Hays Post
Michael Berges filed March 12 as a candidate for the Hays City Commission.
There are three seats up for election, those of James Meier, Ron Mellick and Henry Schwaller IV. Mellick and Schwaller have filed for re-election.
Berges has been a licensed financial adviser for 11 years in the Hays community and works at Schaffer & Associates, a financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial with the professional designation Certified in Long-Term Care.
“My family and I feel fortunate to live and work in Hays,” Berges wrote in a news release. “The community has so much to offer. From the library and Sternberg Museum, FHSU events, parks and the pool, health care facilities and special needs services, we can be seen using them all.”
Berges currently serves as treasurer on the board for the ARC of Central Plains, chair of the Tiger Takedown Club, and is member of the Hays Board of Zoning Appeals and the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce.
He is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and participates at First United Methodist Church as well, where his wife, Erica, is a member.
“I was encouraged to run by many that know my interest in keeping current on topics about the city and community as a whole,” Berges said. “There are large projects like the R9 Ranch and Vine Street construction nearing the end of planning phases and will need a strong commission going forward to marshal those projects to completion in the coming years.”
Berges is a 2004 graduate of Fort Hays State University with a degree in political science. His wife Erica is a 2001 FHSU graduate and has been the administrator of the United Way of Ellis County for the past five years. They’ve been married 15 years and have three sons, Jackson, 7, Noah, 3, and Isaac, 1.
“I also see future projects involving our parks, recreation, and quality of life that will be addressed as well as possible expansion needs in the northern part of the city,” he added. “These things require fiscally smart and sustainable strategies.”
“It would be a tremendous honor to serve the people of Hays as commissioner. We have a great community, and I look forward to introducing myself to voters in the coming months,” said Berges.
The candidate filing deadline is noon Monday, June 3, in the Ellis County Clerk’s Office, 718 Main. The filling fee is $20.
There will be a primary election Tuesday, Aug. 6, if enough people file, which is twice the number of seats available plus one.
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
A list of candidate filings is available on the Ellis County website.