city, and now I would like the opportunity to continue serving you as the next mayor of Haysville.

Rose Corby
No response.

Clearwater City Council
Chris Griffin

1. My family and I have had the privilege to be a part of the Clearwater community since 2011. We moved to Clearwater in 2011 to pastor the Clearwater Church of the Nazarene. We have one son, a Clearwater High School graduate, who will soon graduate from Washburn University. I transitioned into bi-vocational ministry in 2013. I have extensive background in fire alarm, security, AV and nurse call. I worked for Siemens Industry electronic contracting company and currently work for Pye Barker Fire and Security in the fire alarm industry. I served on the Clearwater Fall Festival Committee (2013-2019), and I currently serve as president of the Clearwater Ministerial Alliance (2013-present). I’ve volunteered as a chaplain with the Clearwater Police Department and I have had the privilege to serve on the Clearwater City Council for two terms.
2. I am passionate about making a difference in our community and it’s my desire to serve in whatever way I can to make Clearwater the best place to live. I have a servant’s heart and I count it a privilege to be able to serve on the council and feel there is much to be accomplished. I look forward to having the opportunity and privilege to serve our city.
3. I took a moment to reflect over the answer I gave when I first began this journey and I noticed that the challenges I mentioned then are still ongoing. Our businesses are continuing to face challenges, we have ongoing issues with our city services, such as water, our streets and public safety, EMS/Fire to mention a few. Those will always be before us and they require bold and visionary solutions. I will work hard to make sure we stay on top of those, but as I reflect for today, there are several issues that come to mind. I recognize there are others that one could argue are more important, but my comments below are meant to highlight some issues I feel are important to the conversation.
   First, we recently began conversations centered around developing Clearwater’s comprehensive plan. Meetings have been held, conversations have begun, and a survey has been distributed to our community – all in an effort to solicit as much input from our community to get as much input as possible as we try to develop a plan that will set the course for our city for the next 20 years, and beyond. Without question these conversations are very important for our city. As I sat in on one of our most recent meetings I was encouraged as I listened to folks who love their city converse about the real challenges we face as a community. Those conversations will lead to the need to make bold decisions with vision. I was captured by their passion for their city and I want to be a part of that.
   As a city councilman, and as a governing body we will be handed the results of that work and I want to do my part in implementing that plan. Decisions that may require making changes to city code, ordinances that will make that vision possible. I encourage all our citizens to be a part of this. You can participate by taking the survey, as I have, and I encourage all of us to participate in the process.
   Second, I do think there is much to be done to improve our streets. I also think there is work to be done to make pedestrian traffic safer. More specifically the “four-way stop” is going to take what I feel will be bold decisions by all of us to make that safer for our children. We know what a challenge it is to navigate in a vehicle. Can one imagine what it must be like to navigate that intersection on foot. I’ve heard numerous ideas on how we can do that, but what is clear to me is that it needs to be addressed. This is an issue close to my heart and would do what is needed to make that happen.
   Finally, some things that come to mind are; strategies we can implement to help our local businesses, improvements to the sports complex, upgrades to ball fields, concessions, programs and strategies to help our community to improve sidewalks, to mention a few. We all have something that are passionate about and I’m motivated to work together to make our community a place we are proud to call home.
4. I’m running again because I want to make a difference in our community. There is much to be done and feel I have much to offer. I know I’m by far not the smartest tool in the shed, but I want to be the best I can be. I’ve enjoyed serving with my fellow members of the governing body and feel good about the things we’ve accomplished. The city has been and is in excellent hands. I want to continue working with them to make Clearwater a better place to live, work and raise a family.

Williams S. ‘Tex’ Titterington

1. I traveled the world as an Air Force dependent and as an Army engineer officer. I served 11 years in the Army on active duty and 17 years in the Army Reserve as an engineer officer, retiring as an LTC in 2007. I have worked as a government employee with the Army Reserve since 1998. I have lived in Clearwater since 1990. My wife, Michelle, and I raised three children in Clearwater. All graduated from CHS and still live here. I have eight grandchildren in Clearwater schools and activities. I have been a moderator for “The Clearwater Indian” Facebook page since 2020, and I was a member of the Celebrate Clearwater 4th of July concert event committee in 2019. I am currently a facilities operations specialist, responsible for all maintenance, repair and service for 30+ Army Reserve facilities throughout all of Kansas and Nebraska, and western Missouri.
2. I served on the Clearwater City Council from 2016 to 2019. I have been a member of the Clearwater Planning Commission since 2020. I have over 40 years of management experience to include 28 dealing with facilities, roads, parking lots, environmental and servicing. I have more than 25 years experience as a contracting officer’s representative. This includes managing more than 70 service contracts for grounds, custodial, refuse and now removal. Also responsible for major and minor construction projects associated with those facilities and managing a multi-million dollar budget.
3. Not just maintain, but improve our emergency services, police, fire and medical first responders. These are life, health and safety issues that should have top priority when it comes to budgeting and supporting them. I want to make our volunteer services the best in the country. I would also push to get the county to provide better support to Clearwater. The Community/Senior Center is doing a great job and should be funded accordingly. I would like to see more people utilize it and its programs. It is a hidden benefit to many people in the community.
   I would also work to keep our small-town values and benefits while enjoying modern benefits. This means supporting programs and incentives to continue to grow with a controlled, manageable growth. This growth should include both residences and businesses. I want to see the citizens getting the maximum value for our tax dollars while keeping the tax levy at or below neighboring communities.
4. I love our small town and would like to help move us forward in becoming the best bedroom community around. I want to help ensure our citizens can enjoy a good quality of life in a safe environment in a town they can be proud of. I believe my experiences to be beneficial in moving Clearwater forward.

