Voter guide: What City Council District 6 candidates say about homeless policies, taxes
Homelessness and property taxes are among key issues for the three candidates vying to represent the central Wichita District 6 on the Wichita City Council.
Incumbent Maggie Ballard faces two opponents — Brett Anderson and Margaret Shabazz — in her quest for a second term.
District 6 covers parts of central and northwest Wichita generally between I-135 and I-235 from parts of downtown and Delano north to Valley Center.
City Council races are nonpartisan, meaning parties do not hold primaries or caucuses and party affiliation does not appear on the ballot. Members are elected for four-year terms by district. Council member pay was recently raised to $57,985.20 a year.
The election is Nov. 4. Advance voting by mail is open now. Request a ballot here by Tuesday, Oct. 28. Advance voting in person starts Monday, Oct. 20 at the Sedgwick County Election Office, 510 N. Main, Suite 101, in Wichita. Go here for details and information on satellite sites opening Thursday, Oct. 30.
Here is what candidates said in response to The Eagle’s voter guide questionnaire. The responses have not been edited.
Brett Anderson
Age: 45
Occupation: E-commerce sales
Campaign phone: 316-351-9748
Campaign email: brett@anderson4wichita.com
Website: Anderson4wichita.com
Why should voters consider you the most qualified candidate? What is your overall vision? I want Wichita to be a safer and cleaner city along with having a more structurally stable economy. We need to understand what makes Wichita great and focus on those qualities.
What is your top priority and what specifically would you do to address it? Top priority is a tough one. There are a few major issues at the moment, but I feel the property tax issue is a big one. Homeowners need some tax relief and peace of mind. I would explore a city-wide sales tax to help offset the property tax burden. I would also explore having a one-time consumption tax on property, just like if you would go to the store and you pay taxes on your purchases. Once that balance was paid off, you don’t owe any more taxes on that property.
How do the needs of your district differ from the rest of the city? How would you advocate for the district’s unique needs? I don’t believe the needs of District 6 are necessarily much different than the rest of the city. District 6 does have a growing number of homeless and that is an area that will need addressed. Not only for the safety of the homeless themselves, but the residents and businesses of District 6.
The city lowered its property tax mill levy slightly this year for the first time in nearly 40 years. Would you advocate to raise or lower the mill levy in the future? How would you balance that with funding city services? I am a proponent of lowering the mill levy. This is tied to property taxes and people need relief from their property taxes. I would balance that by looking at what the city needs to function. If it is not a core service the city needs to provide, then discussions need to be had on cutting back on some of those services.
If you had to cut city services because of a lowered mill levy, what would you cut? Is there anything you wouldn’t cut? Like I said above, discussions need to be had on what services to cut. At this time, I cannot say what would go and what would stay. However, I will say police and fire would not be on the chopping block. Again, we need to evaluate our needs over our wants.
Is there a particular city service that you think needs more resources? If so, how would you pay for that? I would say the police force is an area that needs more resources. I believe the role of police officers has been expanded over the last couple decades, so more resources are needed. I would try to pay for it through a city-wide sales tax. I would also explore other areas of revenue to pay for additional resources. I don’t want any of these resources tied to a property tax.
Maggie Ballard
Age: 43
Occupation: Wichita City Council Member District 6
Campaign phone: 316-214-1501
Campaign email: maggie@votemaggieballard.com
Website: www.votemaggieballard.com
Why should voters consider you the most qualified candidate? What is your overall vision? I grew up in District 6, owned two businesses in the district and ran a non-profit with my son to reduce food insecurity in our neighborhoods. In 2021, I decided to step up and run for City Council. We have so many big projects in the works to improve our City and make it a place we are proud to leave to our children and future generations. It’s important we don’t slow down now and I’m committed to finishing the progress we’ve started, if re-elected to my final term.
What is your top priority and what specifically would you do to address it? My top priority is to finish the full project at Second Light and keep our promises to the neighborhood. When Park Elementary was first presented as an option for our new resource hub, I was skeptical. The full vision for this project is far more than just a temporary shelter, when it is complete, it will include transitional housing and resources folks need to get back on their feet. If done right, this will be an asset that helps our whole community and my top priority is reaching that goal.
