Letters on sales tax, Schodorf, Young

Sales tax unfair to lower-income

“What would you pay under the proposed new sales tax?” (Oct. 8 Eagle) clearly demonstrated just how unfair the proposed sales tax is for the listed and arguably needed improvements. A person with an income of $20,000 per year would pay more than three times the percentage of his annual income than the person with an annual income of $160,000. There are fairer ways to raise the needed money.

Boasting (by the Yes Wichita campaign) about the fact that we would collect some of the money from people (visitors and tourists) who will not benefit from the tax, by the way, is rather cheesy, bordering on dishonesty that I’d rather not be part of.

City has a plan

The field director of Americans for Prosperity-Kansas, who claims that the city “just doesn’t have a plan” for the proposed 1-cent sales tax, obviously spent no time with the city’s website, which clearly details why the tax is necessary and how it will be spent (“City lacks plan,” Oct. 5 Letters to the Editor).

Furthermore, the notion that the city will spend the money irresponsibly dismisses the public input that contributed to the plan initially – 4,000 surveys and 2,000 participants in 102 meetings – and the citizen committee that will ultimately oversee the expenditures.

Frankly, I suspect that the letter writer’s plea for “more analysis and planning” has more to do with the transit portion of the plan than sincere concern for the public good. The Koch-funded AFP, whose overriding preoccupation is the protection of fossil fuels, has been waging war on local transit, including high-speed rail, all across America, including Indianapolis; Loudoun County, Va.; Boston; Nashville; Los Angeles; and likely Milwaukee and Oregon.

Look at Schodorf

I have been amazed by the workings of the Kansas secretary of state in an office that was low-profile until four years ago.

The only time I was supposed to have contact with Kris Kobach, I didn’t. When I was speaker of the Silver Haired Legislature, he was supposed to swear us in on the first day of our legislative session. He was a no-show and sent an assistant. He was out of the state that day.

Then we have Jean Schodorf. She is a speech therapist. I know her well as a teacher and former Wichita school board member and state senator. She would get by on the secretary of state’s pay and wouldn’t have to moonlight, as Kobach does.

I am asking my fellow seniors to take a good look at both candidates and make a decision on qualifications, not name recognition.

Vote for Young

The statewide political races in Kansas are important. The race for governor, secretary of state and U.S. Senate are making the national news.

However, the local race for Sedgwick County Commission for District 5 is even more important for our everyday lives. The candidates in this race are perhaps not as well-known and do not get the same news coverage.

Richard Young is the only candidate in this race who has the local government experience necessary for this job. His knowledge has been shaped by his 10 years of service as Rose Hill planning commissioner, City Council member and mayor.

The county government provides many essential services. Budget shortfalls put us all at risk. Public safety requires a critical level of resources for police, fire and emergency medical service. Young would use our tax dollars wisely and restore these services to acceptable levels without raising taxes. He would be a very necessary voice of reason on the commission.

For more information, go to cc-5.org. Vote Richard Young for District 5 county commissioner.

This story was originally published October 12, 2014 at 7:06 PM with the headline "Letters on sales tax, Schodorf, Young."