The six candidates for Hays City Commission were interviewed by the Hays Post. Their responses are being presented in a question-and-answer format. The other candidates running include: Samuel Allen, Candace Hathaway, Sandy Jacobs, David Koshiol, Shaun Musil and David Vilaysing.
Allen did not respond to Hays Post's request for an interview. Allen was arrested on a charge of alleged blackmail in July.
Also listed on the ballot but not pursuing office are Kelly Ancar and Justin Choitz.
Three seats are available on the board. The two candidates with the highest number of votes will each receive a four-year term. The third-highest candidate will serve a two-year term. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Age: 61
Occupation: Executive director of Sternberg Museum of Natural History
Why are you running for Hays City Commission?
I'm running again because there were some amazing projects that I want to see continue and get accomplished.
The R9 Ranch long-term water project is a huge priority for me. Coming from a science background, I think I can provide a different perspective. We're so close, and I want to see that project through.
Housing has also become a really big issue for the community to grow. I see it progressing in the right direction, but there's still a lot of work to do.
I also want to be progressive on the quality of life issues and help support and champion them.
What is the most pressing issue(s) the city of Hays faces?
Keeping our sales tax revenue coming in is important. We survive on sales tax. Hays has a big pull factor. So lots of people coming in to shop in Hays is very important for the city and our economy. We have lots of great restaurants and motels, but we need to create other things that will bring tourism to the city (and ultimately) they'll see this is a great place to live.
As an incumbent, what do you think is the most impactful legislation enacted by the governing body since you were elected?
Getting started with getting new housing developments and being really creative with Grow Hays and the ways we use RHIDs (Revitalization Housing Incentive Districts). There's probably 180 houses at this point that will be ready to be built in the next two to four years.
It's been suggested by a local developer that the city provide free land for construction of new homes costing $150,00 or less. What are your thoughts about housing in Hays?
One of our next issues we need to look into is how we can create low-income housing, however you want to define it. The state has taken away some of the incentives for low-income housing, which makes it a little more difficult.
I don't know that providing free land is necessarily the answer, but there are a lot of things we're going to take a deep dive into to figure out how we can create housing for a wide spectrum of income levels in the community.
The city narrowly avoided a 2-mill levy increase in the 2026 budget. How would you keep the mill levy at 25 mills? Should it instead be increased?
I think the commission needs to try to keep the mill levy as low or stable as possible.
A lot of what we have in the mill levy are employee benefits, the library, public safety equipment. A lot of times these things can be handled by a change in the valuation without raising the mill levy.
The governing body of Hays chose to remain revenue neutral for the budget year 2026.
If it reaches the point where there are needs that require an increase, we need to look at the value to the community relative to the cost.
Are there areas in the city budget or departments that can be streamlined? What would you change in the city's current operations?
Each of the city's department heads works really hard to figure out what would be the most cost-effective way to run their department. The city looks ahead to determine what needs will we have three to 10 years in the future to make a plan.
The fact that we pay for things in cash and plan ahead years in advance, I feel like, makes us pretty streamlined in how we project/spend our money.
Should each city park become more "individualized," offering different/fewer amenities at each location to save maintenance costs?
Neighborhoods change over time, so I don't feel every park has to duplicate itself exactly.
You want some things in each park that different age groups can use, but they don't have to be duplicated. You can have parks that have some amount of specialization to create a different environment so that you have diversity, but still keep a couple of swings in every park. I think that could help keep down maintenance costs over the long run.
Should the city get involved in the operation of the public transportation program ACCESS, which is struggling with its funding? Should the city offer greater financial support?
If it gets completely defunded in the future, I think it will be important for the city and Ellis County to step in and collaborate on how accessible transportation can be maintained, perhaps more efficiently in both transporting and funding.
We need to look at it just like parks or housing in finding the creative things we can do. If the funding is going away, this should be a high priority.
Anything else you'd like to add?
I've served two two-year terms. I was very pleased when I got on the city commission that other commissioners are very proactive and want to make Hays the best community in all of Kansas to live in.
The city employees are great to work with.
I've been really excited with the way we've been able to move forward with the quality of life, safety, and infrastructure of the city, setting us up for growth.
I can see the problems we need to face in the future, and I'm excited to tackle them. Those issues can be a part of the solutions.
As told to Becky Kiser/Hays Post