By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
All the audience seats were filled for Tuesday night’s Hays City Commission Candidate Forum at Fort Hays State University hosted by the FHSU American Democracy Project and the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce.
After brief opening statements of introduction from the four candidates, prepared questions came from moderator Dr. Larry Gould, FHSU professor of political science, followed by written questions submitted by the audience.
Three of the candidates are political newcomers: Lance Jones, a career counselor with the National Guard; James Meier, a HaysMed pharmacist; and Scott Simpson, owner of Best Radiator.
Along with incumbent Henry Schwaller IV, president of the real estate investment firm Henry Schwaller and Associates and an FHSU business management professor, the candidates gave their views about the city’s water policies and the R-9 Ranch as a long-term water source.
All agreed for the need to conserve “a precious resource.” Meier, who has a private water well at his home, said if the city is to grow, a new water source will be needed. “We should move forward with the R-9 project.” Simpson said he is “open to other options that might be less expensive than the R-9 Ranch,” but acknowledged “a lot of research and money” has already been invested in the project.
The candidates had differing views of the city’s economic development strategy and how to improve it.
“I put up a new building a few years back,” Simpson said, “and it became quite an endeavor to comply with some of the building code. I think it wasn’t uniform building code as much as it was local policy for building. That can be prohibitive.” He also advocated “putting in as many types of businesses as possible” and is wary of “big businesses that take advantage of tax breaks from the city and then leave town, leaving a lot of people without jobs.” He cited the Travenol plant closure in 1984.
Meier said the strategy should be “not to concentrate on what the commission can do for businesses but how the commission can remove obstacles to businesses coming to town. ..Land prices are somewhat outrageous and building codes could be eased.” He added that it’s important for the Chamber of Commerce, Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development and the Downtown Hays Development Corporation to work together.
“I’m very much in favor of bringing in new businesses but there’s an underlying issue of affordable housing,” according to Jones. “People who work in Hays don’t live in Hays. They can’t afford it. Before we can even bring in businesses that want to employ 100 or 200 people, we have to have places for these employees to live.”
Schwaller, seeking his sixth term on the commission, touted “focusing on new businesses, and, build on what’s already here and invest in it. Our strengths are the university, the medical areas and we have fiber to the premises everywhere which means Hays can compete with business from Los Angeles to New York to Chicago.”
A final question from the audience asked the candidates whether they agreed with outgoing Hays City Commissioner Kent Steward’s recent suggestion that city commissioners’ pay be increased from $150 a month to $1,500 a month.
The three first-time candidates all said they were “unaware of the commission pay” when they decided to run.
“It might draw more candidates–there are just four of us here tonight–and we’re all high quality candidates,” said Jones, “but I would vote against it. Ten times more than the current pay is probably too much.”
“I would pay $150 a month if I can make a difference and get more feedback from local business owners who provide the jobs and bring the money to town,” Simpson said earnestly.
Meier, who has a Volga German heritage and called Hays the “hometown I never knew I was missing,” replied “No. If you’re sitting up here, you’re not in it for the money.”
Schwaller, who currently serves as mayor, is “opposed to it. We can use $84,000 (a year) in a lot of better ways.”
The entire Hays City Candidate Forum can be seen here, courtesy of Tiger Media Network.
It will also be aired in its entirety on Eagle Community TV Channel 14 numerous times prior to the April 7 election.
Check back with Hays Post for a program schedule.