By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

As the Ellis County Environmental Supervisor, Mason Ruder, 28, works closely with the city of Hays.

As a candidate for the Hays city commission, Ruder believes that experience gives him an edge.

“Regulations is what I do,” he laughs.

“Doing planning and zoning for the county and knowing state and federal regulations for things, the city shouldn’t be much different.

“We try to work together as best as possible. … seeing what we can do to make the county and the city run more efficiently with as few tax dollars as needed.

Ruder and his wife Tori, who operates an in-home daycare, have a nine-month old daughter, Ryleigh. Ruder is a Hays native and graduate of TMP-Marian High School.

He appreciates that the city is in “fantastic” financial shape and “doing a very good job using our money wisely.”

That puts Hays in a good position, Ruder says, to look for ways to foster growth.

He’s particularly concerned about the need for affordable housing, which could help keep Fort Hays State University graduates from leaving Hays. “We have resources here in the community, Grow Hays and realtors, to do it.”

“As a young professional myself, it was kind of difficult to find a good home to start my life with.”

Ruder feels he would bring a fresh perspective to the commission.

“I’m not running with any ulterior motive. I’m doing it because I love this community.

“I know with a little one at home, I could spend a lot more time with her. But I’m doing this for her, and for everybody else.”

The top two city commission candidates will serve for four years, while the third-place vote-getter will serve for two years.

Advanced voting is underway. The election is Nov. 5.