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, Reese Barrick, Candace (CJ) Hathaway, Sandy Jacobs, David Koshiol and Shaun Musil.
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: 43
Occupation: Owner of DXI Training Solutions for first responders and effective communication and leadership skills
Why are you running for Hays City Commission?
As I've traveled across the country for trainings, people kept asking if I missed being a police officer (combined Hays Police Department and military police experience of 22 years), and I knew at my core I missed giving back to my community.
Hays has always been home for me.
My company mission has always been to leave the world better than I found it, and that's been my personal vision and motto.
As a new candidate, do you have any relevant/political experience?
Being first-hand in law enforcement, I saw a lot of politics in the city, helping out with budgets as a police officer (for 19 years) in charge of training at the department. I submitted budgets up to the chief, which went up to the city commission.
I saw how the city commission worked with the city manager and the departments throughout the city.
So, I've got a little personal experience with the city politics, but have not been involved in politics directly.
I have a good set of core values that I think every person should have, and I see it missing with the way things are being handled by our current city commission.
I'd like to make sure the city is being better treated overall.
What is the most pressing issue(s) the city of Hays faces?
The most pressing issue is a tie between the water project and housing.
We have to get a secure source of water for the city of Hays.
The R9 project is a great start on that. But that's a 75, maybe 100-year project. I'd like to see us come up with a permanent solution. That way, 75 years from now, the next generation isn't having to fight that fight. We should be taking care of that now.
We need to be transparent with the citizens on where the progress of the R9 is. There's no 'go to this website' or 'talk to these folks and they can give you more information.' It's just not out there for the every day citizen to keep up on.
In the housing market, it's difficult for people in the low- to medium-income ranges to afford houses right now.
Working with developers and different organizations to find different ways to get some different housing options out there, is a big project I'd like to see taken care of.
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?
If there is some land the city owns and is tucked away somewhere that would fit that kind of criteria and help out, and we don't have any long-term plans or goals for it, then that's absolutely something worth looking into.
Whether it's free or offered at some kind of discounted rate on conditions that builders build qualifying housing, that's definitely worth looking into.
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 don't think a mill levy increase is needed.
I think with working with our departments and coming up with some more creative strategies as far as the budget goes, we can continue to maintain the mill levy where it's at and hopefully, remain revenue neutral as well. That way we save our citizens some money.
We're a big city, and we offer a lot of resources, and they've got to be paid for. We're not gonna reduce quality-of-life issues. We're not going to take away benefits from our good employees because we need good employees out there.
It's finding out what we need and what do we not need.
It's a tough financial time for everybody out there. The more the city takes from the people, the harder it gets for them, and the more we're affecting their quality of life. I'd like to see that little bit of relief given to the citizens.
The governing body of Hays chose to remain revenue neutral for the budget year 2026.
Are there areas in the city budget or departments that can be streamlined? What would you change in the city's current operations?
We need to go back to the people actually doing the jobs.
Oftentimes, we see the department heads and supervisors getting so far removed from what's actually happening at the foundational level of the department that we lose track of what's important and what's not.
I would like to get out there and meet with the folks actually doing the job every day, whether it's the parks department, the fire department, the police department, and talk to the guys doing the day-to-day work and see what they feel is needed and what is not needed. Figure out what we're doing, what we're not doing, and adjust from there.
That's where you'll see the real innovation is from those folks who are doing the job every day.
Should each city park become more "individualized," offering different/fewer amenities at each location to save maintenance costs?
As a police officer, I would patrol the streets and see just how often the city parks were being used and how frequently they're not.
We've got some parks that see more use than others.
We need to be planning accordingly.
If we're putting in playground equipment that's going to wear out every 10 years, we've got to make sure there's going to be funding available to replace it, and not just hoping that funding will be there.
I think our community is strong, and if we saw a need somewhere to renovate a local park, all we'd have to do is reach out and let the community know what we need. They would find ways to help us out without us having to increase the mill levy and affect every citizen of Hays.
I definitely like the idea of collaboration with our local businesses and residents, just like the ARC Park. They wanted to do some amazing stuff out there, and they have. They came through big time for the city to help with that park.
When it comes time to do the maintenance and upkeep, I have no doubt we can find other businesses and corporations willing to step up and help out as well.
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?
It definitely needs looked into.
Do we pay DSNWK more money so they can continue to run that program? Should the city take over that program? Should we create a whole new program? Those are several options.
I can't say the last time I actually saw the ACCESS van full. So, I feel there's probably a better way or system to do it in a more affordable way.
If DSNWK isn't able to continue running the system, the city should look into ways of possibly helping out with more public transportation.
Anything else you'd like to add?
As a candidate, I've promised to give everybody a voice.
If anybody has any concerns, I'm more than willing to listen and observe and to gather the information.
At the end of the day, we may not always agree, but I will strive to promise to understand everybody's perspective and to make the best possible decision for the city as a whole.
As told to Becky Kiser/Hays Post