Wichita Eagle Voter Guide: Mulvane City Council

Debbie Baker: Our elected officials should be honest and accountable, fiscally responsible with taxpayers' money and represent the people they serve. Our current City Council has effectively isolated itself from the taxpaying citizens, and made decisions that give benefits and perks to a handful of folks rather than the city at large. This is not representative government. The citizens of Mulvane want change. I will bring honesty and transparency to the council and will represent the citizens whom I serve.

Debbie Baker: First and foremost, I am trustworthy, and I will bring honesty, accountability and fiscal responsibility to our city government. I have over 20 years of experience in the political arena, and I have an acute understanding of what it means to serve the people who elect you to office.

Debbie Baker: Because of the recession, Mulvane will soon have to make some decisions regarding financial expenditures and whether or not to raise taxes. I am totally against raising taxes. Instead, a concerted effort needs to be made to offer incentives in order to bring more viable businesses into town for economic growth. And since Mulvane has not grown much in population for at least the last 5 years, we need to seek ways to enlarge our population and therefore the tax base.

Debbie Baker: There are legal issues that need to be settled first. No one knows how much that will cost the Mulvane taxpayers. Also, because of recessionary financial pressures that the City Council will have to deal with, possibly by the end of 2009 or 2010, it is fiscally irresponsible to spend more taxpayer dollars on a casino and associated legal fees at this time. Another factor to which the Council has not given enough consideration is the possible detrimental effects of a casino on Mulvane.

Debbie Baker: The practice of private, closed door meetings needs to come to a halt. The discussions, topics and minutes (if there are any), at these sessions are kept from the public. The City Council needs to remember who put them in office, and stop making decisions secretly. This practice has effectively isolated the City Council members from the citizenry and severely handicapped representative government in Mulvane. The citizens of Mulvane do not want to be ruled by decree.

Debbie Baker: These are the very issues I am running on. In the last few years the Mulvane City Council has given us anything but openness and transparency in government. I am devoted to making a change in this way of doing the City's business.

Age: 52

Education/Degrees: Will graduate Spring 2010 with Organizational Management and Leadership degree from Friends University

Occupation: Cox Communications

Community Involvement: Junior Achievement Volunteer

Political experience: Served 6 years as Precinct Committeewoman in Sedgwick County, Actively volunteered for many policical campaigns from 1984 to present, ran for KS State Representative for the 83rd District in 1990, and Currently serve as Precinct Committeewoman for Mulvane

How long lived in district: 6 1/2 years

Campaign Phone: 316-777-9353

E-mail: debbie.baker@cox.com

Terry Branine: I am running for the office of Mulvane City Council because I believe in the potential of Mulvane and it's citizens. I would like to assist in the development of this community's bright future.

Terry Branine: I have spent most of my adult life in sales and customer service. Many applications concerning customer service and customer satisfaction apply to my personal life and can also be applied to serving Mulvane. I want to help develop Mulvane to it's full potential in terms of the benefits and services that will attract business and commerce as well as families to our wonderful community.

Terry Branine: I believe that the largest problem facing Mulvane is it's sense of self and what growth engine it will utilize for it's future, Mulvane has a culture that is very family friendly combined with a great school system and a proud heritage that has made Mulvane a destination for families to call home. I would do my best to promote those virtues and plan with our neighbors and citizens as we grow and prosper.

Terry Branine: I do not believe that Mulvane should continue to pursue a casino at exit 33. I do not believe that a Sumner County Casino is the best long term growth engine for our community to invest in, especially in these difficult economic times. All of the Mulvane Public Schools, the Grocery store all the convenience stores and 81 percent of Mulvane's population are in Sedgwick County, with only 19 percent of the population in Sumner County.

Terry Branine: Other priorities include seminars and training to promote the growth and success of Mulvane businesses. Create an environment that welcomes and attracts potential business to our city. Advertise Mulvane's benefits and services to promote residential growth. Review ordnances, planning, zoning, etc. to assure that the culture and heritage of Mulvane is preserved and promoted to be the growth engine for our future,

Terry Branine: I believe that transparency is an essential part of accountability. I also believe that diversity is not to be avoided but welcomed. Records and meetings should always be open and transparent. Citizen input should always be encouraged and promoted. I also believe that counsel should always be pursued and respected even when in disagreement.

Age: 48

Education/Degrees: Mulvane High School

Occupation: Spares Parts Sales Hawker Beechcraft

Community Involvement: community volunteer through local church, youth events and work camp. coached little league sports and volunteer through MRC.

How long lived in district: over 40 years

Emily Cannon: Because I do not agree with how the current city council has handled many of the issues facing Mulvane today.

Emily Cannon: I have dedicate much of my life to service. I believe that I am qualified to run for city council because I have the time to devote to research issues. I welcome the comments and options of all people around me, including those who make not necessarily agree with me. I want to do what is best for the people of Mulvane.

Emily Cannon: The biggest issue for the city of Mulvane currently is the "Snake Annexation" and the Casino at exit 33. I would like to see the people take a vote on weather they would like to move forward and fight for against a casino. I believe that if the city leaders want this then they need to have the backing of the people and we the people need to let them know if we want it or not.

Emily Cannon: I am not sure weather or not we should continue to pursue a casino. I think that the people of Mulvane need to have a choice in this. Weather we want it or not then let us have a voice. We got to vote on having a liquor store so why not this?

Emily Cannon: I believe in saving money. I think all people are interested in that these days. I think that our city leaders need to be held more accountable for the money that they decide to spend. We need less executive sessions and a more transparent leaders. I also believe that we need to come up with some kind of trash plan that fits for the majority of the people so that we all spend less.