Crystal Walter

1. My husband and I are originally from small towns in western Kansas and we recognize the value of raising our children in a small town. So when we first learned about Clearwater, we knew it would be a good place to raise our family. We have now lived in Clearwater for 15 years and it is definitely home for us. Both of my children have attended Clearwater schools since kindergarten, with one graduating last year and one who is currently a junior at Clearwater High school. I have a degree in journalism with a minor in political science from Kansas State University. I spent several years working as a reporter before transitioning to marketing and communications positions. I’m active in the community and in the First Christian Church of Clearwater. I volunteer at local charities and promote Clearwater to anyone who is looking for a small Kansas community.
2. I’m currently serving on the city council so I’m already familiar with the issues and challenges that the Council has been facing. In the time since I was appointed, I have gained a great insight into current and future issues facing Clearwater. We’ve tackled many important matters including securing ground for the cemetery and assisting in the distribution of government funding for COVID relief. I also believe it is important to maintain a good quality of life for residents, so volunteering at the Fall Fest and similar cultural activities is very important. Clearwater may be a small town but the council faces all of the same type of issues that larger councils face, and I stay up to date on what could currently affect our town while also staying informed on the future challenges we may face.
3. Clearwater has experienced a population stagnation if not a population decline in recent years. Consequently, it’s very important to market Clearwater as an ideal location for small and large businesses as well as families of all ages. I feel my marketing background can be useful in getting the word out about Clearwater and all it has to offer potential businesses and families. With this goal in mind, I also support the enrichment of quality of life through the expansion of parks and recreation and the promotion and addition of community activities.
4. I’m running for the council because I want to be a part of improving our community for current and future generations. I would like to see more collaboration between Clearwater entities like the business base and the school district. We can accomplish so much more in our town if we can work together and form positive relationships. We live in an amazing community that’s been very good to my family and I want to do my part to keep Clearwater great.

Tim Robben
No response.

Conway Springs City Council
Sarah Mercer

1. I have lived in Conway Springs my entire life. I have been involved in various leadership role’s such as: Girl Scout leader for over 15 years, Project Prom, active in the Catholic church and currently serving on the Fall Fest committee.
2. In all of the above roles I have learned how to work well in stressful situations, I have good time management skills, and currently hold a job in county government.
3. My biggest concern is continuing to make improvements around the city. To fix these problems I would like to see street improvements and properties cleaned up to make the city more appealing and inviting.
4. I have raised all of my children in Conway Springs and want to see the community grow and be successful.

Landon Wiseley

1. I’ve lived in the Viola/Conway Springs area my whole life. I grew up here, graduated high school from here, and currently live here. I went to college for automotive and ended up working on forklifts for 10 years before becoming a police officer, and eventually Chief of Police for Conway Springs. I’m married and have a daughter, and have many family members who live in Conway Springs.
2. I’ve been to the majority of meetings since 2016. So I feel my qualifications are verified by not only my knowledge of events, council votings, and issues citizens have had, but also in my experience in actively working with citizens to deal with those issues and complaints by making sure they are properly informed. I’ve never shown shyness in digging for the details, and I can assure you, I won’t show it now.
3. While speaking with citizens over the past few weeks and months, the number one concern that has been brought to my attention is infrastructure, mainly street quality and the future of repairs. That issue is followed by the concern of high turnover rates of employees over the last couple of years. While employee turnover is nothing new to a small town like Conway Springs, the citizens have voiced added concern to the abnormal amount of turnover we’ve had.
   Addressing the street quality is tough right now since we just started the sewer project, and streets will not be able to be repaired until after the sewer lines themselves have been repaired. Making sure the sewer project goes smoother than the water project will be a priority of mine, as I’m sure it will be to others. Once finished, we can make sure our streets are of high quality, and stay that way. I don’t believe I can give a definite answer on correcting the high turnover rate of our employees at this time, as I’m sure there are multiple reasons for each employee and most of those issues would have to be resolved by doing a high level of research. Fixing the problem at the source is the best way to insure we don’t have those same issues moving forward, whatever that source may be.
4. I have seen how issues and events get handled within the city council. There are a lot of things throughout the years I feel they’ve done a great job with, there are others where I feel they have faltered. Nobody is perfect, but instead of sitting at home and complaining about it, I felt it was my duty to step up and try to help this city move forward in the best possible way I can. And I feel running for city council is the best option to make sure the citizens of Conway Springs get the representation they deserve.

Theresa K. Lange

1. I married a hometown boy and I have lived in this community for 50 years. I raised two sons who attended and graduated from Conway Springs. Currently, one son lives here and is raising his children in our community. I taught at Kyle Trueblood Elementary School for 33 years. I have been active in our community by serving on the library board, holding several offices in BPW, and since retiring I have give my services to Community Concern, Quilts of Valor and several other charitable organizations.

2. I have a bachelor of science degree from Wichita State University. I have 50+ post-graduate hours. As a retired teacher, I have the time that is required of a city council person. I consider myself a person who can listen to all sides of an issue objectively. I have four years experience as a city council member.

3. During my last four years on the council, we have addressed several issues facing our community such as water purity and sewer. With grant money and matching funds, we constructed a new pool. Upon completion of the sewer, our next priority will be our streets. As in most small towns, we continue to face challenges of employment and funds, but we are striving to make each of our departments the best it can be and I am extremely proud of our employees who work for EMS, maintenance, police force, and the city office, and also our dedicated volunteers of the fire department, library and museum. There will always be things to tweak or improve, However, I feel we are headed in a positive direction.

4. My reasons for serving a second term are not complicated. I have a love and pride for my community. I would like to give back to a town that I call home. I have a desire to do my part to insure its future.

James A. Nichols
No response.

