Commission candidates face Rotary members

The Republican and independent candidates for the Sedgwick County Commission seat that covers the western area of the county agree on most topics but differ a bit on specifics.

David Dennis, the Republican, and Marcey Gregory, the independent candidate, are vying for Sedgwick County’s District 3 seat. It’s the largest of the county’s five districts and covers northwest Wichita, Bentley, Mount Hope, Goddard, Garden Plain and Cheney.

Gregory is mayor of Goddard. Dennis is a former state education board chairman and retired Air Force colonel who ousted incumbent Karl Peterjohn in the Aug. 2 primaries for the Republican spot.

At a forum sponsored Monday by the Rotary Club of Wichita, Dennis and Gregory both voiced hope for a change in the commission’s majority – and in the direction the county takes.

But Dennis was hesitant to use the term majority, saying all five commissioners need to work together.

“It’s been three to two because of ideology,” Dennis said. “The current majority is pretty well tied together ideologically.

“They worry more about certain issues that maybe they shouldn’t be worrying about,” he said in reference to issues not controlled by the county, such as illegal immigration.

The two expressed similar overall views about supporting budget items that affect the quality of life – such as the Sedgwick County Zoo and Exploration Place – and aiding nonprofits. But each offered more concrete plans at different times.

“I think the current county commission grossly underutilizes grant money,” Gregory said. “I think there’s a lot of grant money out there that could be used for nonprofits.”

Dennis said the county needs to “make sure we have the right people on the county commission that are willing to work with quality-of-life issues.”

And both promised improved partnerships with the city of Wichita. Dennis received endorsements from three City Council members, and six of the council’s seven members attended Dennis’ watch party on Aug. 2.

“One of the things I want to see is the wall torn down on Central Avenue and a bridge built,” he said, referring to the county courthouse and City Hall, which are across the street from each other on Central.

Peterjohn, Richard Ranzau and Jim Howell formed a conservative majority in 2015 and worked to limit the county’s debt, to focus on core government functions such as roads and public safety and to reduce spending on services that can be provided in the private sector.

The majority approved the 2016 budget last summer, which turned away from borrowing for road and bridge maintenance and made cuts to the arts, economic development, recreation and the county health department.

The Wichita Rotary Club will host another candidate forum at its Oct. 24 meeting for commission candidates competing to represent District 2, which covers southwest Wichita, Haysville and Clearwater. That forum will feature incumbent Tim Norton, a Democrat who has served on the commission since 2000, and Sen. Michael O’Donnell, who is challenging him as a Republican.

This story was originally published September 19, 2016 at 5:32 PM with the headline "Commission candidates face Rotary members."