GOP county candidates clash over illegal immigrants, the zoo and roads

Three Sedgwick County Republicans made their case to serve on the county commission for the next four years.

Incumbent commissioner Karl Peterjohn and challenger David Dennis squared off over who would be on the Republican ticket for the race in District 3 in western Sedgwick County. And Michael O’Donnell spoke about what type of commissioner he would be for District 2 after one term in the Kansas Senate.

They spoke at a candidate forum at the Wichita Pachyderm Club on Friday.

Peterjohn touted the county’s new tag office and agreements with the city of Wichita on fire and law enforcement training. He also repeatedly championed the commission’s stand “fighting the other local government lobbies” and backing a tax lid that requires voter approval of property tax increases.

He also talked about 3-2 commission votes rejecting federal grants and subsidies and steering the county away from debt.

“One commissioner can make a difference,” Peterjohn said.

Retired Air Force colonel, former state education board chairman and planning commissioner David Dennis touted a long resume, saying he was the reasonable and restrained alternative to Peterjohn.

“Our county must have a conservative Republican alternative who’s willing to represent our citizens and listen to our community, rather than someone pushing their personal political agenda,” Dennis said.

The winner in the District 3 primary could face Goddard Mayor Marcey Gregory, who is gathering signatures to run as an independent candidate in November.

O’Donnell led with his legislative experience in the 40-seat Kansas Senate. He faces no primary opposition before the Nov. 8 election in southern Sedgwick County against commissioner Tim Norton.

“I could be more effective at the county level being one of five,” O’Donnell said. “I think we need more leaders that are willing to engage.”

The three candidates largely agreed on issues raised by audience members, including addressing emergency response times, streamlining regulations and support for the sheriff’s office. But some differences did emerge:

Illegal immigrants and county programs

Last fall, Sedgwick County voted to explore asking health department clients about their immigration status. The commission majority also asked the state to change guidelines to block illegal immigrants from a nutritional program.

“I feel like a second-class citizen in my own country for the fact that people will break our laws and come in here with impunity and many of whom are criminals,” said Peterjohn, whose two children came into the U.S. as legal immigrants from Russia.

“My answer in some quarters may be viewed as politically incorrect. It might even be considered micro-aggression. Frankly, I don’t give a damn,” Peterjohn said to applause.

Dennis said there’s a need to look out for the good of the entire county.

“If we don’t provide some kind of health care for these folks and they’re walking down the street with tuberculosis or they’re in here serving your meal with tuberculosis, that’s a health concern to all of Sedgwick County,” he said.

O’Donnell brought up points made by both of the other candidates.

“We should find out if these people are citizens are not,” O’Donnell said. “However, we do have an obligation as the county board of health…to make sure that our community is safe.”

County role in zoo operations

All three candidates say they support the Sedgwick County Zoo, the state’s largest outdoor tourist attraction, which will get at least $5.6 million in county funds this year.

The zoo board and the county are negotiating funding and operating agreements for the zoo. One county proposal would boost the county’s voting power on the zoo board.

“In regards to the funding agreement, this is probably an area (where) I differ from the current county majority,” O’Donnell said. “I do want to make sure that we foster that relationship between the zoo board and the county commission as much as possible.”

“The reason why the zoo has been so successful over the last 40 years is because we have a strong board from the private sector of business leaders and community leaders,” O’Donnell said. “If the zoo had been run by politicians the last 40 years, we wouldn’t have one of the top zoos in America.”

Dennis agreed with O’Donnell’s position and said he didn’t see a reason to change the public-private partnership that runs the zoo.

“I don’t understand when some of the conservative members on our county commission keep talking about ‘smaller government, smaller government’, yet they want to increase the government by putting more government control on that zoo board,” Dennis said.

Peterjohn pointed out the county provides about 40 percent of the zoo’s funding, but has less than 10 percent of the seats on the zoo board.

“Taxation with inadequate representation is a problem,” Peterjohn said.

Borrowing or cash for roads

The final audience question revived one of the big debates of the 2016 budget cycle: whether to spend cash or borrow money for county road and bridge work.

“Construction costs are as low as they’re ever going to be. Borrowing money is as low as it’s ever going to be,” Dennis said. “Does it make sense to sit there on that cash and not bond major projects and try and save that cash in order to be able to pay for your road or bridge down the line?”

“Bonding is nothing more than putting another mortgage on your community,” Peterjohn responded.

O’Donnell’s answer fell somewhere between responses from Dennis and Peterjohn.

“I do love the idea of taking on less debt. And I will absolutely support taking on less debt,” he said. “But sometimes there are projects that come up that will need bonding. And there always will be.”

This story was originally published June 10, 2016 at 6:37 PM with the headline "GOP county candidates clash over illegal immigrants, the zoo and roads."