Letters to the Editor (July 28)

Roll call

My son is in the Navy. He was raised in Wichita. He graduated from high school here and went straight into the Navy in 2007.

I think the Navy should scour the rolls and find men and women who are from Wichita or Kansas and offer them an opportunity to be part of the first crew on the USS Wichita, the Navy's latest ship. What a wonderful opportunity.

Balanced budgets

Why don’t we focus on balancing the city county and state budgets? Shouldn’t we want that to be our first priority?

We are already bankrupt at the federal level. If we want a new civic center, then let’s save for the next 10 years and pay cash for it later. No more debt, please.

Kobach for governor

Jobs are key to the future of Kansas and only one candidate for governor has a plan to address the core ways to create jobs in our state.

Kris Kobach is that candidate. He will fight to reduce burdensome regulations in our state government that make Kansas unfriendly to businesses. He will work to lower taxes, which will make our state more attractive to businesses. He will fight to make sure common sense government prevails to ensure business growth.

Kobach’s commitment to job creation is not just rhetoric. Not only does he have a record of reducing government, but he’s brought on a proven private-sector job creator, Wink Hartman, as his lieutenant governor.

A successful Wichita businessman, Hartman has a history of creating jobs and growing successful, profitable businesses. Best yet, Kobach has said that Hartman will work on job growth and reducing the size of government and burdensome regulations while in office.

Thompson for U.S. House

Unlike his Republican contenders, James Thompson is not beholden to the moneyed interests that have destroyed everything good about Kansas. Thompson doesn’t take donations from rich and powerful donors. He depends on grass-roots donors and a lot of hard work.

Rep. Ron Estes will mindlessly follow Republican Party dictum. Thompson is only beholden to the citizens of Kansas.

Kansas has been wrecked by backward thinkers and regressive policies. We need someone who will counteract the disastrous Republican agenda. Thompson will support Medicaid expansion to end the suffering being imposed on those with low incomes.

He will support education, because he believes this is how we develop the next generation for the future they will inhabit. He will support solar and wind energy to give future generations the tools they will need to survive. He will support women’s health care and challenge the Republican war on women. He will support medical marijuana to relieve kids from seizure disorders and alleviate the current opioid crisis that is killing people and ruining lives. There are many more reasons why we need Thompson in Washington; I’ve only mentioned a few.

Nicks for County Commissioner

I encourage voters in Sedgwick County District 4 to vote for retired businessman Hugh Nicks as commissioner. We need new county leadership, and Nicks is the most qualified person for the job.

We need a commissioner who understands how to efficiently manage spending. As a successful businessman, Hugh Nicks oversaw a multitude of budgets and operations plans. He’s a fiscal conservative dedicated to keeping taxes low while improving the quality and efficiency of county services.

We need a commissioner who listens. Nicks will focus on issues important to District 4 residents, rather than advancing his own agenda. He believes collaboration builds community and he will work cooperatively with elected officials in communities within his district — Wichita, Maize, Valley Center, Sedgwick, Park City and Kechi — to ensure that county planning and economic development opportunities benefit all.

We need a commissioner who understands that leadership requires reasoned thought and wise actions. Nicks believes more innovation is needed to make jobs and economic development our top priority. As a proven business leader, he will be a catalyst for growth and positive change in county policies and practices.