Earlier this summer, the Post asked our readers what issues you wanted to hear candidates running for Fairway City Council to address leading up to the Nov. 4 election.
Based on that feedback, we developed a five-item questionnaire centering the issues most important to Fairway residents.
Each day this week, we’re publishing the candidates’ responses to one question.
Today, we’re publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:
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.
Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on this issue:
Ward 2
Dan Bailey (incumbent)
Degrees in Geological Engineering and Engineering Management from the University of Missouri-Rolla (Now Missouri S&T). 20+ year professional career working locally at a 100% employee owned company, Cogent, in the hydraulic and water / wastewater treatment side of engineering. I’m about as unemotional as you can get, and price myself in actively working to understand all sides of a particular issue before coming to a conclusion. My particular background is beneficial to a small community such as Fairway as we have significant infrastructure issues to navigate and do not have an unlimited budget for external engineering.
Emily Snyder
I am a proud four-year member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 124 and a union electrician by trade. I currently serve as President of Heartland Women in Trades (HWIT) and as Vice President of the state chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women. Additionally, I have served on the Kansas Women’s Economic Development Taskforce. I am well-versed in Robert’s Rules of Order and have extensive experience running and participating in meetings comparable in structure to those of the Fairway City Council.
Ward 3
James Hafner
As a licensed clinical social worker, I’ve spent my career solving complex problems, advocating for individuals, and improving organizational effectiveness in both healthcare and mental health. I’ve held leadership roles locally and nationally, including as legislative chair in my professional organization. Additionally, I’ve been a Kansas City landlord for 40 years, restoring and managing affordable, quality housing. My volunteer work has deepened my community engagement and broadened my problem-solving perspective.
Bill Stafford
I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a Master of Engineering in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of South Carolina. Over the course of my career, I have served in leadership roles with several engineering firms, including Executive Vice President of PSI in Vienna, VA, CEO of Eder Associates in Oyster Bay, NY, Vice President of Tetra Tech in Kansas City, KS, and Senior Engineer/Associate with CFS Engineers in Kansas City, KS.
These experiences have given me both the technical expertise and management skills necessary to serve effectively on the City Council. My engineering background makes me uniquely qualified to collaborate with Fairway’s public works and parks departments, while my experience managing firms has prepared me to carefully analyze, budget, and monitor the city’s financials. In addition, my background in construction and commercial development in Kansas City provides valuable perspectives as Fairway considers future projects, such as a new or renovated police office, maximizing the use of the Fairway Shops and implementing Fairway’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
For the past five years, I have served on Fairway’s Board of Zoning Appeals. This experience has given me a strong understanding of how the city government operates, as well as the opportunity to work closely with the administrative staff. When working for CFS Engineers, I provided engineering services to Fairway’s Public Works Department.
Ward 4
Kiel Corkran
I live over on Buena Vista St. in Ward 4 with my wife and our 2-year-old son, Clark. I am running because I want to make Fairway a more affordable place for average working class families like ours and give my neighbors a voice on City Council, and I think I have the unique skills to do that. Currently a student at UMKC, I will be graduating in December with an interdisciplinary PhD in Mathematics with emphasis on Statistics and Informatics. My previous degrees include a Bachelor in Mathematics from K-State and a Masters in Statistics from UMKC. My extensive math background and the logical and analytical skills I’ve learned have a high application in city management, giving City Council the ability to optimize resource allocation, enhance infrastructure planning, and ensure financial responsibility and transparency in public service. I’ve also had strong leadership experience in student government at UMKC, serving in the student senate as well as President of the Graduate Student Council where I honed my skills in communication, conflict resolution & mediation, and the teamwork necessary to keep a city council running smoothly. I am eager to bring fresh ideas to City Council and work together to solve this housing affordability crisis currently impacting residents, and make Fairway a greater place for everyone.
Tanya Keys (incumbent)
My career has been in public service as a social worker in child and family wellbeing services direct service and policy development.
My bachelor’s degree in social work and master’s degree in public administration were a terrific foundation to impact and improve wellbeing outcomes and effectiveness for human and social service programs, especially those in the public sector. My experience with public sector budgeting, project management and policy administration help me understand, support and ask questions about the city’s operations and opportunities- and share those activities with fellow residents in Ward 4 for input and feedback.