Emily Cannon: I believe in an open government. I think that all people need to be able to see records, I believe that all people need to be heard for whatever concern they have. I think that Mulvane city council needs to have more transparency and less "closed door" or executive meetings. I think that at least once a quarter the first 30 minutes of city council meeting needs to be an open forum where anything and everything can be brought up without having to be on an agenda.

Age: 32

Education/Degrees: High School, Technical School, Some College.

Occupation: Homemaker

Community Involvement: Active member of my church. Volunteer member of Sedgwick County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

How long lived in district: 6 years.

Campaign Phone: (316)777-0104.

E-mail: medievil1@hotmail.com

Web site: ABetterMulvane.com

Joe W. Johnson: I have lived in Mulvane for almost 44 years and I want to make some public service contributions to the city that has been a good place to live, work, and raise two sons. Serving on the council the past four years has been a very gratifying experience and I want to continue to contribute to make Mulvane a great place to live.

Joe W. Johnson: I have served the past four years as a Mulvane city councilman so I am aware of current issues. Being retired, I have had the time and pleasure the past four years to represent the city by attending many meetings pertaining to city business. This has given me the knowledge and experience to be a good city councilman.

Joe W. Johnson: The downturn in the economy is affecting businesses in Mulvane and will also affect the city and its revenue. Bills passed in this legislative session will determine how much funds will be affected. I will encourage city staff and department heads to “tighten the belts” to hopefully minimize the adverse effects. The city will continue to strive to provide its citizens with the quality city services they have been receiving.

Joe W. Johnson: Yes, Mulvane should. The casino is a great economic opportunity for Sumner County, the State of Kansas, and, of course, Mulvane. The State of Kansas selected exit 33 as the site for a Sumner County casino that best fulfilled the requirements of Senate Bill 66. A casino would bring more benefits to Mulvane than problems and Mulvane needs those benefits to prosper and thrive and not stagnate and die without them.

Joe W. Johnson: Increased railroad traffic through Mulvane on the west side has posed a big problem for public safety vehicles leaving Mulvane. Sometimes these delays are several minutes long. This is not satisfactory to provide quick responses to calls. Getting a K15-K53 bypass for Mulvane is a priority. It's expensive and we will continue trying to get on KDOT’s list of projects. Waste management and recycling need to be addressed. Parks, walking and biking paths, and infrastructure are important.

Joe W. Johnson: All public records are not open, http://www.dol.ks.gov/es/html/kora_DRH.html . City council proceedings are published in the local newspaper. Approved minutes are placed on the city’s website. I know that during my tenure all meetings have been open and transparent. Special meetings are announced so the public knows and can attend. A faction in Mulvane doesn’t seem to understand that executive sessions are necessary for matters such as personnel and litigation and as such, are not open records.

Age: 67

Education/Degrees: BS General Science Fort Hays State, MS Biology Emporia State

Occupation: Retired from high school teaching

Community Involvement: Member Mulvane United Methodist Church, USD263 Facilities Steering Committes, Various local committees, Habitat for Humanity Volunteer

Political experience: 4 years Mulvane City Council

How long lived in district: 44 years

Endorsements: Many friends and supporters

Campaign Phone: 777-1095

E-mail: jwj417@cox.net

Web site: None

Social media (list any pages on Facebook, MySpace, etc.): None

Jenean Keck: Candidate response is not yet available.

Jimmy Reed: Candidate response is not yet available.

Terry A. Richardson: Candidate response is not yet available.

Les Sims: I am concerned that our city council is conducting to much business behind closed doors in executive session. I am also concerned that legal tactics are being used to circumvent the rights of citizens to vote on key issues such as the casino and use of utility profits to fund other projects. Also, I am concerned that we have misused the annexation law, ignored the legitimate right of representation for residents near Exit 33, and are spending taxpayer money to defend this misuse.

Les Sims: I have lived in Mulvane since 1966 and have served as a volunteer firefighter, Director of Farmers CO-OP, lay speaker of a local church, and coach of little league football and baseball. My education includes; BS Electrical Engineering (Magna Cum Laude honors) and MBA (Beta Gamma Sigma honors). I have been responsible for direct management of thousands of employees and several $100+ million contracts as an Executive of the Boeing Co. and am currently General Manager of a successful business.

Les Sims: Over the last 10 years the debt load of the city has grown from 1% of expenditures to 27%! In addition, the council is routinely transferring funds from utility profits to the general fund necessitating excessive bond debt to provide for needed utility improvements (a process discouraged by the league of Kansas Municipalities). This results in a hidden tax excessively burdening moderate and lower valued property owners. I will work to reduce spending, lower debt, and eliminate hidden taxes.

Les Sims: NO, for 3 reasons; 1) Economic, independent studies show that local economies are negatively impacted! Retail sales in Iowa towns without casinos grew 6 times more than those with casinos over 10 years and the WSU study shows cost to Mulvane will exceed revenue by $80 Million over 20 years. 2) Social, multiple studies show crime in communities with casinos is over 60% higher than those without casinos, and 3) Moral, the process used violates the rights of residents in Mulvane and near Exit 33.

Les Sims: Real Economic Growth - Growth which brings dollars into our community and exports product. A good safe place to raise children results in real economic growth for a suburban city like Mulvane, we import residents/housing and export labor. I will resist attempts to reduce our family friendly environment but, will work to bring ral economic growth such as light manufacturing to support the aircraft industry.

Les Sims: Lack of transparency in our local government is the primary reason I decided to run for office. I am a firm believer that citizens should be informed and given the right to comment or vote prior to enacting ordinances significantly impacting the community. If elected I will push for a more transparent "town hall" style of government with open forums on ordinances which modify the image of our city or transfer funds between operating elements and more complete releases on council comments.

Campaign Phone: (316)-777-4140

Web site: abettermulvane.com

Bruce White: Candidate response is not yet available.