By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Ryan Rymer filed to run for a seat on the Hays City Commission shortly before the June 3 noon deadline.
A Hays resident since 1997, Rymer became acutely aware of the city’s operations when discussion ramped up about improvements to the the North Vine Street Corridor.
The plan is to install four traffic roundabouts on Vine at 32nd/33rd, 37th, and 41st Streets, and a partial roundabout at the eastbound exit ramp of Interstate 70. In addition, the corridor project calls for W. 37th to be extended west to the new development area and for West 41st – the west frontage road – to be realigned to meet West 37th.
Rymer lives in the 100 block of West 37th and opposes the proposed street extension. He has rallied other residents in the neighborhood to provide safe alternate solutions to the city’s plan to connect 37th to Vine Street.
“My interest in local politics came as I went before the city commission pertaining to the roundabout project,” Rymer told Hays Post. “When Sandy Jacobs stated in the meeting that some in the delegation should consider serving on the commission, an epiphany struck me. With my experience and leadership record, this is certainly a possibility.”
Rymer is employed as the ER coordinator for Russell Regional Hospital, where he has worked as an ER nurse for 11 years.
“My focus has been on providing the best emergent care for citizens of the county, and we’ve made a significant impact for quality improvement on heart, stroke, trauma and sepsis patients,” Rymer said.
In addition, Ryan serves in the U.S. Army Reserves. He attained the rank of major in 2015 and has served a total of 27 years both as enlisted and officer. During his most recent mobilization, he was stationed in Landstuhl, Germany, where he was in charge of the Deployed Warrior Medical Management Center. The DWMMC was responsible for the coordination of care for arriving casualties from multiple theaters of operation as they arrived to Landstuhl, as well as the continuation of care upon return to stateside.
Growing up in Wichita, Rymer moved to Hays shortly after meeting his soon-to-be wife, Alicia. He attended Fort Hays State University and then NCK Technical College where he graduated with his associate’s RN in 2001. Upon graduation from Grantham University, Rymer earned his BSN and graduated magna cum laude.
Rymer and his wife have been married for 21 years. They have two children, Garret and Audrey. Garret will be attending FHSU in the fall of 2019. Audrey will be attending Hays High as a junior in the upcoming year. In their spare time, they enjoy camping at Wilson Lake, taking in the sights of local Hays venues, and assisting family at their farm in Pawnee County.
Rymer says Hays is a “fantastic place to raise a family.”
“My focus, if I’m elected, would transparency of local government, fiscal responsibility, and the growth and development of the city of Hays. With declining population and empty storefronts throughout the city, my efforts will be to reverse these occurrences and to make the city a wonderful place to raise a family for years to come,” he said.
There are three seats open on the Hays city commission. The five candidates are Rymer, Mason Ruder, Michael Berges, and incumbents Ron Mellick and Henry Schwaller IV.
The election is Nov. 5.