Goddard City Council
Michael Proctor

1. I own an investment advisory firm that I founded almost five years ago with over 11 years of industry experience in financial planning. I also have specialty training around business valuation and strategic planning for companies to grow and maximize their value.
2. I’ve been on City Council since January of 2020, grew up in Goddard and have lived in Goddard for 3 years now. I understand the needs and am familiar with the background and have a desire to serve the community and encourage healthy, responsible growth for families.
3. What do you see as the top issues in your race, and how would you address them?
   • Continue to focus on safe, family friendly community. We are adding the “keep kids alive, drive 25” signs currently. We focus on building a strong community where neigbors know each other and can better communicate when issues arise and feel comfortable on their street with better community support. We will continue to push better community amenities to help families get out and interact with one another. The Fall Fest at a higher level was a great example of this with many thanks to the Chamber for stepping it up in a big way this year and moving forward.
   • Mitigating hard water. We are trying some new technology to keep the splash pad equipment serviceable for longer despite the hard water. If the technology proves out, it may be a way to reduce the community cost of the hard water that supplies Goddard. We were able to reduce the sewer bills this year and I look forward to more success stories as the crews find innovative ways to make our utilities better for all. The city has been great in thinking outside of the box on how to deliver more value for the community with the dollars we have to deploy and this has been a long-standing issue I grew up with and hope this technology can bring a budget-responsible solution within reach for us all.
   • Curb appeal in Goddard. The STAR Bond district will dress up the curb appeal as traffic comes in from the east, but I’m a big proponent of finding ways to dress up the curb appeal of the city to attract new residents visually here and help them have the best possible experience in our community so they’ll want to keep coming back, which increases our sales and gives us the tax dollars we need to improve the community amenities for our citizens.
4. My grandfather served as mayor in the early 1990s and I am the benefactor of him modeling community service in that way for me. I enjoy serving the community and want to help Goddard grow in the most beneficial way for the next generations. Smart planning, good policy and great community culture lay that foundation and it’s all attainable through making responsible decisions that benefit the community at large.

Jamey Lee Blubaugh
No response.

Brent Emery Traylor
No response.

USD 261 Haysville Board of Education
Con R. Howerton

1. What is your background? My name is Con Howerton. I am a Christian, husband, father, grandfather, pastor, Desert Storm veteran, patriot, history buff and soccer fan. I have been married to my wife, Cyndi, for 27 glorious years. We have four daughters and three grandchildren. I served in the United States Air Force for five years active duty and 11 years in the Air National Guard. I worked for the Oklahoma Military Department for about nine years as an engineering superintendent, then as a civil engineer for 2 years, before moving to Wichita to pastor Temple Baptist Church, where I have served as senior pastor since 2001.
2. I am a concerned and willing citizen of USD 261, registered voter and over 18. Those, literally, are the only qualifications. I am not trying to be trite, but if we start assigning limiting qualifications for local races, we lose the greatness of what this Republic was built on: a government of the people, for the people, by the people. That being said, I have extensive leadership experience from military service. I had over 200 airmen serving under me. I was in charge of coordinating planning, logistics, manpower, resources and scheduling for many operations, deployments and unit readiness. I coordinated with local municipalities for operations training for natural disasters and for counter-terrorism training. Through all of those years and experiences, I learned much about working with different agencies, helping those agencies come together for a common vision, bringing disconnected parties together, and helping individuals and teams achieve great success. I learned how to work all different types of people, people of various ideologies, nationalities, and ethnicities. As a local pastor for 20 years, I have learned to help folks through interpersonal struggles, mental health struggles, relationship struggles. I have helped people who thought there was no hope to find hope. I have helped people who were lightyears apart on issues come together and find common ground and eventually success and joy. 17 years ago we started a Christian school in our church. Through that I learned the importance of curriculum evaluation and development. I learned about IEPs and student-driven learning. Our staff and I have sat down and discussed ways to overcome obstacles in students learning and every time, by God’s grace, we have figured it out. In all of these and many other experiences, I have learned that communication, transparency and accountability are absolutely essential to organizational success and I know that I can add a valuable voice to the USD 261 School Board.
3. • Restore public trust. Since 2018 I have seen the public trust in the USD 261 school board and administration dwindle. Through the board’s reaction/response to COVID, the public trust has been largely destroyed. We deserve better. Public trust in a public, tax payer funded institution is absolutely essential and I will work tirelessly to build that back up. The community must have confidence in our board, our administration and the system in general. Our community deserves that, our teachers and paras deserve that and our students deserve that. I would encourage meetings with the teachers, para’s and the students. Not just “representatives,” but open meetings, inviting all teachers, all paras and all students. I am not sure of frequency or specifics, but I want to hear from these folks.
   • Better accountability in spending. The district owes $100,200,000.00. That is $100 million. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but that is our debt, the taxpayers. How is that debt being managed? What is that debt, and many other questions. We were told at the Oct. 19 candidate forum, that we will soon be needing a new school building. That could easily cost us another $25 million. Again, that may not be bad thing, but the school board must remember that much if not most of that money comes from our community paying taxes.
   • Provide the best possible education for our students. Some of the purpose of publicly funded education has been lost to the political and ideological rhetoric of the day and it is the students who are suffering most. Hear from the teachers and the para’s about how best to support them and allow them to teach. Provide a classroom discretionary fund or resource fund so that teachers are not spending so much of their own money to get needed teaching materials.
4. To be an ally of the students, to make the board accountable to the parents and the community, to be an advocate for the teachers and the paras. I believe we can improve all of these areas relatively quickly. Our students, our teachers, our para’s and our community deserve it.

David Kahmann

1. I am a general contractor, and own Kahmann Construction LLC. I have lived in Haysville since 2000.
2. I live in the district. I served on the school board from 2000 to 2004.
3. The top issues for the school board are providing a quality education in a good learning environment for the students and providing a good environment for the entire staff of USD261. I would address both these issues by listening to students and staff, about the different challenges they face and make educated decisions to try and provide this for them.
4. I served in the past and have been wanting to run again to serve the students and staff of USD 261. I think with my background in being on the school board before and my background in business I would serve the district well.

