By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
After serving in law enforcement for more than 27 years – 25 of those with the Kansas Highway Patrol – District 2 Ellis County Commission candidate Al Ackerman believes his leadership experience makes him a perfect candidate for public office.
Ackerman, a Hoxie native, is challenging District 2 County Commissioner Barb Wasinger in the Republican primary Aug. 2.
Serving as a county commissioner was always something Ackerman wanted to do but, until his retirement, from the Kansas Highway Patrol in 2014, he was not allowed to.
“I’ve always been interested in it,” Ackerman said. “I just want to be part of the county leadership.”
Ackerman moved to Hays 11 years ago when he transferred from the Johnson County area to Hays and he worked as a zone supervisor. He was in charge of troopers in Ellis and Russell counties.
Before working law enforcement Ackerman began working in the oil industry in the 1980s but found himself without a job following a slump in prices. With his previous experience in the oil field, Ackerman said he understands what the county is going through in the current downturn.
“I’ve experienced that pain that caused me to be out of a job,” Ackerman said. “I kind of can empathize with people in that regard.”
Ackerman said he believes the current commission is doing a good job but says when the times are tough serving on the commission can be “a thankless job.”
However, he said he would have done some things different. One of those is the jail and courthouse remodel and the construction of the Emergency Services building. Ackerman would have rather had the county keep the property at 22nd and Vine, instead of selling it too Commerce Bank for the property on Eighth Street.
He said he would have liked them to use that property to build a facility that could have better fit the county’s needs.
“Even though we have a so-called new jail, it’s extremely problematic,” Ackerman said.
With the decline in oil and gas revenue, Ackerman said he thinks there still too much unnecessary spending happening.
Ackerman said, “You have to trim where you can and you have to put ‘no’ in the vocabulary again.”
He also said he would look at what the county spends each year funding outside agencies.
“You want to be a part of the community as a county, and you want to help but, unfortunately, ‘no’ may become necessary to tell some of those folks and say ‘We’re sorry we cannot do this,’ ” Ackerman said.
Ackerman said he would also like to focus on rebuilding trust in the community, professionalism and communication with county employees.
“You have to listen to your constituents and to be a good leader you have to be a good listener,” Ackerman said.
He added, “As a commissioner, you need to understand what guidelines there are and the laws in place to govern or dictate to the county treasurer for example, as to what they are allowed to do in their office because the state obviously regulates that.”
“With my leadership and supervisory experience over the years,” Ackerman said. “I know the pains of being a leader but I know the rewards of it.”