Hays Post
Chris McGowne, Joe Leroux, Nathan Leiker and Randy Marintzer are all on the Republican ballot for the Third District seat on the Ellis County Commission. The primary will be Tuesday, Aug. 2. The Third District is the largest in land size of the three county commission districts. It is made up of six townships, which includes the entire eastern edge of Ellis County and an area north of Hays.
After the passage of two quarter-cent sales taxes in 2020, the county short-term financial situation has improved but the taxes are scheduled to sunset in 2030. How do you propose the county improve its financial footing in the long term, and do you believe the sales tax should be extended?
I believe that the county should leave the sales tax alone. At this point everyone is accustomed to it, so before it sunsets, I believe the commission should make it permanent. In so doing, we should be mindful of where those funds come from, and use them to better the lives of all individuals in the county. We could do this by leveraging those funds with private industry or federal funds for large capital improvements.
Past commissions have earmarked a portion of the sales tax for infrastructure upkeep and improvements. As a commissioner would you continue to support that effort? Why or why not?
I think earmarking funds for infrastructure upkeep and is a wise idea, we can use those intended funds along with federal funds to make much needed updates within the county. We are too far behind to use those funds in any other manner.
What do you see as the top concern of Ellis County voters over the next few years and what would you do to ease that concern?
I think people are worried about where their hard-earned money is going. If the roads stay the same and we don’t see any updates on the bridges, I think people will start to ask questions about what the money is being used for. To help with this, I think by showing citizens pictures and of things being done, and by simply being more visible to the people by attending events and answering questions will help alleviate this problem.
Should the Ellis County Commission be more or less proactive in economic development in the county and, if so, what is the best way to attract business to the area?
The county should be proactive in recruiting new business for economic development. The best way to help attract business is to keep the business environment steady and stable. Do this by keeping taxes at a steady and feasible rate, and showing businesses that we have the capital and the desire to keep up our infrastructure. If we as residents and commissioners of the county are investing in the future of Ellis County, I think business will follow.
The commission has worked with the cities within Ellis County on various projects. Do you see any other opportunities for continued cooperation? Are there areas where the entities need to expand cooperation?
The county has been doing a good job in sharing equipment with municipalities within the county when it is not feasible for each city to own all of the expensive task focused equipment, an example would be asphalt paving equipment. Other areas for expansion of cooperation would be telecommunication expansions in the future. Wiring and internet is here and is going to be part of the ability to recruit and maintain businesses within the county, and at this point the county will need to be at the table for all of those talks, bringing new and better services to those communities.
In your view, what is the primary difference between how you would serve as a county commissioner and the other candidates?
The primary difference between me and other candidates is that I have built my life around Ellis County. My wife and I have never left to pursue lives outside of the county, and we raising our kids using the resources of the school system within county. I done the dirty, grimy, hard jobs that many of the people paying taxes in the county do. I am as close to citizen governance as you may get.
In what ways does your personal and professional experience qualify you to serve as an Ellis County Commissioner?
In personal experience, I have been building a business with my family, and know the struggles that come with the ups and downs of markets and what it takes to keep your dreams alive. On a professional level, I have been on the county zoning board for the past several years helping to ensure the focus of the county stays true to our history while being as forward focused as possible. I have also spent the previous 10 years working with K-State Research and Extension serving as both board member and board chair, and creating an extension district with Barton County during that time, and was also part of K-State State Extension advisory team, helping with policy decisions for all extension.
What decision made by the county commission in the last few years did you disagree with and what would have been your decision?
Recent decision made by the commission that I disagreed with was a zoning application in 2021, an individual had followed all the proper guidelines to develop an events venue north of Hays, there was no legitimate reason for the denial after it was approved by the zoning board, and on a personal level, I feel the government should have very little authority to advise people of what can be done on their personal property apart from illegal actions.
A group of area real estate agents have called for the commission to expand from three members to five. Do you believe the commission would benefit from expansion?
I don’t feel that more government is ever a good thing. In every workplace, it takes workers and managers, once an imbalance happens, productivity drops. More managers at the top of the county are not the answer.
Opponents of the effort claim that it will make the commission less transparent, do you agree or disagree? What would you do to ensure transparency?
I agree that it could easily become less transparent, and be abused. To ensure transparency, I believe that all business discussed should be easily accessed by anyone that would question a decision.
Editor's note: Hays Post compiled a list of relevant questions for all candidates, who received and responded to that same list.