Kelly Ramseyer

1. My name is Kelly Ramseyer and I am running for the Haysville USD 261 School Board.
   I am a wife and mom of two, and our family has lived in Haysville since 2014. In the ten plus years prior to moving to Haysville I worked in the banking industry. The last 7 of those for a banking accounting software company based out of Hutchinson. I left shortly after my youngest was born to be a stay at home mom.
   My-19 year-old daughter graduated from Campus High School in 2020 and my son is currently a 2nd grader in the district. I’m a common sense mom that is determined to be a voice for parents on the school board.
2. First and foremost, as a mom, citizen, and taxpayer, my qualifications for this office spring from my passion for seeing students do well, from my conviction that our public schools should produce productive members of society, and my understanding that the people paying the bills ought to get a good return on their investment.
3. First, that parents have the control and ability to make health care choice that they feel are best for their child. The school board was never designed or intended to be in a place of authority for those type of decisions.
   Additionally, we need work with teachers and staff to improve college/career readiness. According to the Kansas Policy Institute’s 2019 numbers for “fully on track for college and career” we were only graduating 27.1 percent fully ready in English Language Arts and 12.2 percent in Math respectively. With the hit our education system has taken due to Covid it is even more important than ever to make sure our students are getting the additional support they need.
   Finally, a priority for me is keeping an eye on curriculum. It’s important for parents to know what their students are being taught. I will advocate for transparency so that parents who want to know what is being taught can easily see the curriculum and materials being used. Further, I will oppose curriculum that focuses on ideological indoctrination, such as Critical Race Theory. Public schools have an opportunity and an obligation to help parents raise productive adults. By using curriculum that teaches basic skills, and focuses on achieving academic excellence, is a major key to not only creating successful students but to fostering a strong future for our city, state, and country.
4. Over the last year, the response to COVID has been eye opening, and has made it clear parents need more representation on the Haysville School Board. COVID has been used to push parents to the sidelines and shut us out of not only our children’s school buildings, but also the decision-making process. In times of crisis, parental involvement and open communication should increase, but the opposite happened over the last year.  My desire and goal is to re-open those lines of communication and to strengthen them.
   I love Haysville and want to invest in the community my family calls home. For me, that desire to give back has become a fire and determination to work hard to make our schools even better.

Jeremy Bennett
No response.

Jerome C. Crawford
No response.

Jason Welch
No response.

Courtney Williams
No response.

USD 264 Clearwater Board of Education
Lyle Berntsen

1. I was born and raised in the Clearwater area. I am the sixth child of eight to my parents, Don and Gloria. I am 47 years old and a Clearwater high school graduate. I went to Kansas State University for one year, but decided to come back home to work in my family’s business. My wife and I moved to our home in Clearwater in 2001 after getting married in 2000. We have a 16 year old daughter and love our community.
2. I have helped run our family construction company since 1993, and currently do the bookkeeping and manage our commercial projects. I spent eight years on the Clearwater City Council, and am currently in my fourth year on the planning and zoning commission.
3. I believe the budget is the biggest issue. I think our school board has done a good job of making sure the money is spent in the right places, but there have been a couple of completed projects that I have to question. I believe spending the tax payers’ dollars wisely is very important.
4. I have always considered running for the school board at some point in my life, and I think now is where I can do the most good. I am very passionate about what goes on in our schools, especially since my daughter is in high school. I believe it is important to have a variety of backgrounds on every board, and I think I can bring something to this one.

Dr. John Burke

1. I attended the University of Oklahoma and was a member of the football team. I have a bachelor’s degree from DePauw University, a master’s degree from the University of Arizona, and a doctor of philosophy degree (Ph.D.) from Kansas State University. I served as a Kansas school superintendent for 36 years.
2. Beyond my 44 years of service in public education as a teacher, principal, and superintendent, I have served as a member of the board of directors for several non-profit organizations. I incorporated the Haysville USD 261 Education Foundation and served as its president. I served as president of Haysville Forward, Incorporated. I have served as chairman of the First Christian Church board. I am a member of County Commissioner Sarah Lopez’ Community Advisory Board. In addition, I have attended several Clearwater School Board meetings.
3. My top issues of this race include working with the board of education to support the students, teachers, staff, and administrators as they strive to make Clearwater USD 264 the best it can be. To that end, I want to help the school district achieve the goals of its new strategic plan: to increase student achievement, to increase the opportunities for Clearwater High School graduates, and to improve communication and public relations.
4. I am running for the board of education in order to collaborate with the other members of the school board to help Clearwater USD 264 be the best it can be.

Joneva Flowers

1. I was a special education teacher for 33 years. I degreed in school administration from Wichita State University. I also served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Era.
2. I advocated for special needs students and their parents for 33 years. I also earned a master’s degree in school administration. This gave me an understanding of the concerns that need to be addressed at the administrative level. This will give me a balanced perspective if elected to the USD 264 Board of Education.
3. The most expressed concern that has been shared with me, and one that I also share, is the quality of the curriculum the students will receive in the future. I want quality curriculum to continue in USD 264. As a board member for USD 264, I will work toward keeping Clearwater schools focused on high-quality curriculum with a focus on civic knowledge and civic virtues.
4. I feel that I am qualified to run, and I want to help ensure that Clearwater schools continue to graduate students who have independent thinking skills, who are also productive citizens, and who truly love this country.

Kathleen Garrison

1. My background has been mostly in law and business. I was an official court reporter for Sedgwick County District Court for 10 years. Then I stayed home to raise my eight children and help run our commercial landscaping business. I now own a wedding event venue at my home. I have also worked as a data analyst for the Department of Justice as a contractor.
2. Bachelor of science in political sciences from Newman University (2019, 4.0 GPA); M.S. in diplomacy and international affairs from Seton Hall (2020, 3.8 GP). Eight children attended Clearwater schools and St. Cecilia Catholic School. Member of the community for more than 20 years.
3. Against student vaccinations; for in-person teaching; no masks in schools; no transgender bathroom sharing; no critical race theory in curriculum; back-to-basics in core teacher, history and values.
4. To protect our community from dangerous policies that could be force upon us from more liberal government entities and/or mandates. To improve the quality of life of parents and children.

