By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The Hays City Commission seat of James Meier is open for election this year, but Meier will not run for re-election. He and his family will soon be moving to Wichita.
Meier made the announcement publicly during last night’s city commission meeting.
“I’ve taken a position with Via Christi in the in-patient pharmacy at St. Francis (Wichita) as a manager,” Meier said, “and we’ll be moving down somewhere in the Wichita area whenever we get the house sold (in Hays.)”
Meier and his wife are both from the Wichita area. Following the commission meeting, he said the move will bring them closer to family.
The job offer was the third such one for Meier.
“It was pretty hard to decide that, because quite honestly, I like doing this,” Meier told the other commission members and city officials at Thursday’s meeting. “I really like serving with you guys. I really think we’ve done a lot of good things in the last four years. I really would like to run again but at a certain point you have to decide what is more important to you.
“In the past two years, I’ve gotten the offer of two different jobs that were along the same lines and I passed,” said Meier, “mostly so I could just keep sitting in this chair.
“After the last one, my wife and I decided that if it came up a third time, we wouldn’t say no.”
Meier is currently the pharmacy supervisor at Hays Medical Center and is a board-certified oncology pharmacist.
Meier’s last meeting as a city commissioner is the May 2 work session. The commission will appoint his replacement to fill the unexpired term. The general election is Nov. 2.
Meier thanked Hays residents for voting for him; the other commissioners thanked him for his service.
“It’s been a big learning opportunity. I think I’ve changed a lot in four years, maybe for the better,” Meiers added. “It’s been one of the best experiences of my life. I’m really sad that I have to be leaving.”
“As are we,” added Commissioner Sandy Jacobs.
“I hope the citizens really realize the gift that he gave us over four years,” she said. “He’s extremely knowledgeable, really convicted, does his homework and takes it very, very seriously. He truly works for the citizens of this community and for how we spend money.
“He’s made me a better commissioner in the three years I’ve been on the commission. I’m proud to work with him, but more than that, I’m proud to call him my friend.”
“You’re intelligent and motivated,” Mayor Henry Schwaller told Meier. “You look at both sides of an issue. You certainly did come with a certain perspective, and you’ve matured and you’ve changed. You brought a lot to this commission body. You will be missed.”
Jacobs said she hopes Meier will consider running for office in Sedgwick County.
“We’ll see what’s open down there,” Meier replied.