HILLSBORO MAYOR

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? Why do you want to serve in this position?

I have spent most of the past 27 years serving my community either as an elected or appointed official. I care deeply about our city and its future.

It is very important to keep improving the city of Hills?boro while keeping our expenses in check. We have recently updated our water system and built new sewer lagoons and are preparing to rebuild some of our most-used streets. This infrastructure is necessary to have a progressive community.

We have completed the area of the new business park to allow for the new and expanded automobile dealership. It is very important to continue working on these types of projects while keeping our tax mill levy as even as possible.

I believe we need continued leadership as this city moves forward to assist in ongoing growth of population and business.

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? What life experiences have you had that prepare you for this role?

I have served on the Hillsboro Housing Authority, Hillsboro Planning and Zoning Board and the Recreation Commission, as well as serving six years on the city council and 18 years as mayor.

I believe this gives me the experience that is needed to lead our city as we go forward. Leadership is extremely important as we deal with the everyday decisions we need to make. Leadership is needed as we plan for the future. Every decision that we make today has an impact on the future, not just of the physical appearance and operation of Hillsboro, but on the lives of those who have chosen to make this their home and/or place of employment.

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? Please provide relevant personal information.

I have been a resident of Hills?boro for 49 years and have had the opportunity to raise my family in this community. My husband, John, and I are the proud parents of three sons, two daughters-in-law, two grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, and seven step-great-grandchildren. We are very proud of each one of them.

I will have my 70th birthday the end of April. I graduated from Wichita High School North and attended both Tabor College and Friends University, majoring in mathematics and accounting. I was not able to complete my degree due to finances.

I have owned and operated the Real Estate Center in Hillsboro for the past 32 years. I have been involved in many activities in our community in addition to the elected and appointed positions, which I have mentioned previously. Most of these involved working with organizations that my sons were involved with.

I have also represented Hillsboro by serving on the governing body of the League of Kansas Municipalities and was recently appointed to serve on the steering committees for the National League of Cities for both Small Cities Council and the University Cities and Councils.

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? Why do you want to serve in this position?

I want to bring more jobs to Hillsboro so people won?t have to move to other counties or states for employment. I want to create a game room with video games for children so they can go and play. I want to create a dog park so people who have dogs can take them there to run, play and walk. This town will be a lot better. I want to work with people.

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? What life experiences have you had that prepare you for this role?

I have no experience being mayor or running for office. This is my first time. I can do my best to be a good mayor.

Hillsboro would be a healthy town if there was no meth. If the people elect me mayor, I would make sure no one could make meth in Hillsboro no more. I would try to be the best mayor for Hillsboro.

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? Please provide relevant personal information.

My step-dad does odd jobs. I stay home and take care of my animals and the house. I can work real hard.

I graduated from Little Kansas Oklahoma High School in 1999. I used to work at Alco in 2001, then I worked at Tabor College in 2002.

We need a place for the children to go play when they have spring break and summer vacation.

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USD 410 – POSITION 3

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? Why do you want to serve in this position?

I am a service-oriented individual, and am grateful for the opportunities the Hillsboro community has given to both myself and my family. It is with a servant?s heart that I place myself as a candidate for the USD 410 Board of Education.

It is mind-blowing to consider that school board members make up the largest body of elected officials in the United States. We entrust them to set the policies of our most treasured institutions: our public schools. They have to set up and maintain an effective, efficient organizational structure for the district that lets the superintendent and administrators manage the schools, teachers teach and students learn.

The past and current members of the board have done this with great success. Over the last year, they have had to make difficult decisions, with more to come. The board members have done so with profound care.

It is my hope that my election would prove to be a complementing asset to the current membership of the board.

I am not a ?hot button? candidate. I am not trying to push through one issue or one agenda. The success of USD 410 impacts me directly in that it impacts the future my child?ren strive to achieve. I want USD 410 to maintain the standard of excellence it carries to date.

The issue of funding is going to be at the top of any working agenda. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer for coping with it.

I believe USD 410 can cope with these funding issues by being consistent in the strong decision-making abilities they have exhibited to date. This requires analysis, balancing of needs and concerns, and the ability to see the long-term implications of an action.

I hope to partner with the current board members in working toward that light at the end of the tunnel that would indicate alleviated financial pressure and the freedom to focus on preparing our students for that amazing future that lays as a potential for each one.

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? What life experiences have you had that prepare you for this role.

School districts are very complex corporations; they?re often the largest employers in a community and the decisions they make reach far, affecting jobs, resources and most importantly, the education of all children. With that stated, I hold that the following are the qualities I can bring to the table:

? I have the ability to work well with a team and support group decisions, coupled with an understanding that the Board sets a climate for the entire district.

? I desire to maintain a strong relationship between the district and the public it serves.

? I possess a keen eye toward serving the needs of all students, regardless of abilities and backgrounds.

? I have a professional, poised demeanor, and respectful, respectable behavior.

? I have a respect for diverse points of view.

? I am committed to preserving the time and energy necessary for attending meetings, fielding phone calls, initiating conversations, visiting schools, and attending professional development seminars and workshops.

? Over the last year, I have endeavored to develop a working knowledge of district policies, guidelines, needs, challenges and strengths.

At the heart of it all, I believe in the value of public education. I am dedicated to serving and teaching all children. I believe in the democratic process and understand that my role would be to act strategically, in line with the interests of the entire school community. With that dedication and qualification, I submit for the public to decide if I am who they want to represent them on this board of education.

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? Please provide relevant personal information.

Over the past 11 years, I have been blessed with different opportunities to serve the youth of Marion County and in Hillsboro specifically. These opportunities range from teaching Sunday school, to teaching pre-school, to coaching and managing a youth soccer program, and into the realm of working in special education.

My husband is serving currently with both the Hillsboro Fire Department and EMS unit. My children are thriving in the welcoming and cohesive environment that Hillsboro represents.

As this new year turned, the circumstances proved favorable for me to consider seeking election to the USD 410 Board of Education. I look at this simply as an extension of the last 11 years. Quite profoundly, election to this position will be a way for me to continue to serve the young people in Hillsboro.

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? Why do you want to serve in this position?

To be part of a team that helps USD 410 move positively forward toward the future in these tough economic times.

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? What life experiences have you had that prepare you for this role?

I have always worked with and for the public since graduating college in 1989. I have worked and currently work in a business where financial decisions are made on millions of dollars, as would be the case for the school board. That is substantially different than someone who is used to working with their personal income.

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? Please provide relevant personal information.

I have been married to Barbara for 16 years and we have three children: Tyler and Ashley, both attended school in Hillsboro, Bradli in eighth grade. I am 45 years old, born and raised in Sharon Springs, attended Fort Hays State University and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in business communication. I have worked for Cooperative Grain and Supply for the 121?2 years that I have lived in Hillsboro.

My connections with the community include:

? Served on the Hillsboro Housing Authority;

? Past Kiwanis member for four years;

? Currently serving on the Hillsboro Golf Association Board.

? Taught Wednesday night youth class at my church.

? served on Hillsboro Elementary School and Hillsboro Middle School site council for seven years.

? Volunteer at Main Street Ministries the first Monday of every month.