The Post is sending this five-item questionnaire to candidates running for Shawnee City Council.
We will publish candidates’ responses the week of Oct. 20, before early voting begins.
These questions are based, in part, on readers’ input.
The Post touched upon some of the same topics and more at our live, in-person candidate forum on Thursday, Sept. 11. You can watch that forum here.
Here’s what we’re asking candidates:
- Background: Readers want to know something of your background. Briefly explain your education and employment history and how those experiences qualify you for this job.
- Property taxes: We frequently hear from readers urging cities to consider tax rate cuts or other relief to counteract the impacts of rising valuations in Johnson County. It’s the job of each city’s governing body to set your city’s annual mill levy, or property tax, rate. Is your city’s current tax rate appropriate for your city’s needs? Would you vote for steeper tax rate cuts, as residents often call for? Why or why not?
- Housing: Many factors driving Johnson County’s tight and expensive housing market are out of local cities’ control, yet there are some things cities can do to try to address this issue, from incentivizing affordable housing developments to tweaking zoning codes that allow for more diverse types of housing. What policies would you like your city to pursue to make housing in your city potentially more affordable? Is this a priority for you?
- Economic development: From the downtown area to the I-435/Midland corridor to areas of western Shawnee, the city is growing and seeing economic development, which many residents say is a good thing. At the same time, some residents are concerned that the desire for commercial development could lessen existing residents’ quality of life. How do you balance the desire for economic development while maintaining quality of life, particularly for residents who may live near growing commercial areas?
- Infrastructure: From parks and pools to street repairs, a city’s physical amenities — its infrastructure — can have a great impact on resident satisfaction and quality of life. What do you see as the biggest infrastructure challenge facing your city over the next four years, and how would you tackle it if elected?