Colette Watson

1. I am the mother of two active students in the Clearwater district. My husband, Kenny, and I just celebrated 17 years of marriage and have lived in Clearwater since 2005. I earned a bachelor of science in biology/chemistry from Friends University and for the last six years have worked primarily from home for an industrial specialty services company. Previous employment experience includes refinery quality assurance, and material and processing engineering. I enjoy volunteering, staying active with our kid’s activities, and spending time with family.
2. I am currently serving as president of the Board of Education, completing my first four-year term of service. For the duration of my term, I have served as our district’s BOE representative on the board of directors for Orion Education & Training (South Central Kansas Education Service Center). I am also a part of our board of education negotiations team. I continually seek out and attend training regarding boardmanship, budget, leadership, and negotiating, to prepare and equip myself for the roles and decisions required of a board member. I have also worked to develop relationships at the state and county levels to remain current on legislative decisions being made that affect our district.
   Beyond all of that, what might qualify me most now, is that I served as a board member during COVID. Our district successfully and safely kept our students in-person all year during the pandemic. As a board member I learned numerous lessons last year about what it really takes to lead a district in a time of complete uncertainty, when every difficult decision seemed to land on our board table. Those lessons now serve as valuable guiding principles.
3. • COVID related challenges, particularly increasing mental health issues and learning deficits exacerbated by the pandemic. The district is hard at work addressing these issues. We hired three new MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) interventionists (to assist and provide coaching for our teachers), a school psychologist, and an additional counselor to combat the effects of COVID-related challenges our students are facing. These positions are being paid for using the emergency relief funds (ESSER) that school districts across the country received.
   Throughout the pandemic, I have stepped in to help in whatever capacity is needed. Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of serving lunch to our CIMS students. I will continue to serve our students and staff in any way that is required.
   • Budget uncertainty, how we continue to improve high level education, employment and facility opportunities we have in Clearwater with such uncertainty.
   Budgetary concerns are mainly driven by the decisions made by our legislators. I have and will continue to reach out to our state legislature to advocate for public school funding. Within our district, we are taking steps to slowly rebuild cash balances to be better prepared for the long-term. Developing and implementing our long-range Strategic Plan is another step the board is taking to strengthen the district’s financial future. Having a solid plan in place will allow for responsible spending and allocation of funds for items such as student programming, professional development, and facility maintenance.
   • Improving post-secondary success and student achievement.
   A challenge for many Kansas high schools is the way the state measures post-secondary success, for example a CHS graduate that enters the US military or other armed service isn’t considered a success by the state’s measurement system. That assessment is not only unfair to the student, it is also untrue. Serving our country is of course a successful and honorable choice for any student. I am interested in seeking ways to improve the system the state uses to measure post-secondary success.
   As a district we are increasing college course offerings and Career and Technical (CTE) pathways at the high school to improve student preparedness. Student achievement is a high priority goal in our Strategic Planning process. Updated student programming and interventions such as reading foundational skills training (95 percent group), increased MTSS training with state trainers, more dedicated PLC time for teacher collaboration, and building a long-lasting program for success with Districts on the Move; are several ways the district is working toward that goal. Late start Mondays were implemented to give our teachers time with these improvements. Very important to me is the use of student data to make the appropriate changes that will bring meaningful, measurable improvement to our students’ educational experience. Lastly, Clearwater must tell its own story to spotlight our successes. To accomplish this, the district has redesigned the IT department to now include a public relations employee.
   • Attracting and retaining high quality staff.
   Teaching is a profession like none other, those who choose to follow this path are truly special people. The district must honor those who dedicate themselves to the art and skill of molding young minds. I am thankful for the opportunity I’ve had to serve on our negotiations team for the last two years. We have accomplished some exciting things for teachers in our negotiations. This year the district was able to add not only dollars to the base salary, but also a new tuition reimbursement benefit and longevity pay. This is a big step toward making USD # 264 a more competitive and attractive employer. During my time on the board we have also taken steps to show appreciation to our staff with things such as a 13th check, yard signs, and small gifts. I will continue to look for ways to honor them. Beyond our talented teachers, Clearwater also has a very dedicated classified staff (custodians, bus drivers, paras, cooks, aids, subs, etc.). The board has a responsibility to them to improve hourly wages, an area we made good gains on with this year’s budget. I will continue to look for ways to utilize our budget and resources to improve our competitive edge in an extremely competitive job market.
   There are other factors that also make Clearwater an attractive place to work. As a board member I support our small class sizes, the shortest teacher contract of any surrounding district, and improving access to high quality professional development.
4. I ran four years ago because I wanted to be actively involved in my children’s education and felt that service on the board would not only accomplish that but also fulfill my personal desire to be a servant leader within the community. My reasons now are the same and adding to that the desire I have to see many exciting things that are happening in our schools be carried out to fruition. I have been amazed at how rewarding the position is, it’s wonderful to see our students succeed and our teachers excel at their professions. I’m grateful that I was entrusted by the community to serve on the board for my first term. I have worked hard to serve the district and I remain dedicated to the mission of providing the best education we can for each student. This community has given my family a safe and friendly place to call home and I thoroughly enjoy giving back. I feel like I still have much more to give and want to continue to do my part in taking Clearwater from good to great.

Dawn Irvin
No response.

Derrek Jeardoe
No response.

