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Candidates for USD-235, Uniontown city offices speak at forum
UNIONTOWN -- Eleven candidates vying for city offices and for spots on the USD 235 Board of Education spoke during a public forum Friday evening in the Uniontown Junior Senior High School commons area.
The forum, sponsored by the Uniontown Ruritan Club, gave the candidates a chance to pitch their campaigns and voice their stands on important city issues in front of about 30 local citizens. Candidates were allowed to present brief opening statements and to provide short responses to questions submitted from the audience, which were screened by Ruritan members. Area resident Daryl Roller moderated the forum.
At the conclusion of the forum, each candidate was allowed a three-minute closing statement. Eleven of the 19 candidates running for Uniontown offices, including mayor and city council, and seats on the U-235 Board of Education, were present Friday at the forum. Mayoral candidates present on Friday were Steve Headley and Rick Allen. City council candidates present at the forum included Janice Ramsey, Randy Rathbun, and Suzie Franklin.
USD 235 board candidates present on Friday included Shawn Wilkinson, Mark Crystal, Lynne Oharah, Jeff Tinsley, John Ericson, and Cynthia Schwalm. Oharah is a former Kansas state representative. Tinsley and Ericson are the only candidates currently serving on the school board.
During opening statements, Allen said he had only minimal experience in politics, but did serve as an intern on the Kansas Legislature. Allen said he moved to Uniontown last year.
"I want to bring a fresh look at what's going on in town," he said.
Headley, a former long-time Uniontown resident who moved back to the city in 2003 to enjoy retirement activities, is a 22-year military veteran and Uniontown High School alumnus. Headley said there were only minimal changes he would make if elected mayor, and that he looks to "put the trust back in city government."
When asked what his first priority would be if elected mayor, Headley said, "I want to get people involved in the community, and bring some fresh ideas. Young people don't want to stay -- let's keep young people here."
Allen, Headley's younger opponent, is a relatively new Uniontown resident seeking to infuse new blood into the city.
"I want to get a better grasp on money coming into town, and try to keep our streets and roads clean," Allen said. "I want to grab the budget with both hands."
Allen and Headley were also asked how they would address the recent problem with loose dogs in Uniontown. Allen said the city has not done a good job at enforcing city ordinances that are in place to control loose animals in the area. Professional dog handlers could possibly be brought in to take care of the problem, Allen said.
Headley agreed with his opponent, saying that "it's a problem we're not going to overlook constantly."
Both men were also asked what their respective opinions were on the implementation of a city-wide trash service in Uniontown. Headley said he supports the idea, as long as it does not result in an increase in taxes.
"I don't want to see taxes raised because of it," Headley said. "I don't believe in government spending."
Allen said he also supported the idea, primarily because other surrounding towns of similar size have implemented city-wide trash services, but agreed with Headley in that he didn't want to see taxes raised in the process. A possible solution would be to take bids from local trash companies in order to compare prices, Allen said.
In issuing closing statements, Headley said when he moved back to Uniontown, he didn't want to pursue politics at first, but he saw that some aspects of the city had to change, and that he didn't want to be among the people who complain about issues but don't do anything about it. He also had a message for voters before the April 3 election.
"Don't sit at home and complain, come to the meetings and get it out in the open," Headley said.
Allen praised Uniontown, saying there was a reason he chose to move to the small Bourbon County town.
"A lot more people are involved in town activities," Allen said. "It's a good place to raise a family and retire and to get old. I could have chosen anywhere to live in Southeast Kansas, and I chose Uniontown. There are some very high points in this town."
Reporter's note: Questions posed to candidates running for seats on the Uniontown City Council and the USD 235 Board of Education, along with their responses, appear in a second story on pages 2 and 3 of this issue.