Editor’s note: We’ve updated the wording of our fourth question for Leawood city council candidates to reflect recent actions by the city.
The Post is sending this five-item questionnaire to candidates running for Leawood 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. 25. 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?
- Budget: From inflation to rising health insurance costs to uncertainty around federal grants and programs, municipalities are facing a number of budgetary pressures. As you face difficult decisions about what city services to fund and how much to spend in coming years, what city services will you want to protect most? On the other hand, are there aspects of city spending you want to see trimmed?
- Old city hall: After years of discussion, the Leawood city council recently opted to move forward with a plan to demolish the city’s historic original city hall to make way for a public green space, rejecting residents’ calls for a privately owned coffee shop. Do you agree with this decision? Why or why not?
- Development: In recent years, residents have clashed with developers and the city over major projects, most notably the East Village development near 135th and State Line. The city is now in the process of revising its comprehensive plan, which will guide development and land use in the future. What priorities do you want to see emphasized in the new comprehensive plan? How will that guide your own thinking on what future development projects to approve?