USD 265 Goddard Board of Education
Kevin McWhorter

1. I am a Goddard High School graduate from the class of 1977. My two children, Patrick and Alaina received an outstanding K-12 education from the Goddard District as well.
   I have served on the Goddard Board of Education for the past 16 years, serving as board president four times. I am proud to be a founding trustee of the Goddard Education Foundation, which is providing resources to the district for the benefit of our teachers and students.
   I have served on the Wichita Public Library Board for the past eight years, the past three as board president and the Wichita Public Library Foundation for the past six years as well as the Advanced Learning Library Campaign leadership council.
   I chair the Sedgwick County District #3 Advisory Board for Commissioner David Dennis and I was recently appointed to serve on the Wichita State University Board of trustees.
   I have worked in the financial services industry since 1977 and am senior vice president at R.W. Baird. I specialize is in municipal finance and have assisted Kansas counties, cities and school districts with their municipal bond financing for over 40 years.
2. What I bring to the board of education and the students, parents and taxpayers of the Goddard district is my knowledge and experience to guide a growing district like Goddard through times of growth when the public is asked to pass bond issues to ease our crowding challenges. Since 2005 I have, on behalf of the board, worked with our business department to make sure we have the right financial advisors and legal firm to structure potential bond issues to present to the voters and then structure the bond issues as to size and when to go to market to ensure the lowest interest cost to the district.
   After the successful vote and bond issuance, I work with our business manager to hire the construction companies to build the new facilities and then with fellow board members Mark Richards and Ruth Wood, make sure the completion of the project comes in on time and at or under budget.
   The Goddard district has successfully issued bonds at incredibly low interest rates and over the past few years have re-financed multiple bond issues to save the taxpayer millions of dollars of future interest expense on the wonderful facilities the voters have given the district to solve overcrowding issues.
3. The top issue is COVID, and we have dealt with it. In January, it will be two years since we first heard of this terrible virus when it came to the United States. What we have found since then is the issue has become incredibly political, everybody has an opinion and most of the “information” is in fact, misinformation. But at the end of the day, six other board members and myself are the only ones responsible for the safety of 6,300 kids and over 1,000 staff members who come through our doors at Goddard each day. Those are the ones I am concerned for.
   Last year, Goddard was one of the few districts which kept grades K-8 open all year. Our two high schools were attendance every other day. Our board is proud and appreciates the incredibly hard work and dedication of our central office, building principals and all the staff who worked together to give the parents choices, where many districts did not.
   This year, we started the year mask-optional for all grades. Unfortunately, the COVID Delta variant, one that hits kids much harder than the original COVID (and is much more easily transmissible) appeared in Kansas and some districts closed for a period of time right after school started in August. Your board of education in agreement with our parents believes all students must be in the schools in front of our teachers to get the best instruction opportunity. Everyday.
   Not wanting any of our buildings to close or kids to be close-contact quarantined, keeping them out of school for extended periods of time, we instituted a mask requirement for K-6 as this group did not have a vaccine available to them. This, plus social distancing and aggressive sanitation, would protect them and staff as much as possible and give them the best chance to stay in school.
   Grades 7-12 have had a vaccine available to them, so masks are not required. Masking is a decision for the parent and the student but only when a vaccine is available. When a vaccine is available to the 5–11-year olds, which should be any day now, I have no doubt your board will then vote to make those grades mask optional as well.
4. COVID challenges. Teacher and staff burnout issues. Continuous district growth and due to that growth challenges, we address regularly with our demographic studies. Developing an early childhood learning center. The continued attacks by many Legislators to privatize public education in Kansas giving public tax dollars to private and for-profit corporations further straining efforts to provide great quality education to our kids. These are just a few of the reasons I wish to continue serving the needs of the kids, parents, and patrons of the Goddard School District. Goddard has a great reputation and I want to be involved to make sure that continues.

Mark Richards

1. I have served on the Goddard Board of Education for 16 years including two terms as Board President. My wife, Paula and I have raised three children all who received a wonderful Goddard K-12 education.
   I currently serve on the Kansas State High School Athletics Association (KSHSAA) Board, the YMCA Board and recently retired as a state wrestling official, having officiated for 40 years. I am also a founding trustee board member of the Goddard Education Foundation and have served by being appointed by the board as a member of the I.B.B. team for the past 10 years.
2. My professional designation is in the financial services industry where I have worked for 20 years helping investors meet their financial goals. This experience has been very helpful to the Goddard District over the years as previous boards have asked me to be the main contact between the contractor hired by the district to do the new construction or remodel jobs, the architects, and the district business manager. I filled this position for the district during the construction of the Eisenhower campus and more recently, the completed remodel and expansion projects of the last voter passed bond issue that improved every building in the district.
   Having a financial background allows me as a board member to work closely with the district business office. There are so many different areas in a school district budget, and I always appreciate the opportunity to have a voice when looking to the future for the district and how we will budget for those challenges.
3. • Teacher compensation and retention: The Goddard Board of Education recognizes the importance of rewarding teachers with competitive salaries and benefits through our I.B.B. process if we are truly serious about having World-Class teachers in front of our kids. The Board is committed and has pushed hard to increase salaries and benefits during my time on the Board. I will continue with these efforts.
   • Continuous growth of the Goddard School District: Did you know the Goddard School District is the only district in the State of Kansas that has had uninterrupted growth every year for over 35 years? The success of the district brings challenges which most other districts do not have. How do we address continuous increases in the number of kids who walk through our doors each day expecting a World-Class education? The way to successfully meet this challenge is kids first. When our board votes on any issue the question in our minds affecting our vote is to make sure what we are doing is always in the best interest of our kids.
4. I have been on the I.B.B. team for the past 10 years because I want to be. I asked to be. I know how important this process is to the success of the Goddard district and I want to continue to be part of the effort to make Goddard a district where great teachers want to teach.
   I am running again because I want to be part of the solution to the challenges of the continued growth of our district.

