Commercial development a top priority for Andover's two candidates for mayor

ANDOVER — Candidates for mayor in this fast-growing suburb both say more commercial development is needed to shift some of the property tax burden off homeowners.

They just disagree over who is best qualified to help make that happen.

Mayor Ben Lawrence, who has held the post for eight years, said he can be judged by what has happened during that time. That includes the building of things that generate taxes — such as the new Dillons Marketplace and Kansas Medical Center — and things that don't, including a new City Hall and YMCA.

"I have promoted and encouraged commercial activity to help shift the tax burden," Lawrence said.

His opponent, City Council member Julie Reams, said there are far too many vacancies in the city's strip centers. She says the Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is appointed and chaired by the mayor, needs to cooperate more with the Andover Chamber of Commerce to attract business.

"It's very hard to attract businesses," said Reams, who was elected to the council in 2007. "We just all need to be on the same page."

Lawrence and Reams both embody Andover in their own way.

Lawrence, 40, grew up and attended schools there with his future wife, as their two children have. "I was here when Andover had 1,200 people, not 11,700," he said.

Reams, 39, was part of that influx, moving here from southeast Kansas 11 years ago and throwing herself into community activities. She and her husband have three children in Andover schools.

"Being the mayor of Andover would be a wonderful opportunity," she said.

Lawrence owns the Collision Center of Andover, as well as a towing business. He said the principles of running a small business "are not much different" than serving as mayor. He sees himself as a consensus builder on the council and notes that he has rarely had to use his vote to break ties.

One issue where he did so — and disagreed with Reams — was over mandating trash recycling. Lawrence voted against it, temporarily defeating the measure, although a majority of the council later sided with Reams.

"Why try to dictate to a community the type of trash hauler you have to use?" Lawrence said. "What's next? Are you going to tell somebody you've got to go to this type of grocery?"

Lawrence has also taken a poke at Reams during the campaign for allegedly planning to use a city post as a stepping stone to higher office.

"I don't give a flip about anything but Andover," he said. "Her interest is a career in politics. I think it's an important difference."

Reams is group events coordinator for The Alley Indoor Entertainment center in east Wichita. She earned a degree in music from Pittsburg State and is now doing graduate work in political science online through the University of Maryland.

Reams said the trash vote ended up saving residents money in the long run. And she downplays the suggestion that she's gunning for higher office, at least not any time soon.

"I have no desire beyond where I am now," Reams said. "My kids are little. Twenty years down the road, maybe."

Based on her conversations with voters, Reams said she thinks Andover city leaders should make a bigger effort to let residents know what's going on.

"I have questioned the transparency of our city government," she said. "We should be more creative, whether it's putting more information on the city website or (cable) TV channel."

Lawrence said that effort is under way now.

Both candidates say that commercial growth is the key to maintaining good municipal services without raising taxes. Andover's population has grown rapidly despite relatively high taxes.

Reams said the Convention and Tourism Bureau's decision several years ago to stop contributing about $40,000 a year to the Chamber of Commerce was a mistake.

"The chamber has proven itself over the past several years," she said. "It's time to get together and work."

Lawrence said the City Council approved that decision. He says commercial development naturally stalled during the recession but the city is on the right track.

"I make it a point to stay in contact with every developer and landowner in Andover," he said. "I know these people. They know me."

This story was originally published March 28, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Commercial development a top priority for Andover's two candidates for mayor."