Hays Post
Hays Post emailed a questionnaire to each of the five candidates running for the three open seats on the Hays city commission:
Kelly Ancar, Reese Barrick, Alaina Cunningham, Diana Pantel, and Mason Ruder.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
To find your polling location, click here.
Kelly Ancar
NAME: Kelly Ancar
AGE: 59
OCCUPATION: Small Business Owner, Registered Nurse
INCUMBENT? No
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: I lived in Hays for over 40 years, and currently serve Veterans in our city as part of the Veterans Administration Community Care Network with Amazing Grace Homecare. I’ve participated in local job fairs as an employer and organizer while working as a clinical instructor at both Northwest Kansas Vocational Technical College and Fort Hays State University. I’ve organized and participated in multiple benefits for people here over the years to help with their medical expenses, including a successful event this past weekend. I’ve been attending public meetings for several organizations to listen to community members speak about their concerns.
1. Why have you decided to run for a position on the Hays City Commission?
The taxpayers of this city need relief from escalating property taxes. The consequence of overspending, and exceeding Revenue Neutral, will be increased property tax valuations to meet the need for funding. I believe that now is the time to get control over spending of taxpayer dollars by the City of Hays. I’m running for City Commissioner because my business owner experience will help me identify opportunities for savings in the budget while working toward growth for Hays. We absolutely must keep our City in a Revenue Neutral status to ever see a reduction in property taxes, and we need City Commissioners who will say NO to increased spending without consideration of the consequences to taxpayers.
2. What are the top three issues you believe the city will face in the next four years?
a. The issue of increased property taxes has a great impact on the city. People are struggling with inflation already, and we need to explore options for taxpayer relief so people continue to feel like they can afford to live here.
b. Because of the higher costs of home ownership, there will be an increased demand for rental housing. Hays is already facing a housing shortage, and avoiding a serious housing crisis in the next four years must be a priority for all.
c. The combination of increasing property taxes and a housing shortage will make growth difficult in an economy battling inflation. The City of Hays must work to find every opportunity to resolve both of those issues, to avoid stagnant growth rates and to attract new employers to our area to provide good jobs.
3. Is there something you would like to see change about any Hays city ordinance or program?
There needs to be less regulation and less government involvement in everyday life overall. I want to simplify policies or ordinances that increase expenses with the goal of reducing costs and insuring individual freedoms.
4. In light of increasing valuations, should the city of Hays reduce its mill levy? Why or why not?
Yes, absolutely the City of Hays should reduce its mill levy. We have to find relief for the taxpayers and look for ways to reduce spending to compensate for the decrease in revenue.
5. What experience/background do you have that would make you a good city commissioner?
I’m a small business owner and employer, as well as a Registered Nurse. I have worked in healthcare business systems for almost 30 years, and I’ve been responsible for budgeting my department in almost every setting. I strive to listen to the concerns of the people who are doing the work, because I believe they are the best resource for me to improve overall operations. making things better for everyone. The same theory applies to taxpayers. I will prioritize hearing from the people who are paying the property taxes because city commissioners need to understand the consequences of their decisions to the people who live here.
6. What would you do, if elected, to attract or retain businesses to the community?
I will work to ensure a stable housing supply, so businesses can be assured that employees will be able to find a place to live, as well as be confident that people living here can become long-term employees because they have made a permanent home in Hays. I would work with Grow Hays to discover industries that fit the logistics in our city to market directly to businesses.