Ruth Wood

1. I have lived in Wichita since I was a year old and have lived in the Goddard School District since 1999. I graduated from Wichita Southeast High School. I have a bachelor of arts degree and two master’s degrees in education from Wichita State University. I have numerous continuing education graduate hours. I spent my entire educational career in the Goddard district. Since retiring, I have been on the Goddard Board of Education for 8 years.
2. I retired from the Goddard District after 39 years. During that time, I taught at the middle level and was an elementary principal. I was also an officer in the Goddard Education Association, which allowed me to work with teachers at all levels. It also gave me experience working with teacher/administration conflict resolution, As president of GEA, I got the opportunity to work with both the superintendent and BOE. All of these experiences at both the elementary and secondary levels have given me a broad view of the district. I have also served on the BOE for eight years. All of these positions have given me experience in curriculum, special education, budgeting/bonds, facilities, the school improvement process, negotiations, diversity and inclusions, and working with a variety of people. These are all areas that the board addresses.
3. I feel there are two main issues in this election. First, the BOE’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis for our K-6 students is being questioned. Since an immunization is not yet available for these students, our board is requiring masks be worn at these grade levels. We felt, and I agreed, that this was the only choice we had to keep the students and staffs as safe as possible. The board wanted to keep the schools open and keep students in school. Not only because they might miss school by contracting COVID, but also if they were not wearing a mask, they would have to quarantine if they were a close contact. The state legislature has limited our option for remote learning, so this could be very detrimental to learning for quarantined students. Our COVID numbers have gone down significantly since implementation. It is my hope that vaccines for 5-11 year olds will become available soon. As soon as this happens, the board can meet again to address the K-6 mask requirement.
   The second issue is continuing growth in the district. We need to constantly look ahead to what might need to be done with facilities and staff to address the growth, so our students can continue to be successful. With limited monies, this is always a challenge. After determining needs we will also have to see if additional land is needed for facilities. We are lucky to have such supportive patrons that have passed bonds for facilities. But we will still have to have the funding to staff them and provide the necessary resources for the staff to effectively do their jobs. In addressing growth, our priority is to maintain the “small town feeling” of our district, being like family. This has always been what families and staff have said made them love to be part of the Goddard school district.
4. I am running for re-election because I want to help us continue to be the best district. I feel I have skills as an educator, as I mentioned above, that can continue to be beneficial to the board. I also have been associated with several initiatives I hope I can help come to fruition. One of the initiatives would be the continued implementation of our Goddard Special Education Cooperative. A second one would be a comprehensive Early Childhood Program. This would encompass working with infants and parents in the Parents as Teacher’s program to kindergarten prep in our pre-schools and at-risk programs. My hope is we can eventually offer pre-k to any child who needs it. As an elementary principal, I saw first hand how successful the students were in kindergarten after being in a pre-K program. They became the leaders in their class.

Shane P. Dent
No response.

Ginger Rose
No response.

Jon S. Weakley
No response.

USD 267 Renwick Board of Education – At-Large Unexpired Term
Todd Horsch

1. I grew up in the Andale area, attended Renwick the entire time, and graduated back in 1993. My wife, Sonya, spent three of her four high school years at Andale. Our first five children have already graduated from Renwick, and our sixth child is currently attending Andale Middle School. We are Catholics and belong to the St Joseph Parish in Andale. We are both registered Republicans.
2. I have a computer science degree from WSU. I currently work as the CIO for a private Wichita company. In my professional life I have managed a department as vice president, oversaw large budgets, and played key roles in the merger of multiple corporations. My day-to-day job has always involved looking for innovative ways to improve processes, solve problems, and implement solutions to keep companies profitable.
3. I would use my voice and my vote to represent each group for these top issues.
   Community: I would fight to retain local control of decisions involving our district. Without it, we lose control to far-away politicians that don’t know our communities, our situation, and our needs. To fight county, state, and/or federal overreach, I would work with all the resources available to push for solutions and exert our right to local control even if we stand alone. With local control intact, I would work to protect the school structure and traditional practices that are important to the patrons and make our communities special.
   Taxpayers: I would work to ensure that tax dollars are spent responsibly without waste and excess. I would vote on solutions knowing that every dollar spent is taken from taxpayers.
   Parents: I would reaffirm the role that parents play in the education system by recognizing their ultimate authority and responsibility for the education and health of their children. I would work to ensure that there is maximum transparency and communication from the BOE and school administration. I would work to encourage and facilitate public input and participation at board meetings.
   Students: I would work to keep the primary focus on teaching students the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in their chosen path without indoctrinating them in the latest secular viewpoints. I would work to promote career exploration and expose students to the realities of the current workforce – including technical school, internship, family-based, and apprenticeship career paths. I would work to encourage every student’s curiosity, observational skills, and reasoning skills so that they can develop into independent thinkers and creatively solve the problems they will face in life.
   Teachers and staff: I would work to retain high quality teachers and staff through competitive pay and an optimal work environment. I would look for wasteful spending in areas that can be shifted and underutilized resources to get maximum efficiency without additional spending.
4. A successful school is dependent on taxpayers, parents, students, teachers, administrators, and staff. I am running to give the voters an option of someone committed to finding a fair balance between each group’s interests while protecting the fundamental rights and dignity of the individual.

Julie Koon

1. I grew up on a farm near the small, central Kansas town of Goessel. After graduating high school I went on to Bethany College and Wichita State University, receiving my BS in Administration of Justice with a Psychology minor. I continued my education at the University of Oklahoma School of Law, ultimately graduating with my JD. I began my legal career as an assistant county attorney in Ford County, Kansas (Dodge City). I have currently been an attorney with the Appellate Division of the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for 14 years. I moved to Garden Plain almost 8 years ago for the great schools and the small-town community. My husband and I love Garden Plain. It reminds me of the community that I grew up in and I feel very lucky to be able to provide the same experience for our daughter.
2. I have served on multiple boards during my professional career and these experiences have provided me with a range of knowledge and a sincere desire to serve my community. I will use my legal education to work through the complexities of education today and make sure that the decisions of the board reflect the majority opinion. As a parent of a child in the Renwick School District, I understand that planning for the future of our children is one of our most important roles.
3. Enrollment is the single most important issue in our district. Renwick has lost approximately 700 students in the past 17 years. Declining enrollment results primarily in decreased funding and decreased funding necessitates discussions on budgetary restrictions. Even when our dollars are appropriately allocated, without proper funding, budgetary restrictions must still occur to balance our budget. These restrictions will eventually affect our children’s education success. Increased enrollment results in increased funding and additional opportunities for our children, faculty, and staff. I would evaluate the totality of the situation and work with the board, administration, and our communities toward increasing enrollment for the continued success of our schools.
   Faculty and staff retention: Our district has lost multiple teachers and staff to other districts. While many times pay is the issue, it is not always the singular deciding factor. As a district we need to examine what the primary reasons are for these people leaving and then attempt to address those reasons.
   After school programing: Our schools currently have a lack of after school child-care programs. We have many dual income families in our district with many parents or guardians working outside our communities. These families are often unable to be home by 3:30 every afternoon. The Greater Wichita YMCA previously provided after school programs at several of our schools, but the only current program being offered by the YMCA in our district is at St. Marks. I understand that Andale Elementary School operates their own after school program. In a rural district like ours, I believe it is important to provide these services for families. I have found multiple Kansas and Federal grant opportunities specifically tailored to after school programs. That tells me that this is an issue nationwide, and I want to work to address the issue within Renwick.
4. Investing in our youth and teachers is essential to growing our communities, keeping them strong and prosperous. Failing in this investment is not an option. I am passionate about ensuring that every student in the district is on a path to graduate and be equipped to lead a successful life, whether they go on to college, a trade school, or directly into the work force.

