Letters on what voters care about, Sam Williams, Jeff Longwell, Sheril Logan, Russell Dryden, marijuana vote

What gets people up in arms?

What does it take to get people excited, outraged and up in arms?

Is it about the governor and his Legislature driving us to the brink of bankruptcy? Apparently not. Is it about his war on public schools and teachers? I don’t think so.

Is it about a special-needs young man at Wichita East High School whose mother got him an athletic letter jacket about a year ago? Now it’s time to scream, petition and ignite the news media.

You see, if you want their attention, you have to find something the voters care about.

Know Williams

This is my first opportunity to know a candidate for office personally and really well. As a longtime friend of Wichita mayoral candidate Sam Williams, I have an opportunity to evaluate political attacks made against him based on my own detailed and personal knowledge and experience.

I can, therefore, discount negative political claims against him and wholeheartedly recommend him for the office of mayor of Wichita.

Longwell for mayor

Having worked with Jeff Longwell on the Wichita City Council and on many innovative initiatives since then, I’m convinced he is the right person to move Wichita forward as mayor.

When Longwell was first elected, I was concerned that we would have differing goals for our city. I soon learned that we agree on many things needed to move our city forward – strong neighborhoods, good infrastructure, a vibrant downtown and the quality of life that makes people want to live, work and play in Wichita. Even when we did disagree, we were able to discuss the issue, educate each other on our position, and agree on what was best for the city or agree to politely disagree.

Longwell knows what it means to be mayor – running meetings, signing legal documents and representing the city on a global basis. He realizes the mayor has one vote and cannot act as the CEO and dictate what is done. He knows the City Council sets policy and direction for the city while the manager runs the operations. He will build consensus and work with everyone to move the city forward in a direction that involves input from everyone in the community.

Logan qualified

Wichita voters have an opportunity to cast a vote for an extremely qualified person running for the Wichita school board’s at-large position – Sheril Logan.

She is dedicated, hardworking, astute and knowledgeable. As a longtime public educator, I have observed Logan demonstrate her exemplary skills to assist all ages and ethnic and economic groups.

I have been amazed at all the challenges handled by board members, who serve our community without any compensation except the satisfaction of helping students. We need the most forward-thinking, hardest-working and creative-minded people to continue to move our public schools forward. Logan is such a person.

Logan has the operational skills and history in public schools to make viable decisions for students, families, taxpayers, business interests and the entire community. There are limited individuals who are available, qualified and willing to volunteer their time and efforts in this service for our students.

Please vote and be sure to help our community. Vote for Sheril Logan on Tuesday.

Support Dryden

Russell Dryden is running for the Haysville school board. Dryden is a retired schoolteacher. He taught high school math for 39 years in a Kansas public school district.

He is a man who will do what is best for students. It is my belief that this is exactly the kind of man a school district should have on its board.

The citizens of the Haysville school district are lucky to have the opportunity to vote for a no-nonsense problem-solver to help with the financially difficult days ahead for all school districts.

I have known Dryden for several years. He has been a successful teacher, businessman and family man. I am a schoolteacher myself and am proud to support Dryden for the Haysville school board, and look forward to voting for him on Tuesday.

Not legalizing

Because of the ongoing disinformation campaign about the upcoming vote on marijuana, it seems necessary to repeat again: This is not a vote to legalize marijuana in Wichita.

The Peace and Social Justice Center – and the coalition advocating Wichitans vote “yes” – is neutral on the matter of legalization. Voting “yes” will keep marijuana illegal, but will keep individuals caught with small amounts for personal use out of the criminal justice system.

Is this a state issue and not a local one? Because Kansas law doesn’t allow citizens the right to propose initiatives at the state level, we’re starting in Wichita. But a “yes” vote in Wichita will send a strong message to our legislators – that it is time to reserve our overcrowded jails and prisons for violent criminals, not for minor infractions of outdated laws.

This story was originally published April 2, 2015 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Letters on what voters care about, Sam Williams, Jeff Longwell, Sheril Logan, Russell Dryden, marijuana vote."