How do the needs of your district differ from the rest of the city? How would you advocate for the district’s unique needs? District 6 is very diverse. We are home to some of the wealthiest and some of the poorest residents of our City. Not only do we have racial diversity, we also speak multiple languages. In order to represent District 6 well, I think it’s critical to understand what makes each neighborhood unique and ensure that City Hall is responsive to all of those unique needs. As your District 6 council member, I focus on meeting people where they are to keep in touch with how to improve services for them.
The city lowered its property tax mill levy slightly this year for the first time in nearly 40 years. Would you advocate to raise or lower the mill levy in the future? How would you balance that with funding city services? When people in our district reach out to me, it’s never to complain about paying too much money in City taxes. Generally it’s to complain about why City services aren’t more available. While it’s a nice political talking point for some to brag that they reduced the mill levy, I find it irresponsible. The amount of money families will save from this tax reduction will be so small most won’t even notice, but they will notice when response times increase and pot holes aren’t fixed as quickly.
If you had to cut city services because of a lowered mill levy, what would you cut? Is there anything you wouldn’t cut? During my first two years on Council, we worked hard to find funds to make up for major problems that had been ignored for years. We didn’t raise taxes to do it, we found waste and reallocated that money to services that residents asked to see. For the first time in decades, we are planting more trees than we are removing and we increased funds to repair roads more quickly. I don’t support cuts to any of these objectives that were based on resident feedback to community budget surveys.
Is there a particular city service that you think needs more resources? If so, how would you pay for that? I would love to see more resources go into our Parks and Recreation Department. We never have enough budget for landscaping and tree projects. I’d also love to see more parks staff and programming for our community. Wichita kids shouldn’t have to rely on competitive sports teams or the YMCA. Strong parks programming keeps our kids busy and out of trouble. I’d support a short-term sales tax to fund our public safety infrastructure projects in the CIP to free up general funds for Parks and Rec.
Margaret (Wheeler) Shabazz
Age: 40
Occupation: Process assurance trainer
Campaign phone: 316-399-3301
Campaign email: margaretshabazz16@gmail.com
Website: www.shabazzforchange.com
Why should voters consider you the most qualified candidate? What is your overall vision? I will bring leadership rooted in accountability, compassion, and transparency. My focus is on rebuilding trust in local government, ensuring taxpayer dollars serve people — not special interests. I will revitalize existing structures, expand affordable housing, and include neighborhoods in decisions. Wichita deserves leadership that listens, acts with integrity, and puts people over politics.
What is your top priority and what specifically would you do to address it? My top priority is addressing homelessness with compassion and accountability. I will establish designated zones where outreach teams can meet people where they are, provide wraparound care, and connect them to housing and jobs. By cutting wasteful spending and redirecting funds to proven solutions, we can restore dignity, safety, and trust in how Wichita serves its people.
How do the needs of your district differ from the rest of the city? How would you advocate for the district’s unique needs? District 6 has been overlooked for years. We face aging infrastructure, neglected neighborhoods, and a lack of affordable housing and small-business support. I will advocate for equitable investment by pushing for transparency in how city funds are distributed, prioritizing repairs, revitalizing existing structures, and ensuring our residents see real results — not promises — when it comes to city services.
The city lowered its property tax mill levy slightly this year for the first time in nearly 40 years. Would you advocate to raise or lower the mill levy in the future? How would you balance that with funding city services? Lowering the mill levy sounds good, but it came at the cost of essential services our neighborhoods rely on. I will not support raising or lowering taxes without first ensuring our budget is transparent and efficient. Before asking residents for more, we must cut waste, prioritize core services, and make sure every tax dollar truly serves the people of Wichita — not unnecessary projects.
If you had to cut city services because of a lowered mill levy, what would you cut? Is there anything you wouldn’t cut? I would start by cutting wasteful spending — projects that don’t directly serve residents, like luxury developments and inflated contracts. I would not cut core services that protect families, such as housing, public safety, or neighborhood maintenance. Wichita must prioritize people over projects and invest in what truly strengthens our communities, not what looks good on paper.
Is there a particular city service that you think needs more resources? If so, how would you pay for that? Homeless outreach and affordable housing need more resources. I will fund them by cutting wasteful spending and demanding transparency in city contracts. Partnering with nonprofits and landlords can expand impact without raising taxes. Investing in housing and outreach is both compassionate and fiscally smart — it strengthens neighborhoods and reduces long-term costs for Wichita.
This story was originally published October 16, 2025 at 4:35 AM.