USD 356 Conway Springs Board of Education – District 3, Position 6
Amber Hilger

1. After graduating from Conway Springs High School, I attended WSU college and obtained my Music Education degree. I taught in Wichita Public Schools for many years before receiving my Master’s degree in School Counseling. I currently work in a rural 1A school district as a school counselor. I have been in education for over ten years in multiple school settings. My husband Brian and I are raising two boys who attend Conway Springs Schools.
2. My heart and job have me involved in all aspects of education. I am knowledgeable in the state accreditation system, the career and technical state initiative (CTE), special education rights, curriculum and instruction, and more. My profession helps me stay up to date with the education trends. As an educator, I would bring a different perspective to our local school board. This can make me a valuable asset to our town.
3. Since July, I have been utilizing a Facebook page (Hilger for School Board) to bring my viewpoints to the public. I have several areas that I feel we could improve on. I also want to bring new ideas to the table. Some of the areas I am referring to are communication to the public, CTE opportunities, new ideas and restructuring on curriculums, and safety concerns. I also see the importance of being involved in the redesign vision for our school district.
4. I have decided to run for school board for many reasons. I believe in a well rounded school board that involves business owners, financial managers, strategic planners, and education leaders. I feel we are missing the educational leadership. Conway Springs has continued to hesitate to implement new opportunities especially with career and technical education. I found myself advocating for my two kids and thought I need to do this for all kids. The next day, I signed up to be a candidate. I am a simple person with simple views. Make decisions that are best for the kids, not what is best for you.

Curtis Winter

1. My name is Curtis Winter and a graduate of Conway Springs High School. I graduated in 2005 from Friends University with a degree in Business Administration. I am married to my wife, Melissa, and we have four children: Jacob, Peyton, Isaac, and Katelyn. I currently own my own business. My wife and two sons, Jacob and Peyton, have also graduated from CSHS, Isaac is a freshman and my daughter, Katelyn, is in 4th grade. We are proud to say we are from Conway Springs and are active in our community and school events.
2. I believe that a school is the heart of a community and there should be mutual respect between the two entities. Therefore, in order to get to know our school and community you have to get involved and be present. I have served on the Conway Springs Recreation Committee for 5 years, currently coach youth sports and have been doing that for 17 years, was president of the Conway Springs Booster Club for two years and still serving as an active member. Through these experiences I got to know the great kids of Conway Springs and I also got to know many members of our community. I felt a greater desire to help and serving on the Board of Education was an opportunity to continue to give back to my community. I have currently served on the Board of Education for eight years and would be honored to serve another term. I worked on the negotiation team for four years and served as Vice-President for one year and President the following year. My strengths include my involvement in many community and school events and my ability to truly listen to the concerns and ideas of others. I am a hard-worker and take pride in making our community and schools a great place to raise our kids.
3. Conway Springs needs to sustain its success, while increasing enrollment. Our town is an amazing place to raise our kids and our schools have had much success in the past. We need to find a way to entice our young graduates to return and families to move in. Our focus should also be to attract highly qualified teachers and staff, while maintaining the highly qualified teachers that we already have. We need to provide our students with quality programs and opportunities to serve all learners and interests. I am also aware, from owning my own business, the importance of finances and sustainability for our local taxpayers. As a taxpayer myself, I do not take this issue lightly. I understand the concerns that people have when making sure our money is being used in a responsible way. I am actively involved in the budget and take that role very seriously. As I mentioned before, I have served in many different roles in our community, and I see how well we are doing, but I can also see the growth that needs to take place. I have had countless conversations with patrons on their concerns and I take those concerns very seriously. I will work with administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and community members to come up with ways to make the above issues happen. I support new programs for all students, and I encourage ways to support our teachers and staff.
4. Like I mentioned before, I am extremely proud of our community and schools. I take pride in my work on the Board of Education. Watching our kids grow up and be productive members of society is an honor and a privilege I do not take lightly. I enjoy being a part of that process for them. I have spent my whole life working towards the success of Conway Springs and I would be honored to continue serving our school, students, staff and patrons of this great community.

Uncontested races

Following are the candidates in uncontested races. Because the number of candidates on the ballot matched the number of open seats – or in some cases, there were fewer candidates than there were open seats – we did not ask them to complete our questionnaire.

Argonia Mayor
Rick Dolley.

Argonia City Council
Scott Jones, Terina McCurley.

Cheney Mayor
Phil Mize.

Cheney City Council
Jeff Albers, Kassie Gile, Greg L. Williams.

Conway Springs Mayor
Daryle Smith.

Garden Plain Mayor
Keven Hammond.

Garden Plain City Council
Tyler Bugner, Tracy F. Thul.

Haysville City Council
Ward 1: Steven G. Crum.
Ward 2: Daniel Benner.
Ward 3: Pat Ewert.
Ward 4: Danny D. Walters.

Mayfield Mayor
Larry Ford.

Mayfield City Council
Kelly Cohl Davis, Kelly Ford, Cheryl Heimer, Steven Metzen, Jeff Mortimer.

Milan Mayor
Howard R. Yale.

Milan City Council
Keven Ray Davis, Roger Ray.

Viola City Council
Loretta Donham.