Month: March 2015

Information from Thomas H. Gordon:
 I am a native of Kansas City, Kan.
 Sumner High School graduate
 Donnelly College graduate
o Student body president – Principal participant in the reinstatement of the student body government after several years of inactivity at Donnelly; this was achieved by the combined efforts of everyday students and the willingness of the faculty to have a relationship that focus on the pragmatic methods of education, such as interpersonal relationships with other students, interaction with the resources of the facility of the school and faculty of Donnelly College, the accomplishments of the reinstatement of the student body government offered a platform of communication of concern and needs of students and the availability of resources to bring a meaningful resolution to all parties concerned.
 Executive vice president for the state of Kansas Silver Haired Legislators
 Executive vice president for the Sumner High School Alumni Association
 Trustee at Bethel Baptist Church
 Serve on the Usher Board at Bethel Baptist Church
 U.S. Marines, Honorable Discharge
o Combat veteran, 13 months in Vietnam; 13 months in Okinawa
o Sergeant
 Insurance industry since 1981 – As an agent and broker of life insurance, health insurance, auto insurance, homeowners insurance.
 Owner of Create Black Ink Insurance Agency & Consulting since 1991
 Current civic service positions:
o Executive vice president; local chairman; executive board member
 Special Group Advisors (SGA) with other associates’ with a focus on life insurance in areas such as taxes, trusts, and buy sell agreements, and wealth distribution concepts.
My personal creed and commitment is to support and defend the rights of all that, I am well qualified according to the will of God.
Philippians 4:11-13 reads as follows: (KJV)
“(11) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
This is the platform for my life, all glory belongs to God!
About BPU
BPU’s water department was originally created in 1909, and its electric utility was operational in 1912. The purpose of the utility, then and to this day, is to provide the highest quality electric and water services at the lowest possible cost. Today the publicly owned utility serves approximately 65,000 electric and 51,000 water customers, primarily in Wyandotte County, Kansas. The mission of the utility and its employees is “to focus on the needs of our customers, to improve the quality of life in our community while promoting safe, reliable, and sustainable utilities.”
Primary duties of a board member for BPU
The Board of Directors is composed of six members, three of whom are elected at-large and three of whom are elected by district. Every two years, three members are elected for four-year terms. The Board chooses a president, vice president, and secretary from its own membership. Members receive a monthly salary of $______. The treasurer of the Unified Government is the ex-officio treasurer of the Board. The Board is charged with the duty to hire a General Manager, who serves as the BPU’s chief executive officer, and who administers day-to-day utility operations.
Generally, Board meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month, at 6 p.m., in the BPU Administration Building at 540 Minnesota Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas. Call (913) 573-9024 to confirm meeting dates and times.
Thomas Gordon is reaching out to bring unity to the people and the Board of Public Utilities. Help make this happen on March 3, 2015.
Some of the many innovative ways that Thomas along with the people of Kansas City, Kan., and the BPU (Board Of Public Utilities) can come together are:
• Live televised BPU meetings; Why not utilize the technology available to communicate the concerns of the customers, so the members of the board of directors of the BPU can have meaningful practical results that are directly beneficial to the people of the BPU.
• The power to ask questions during the live meeting via various media connections; this is key to a provider, customer relationship. This will bring a understandable value for the concerns of the people and the actions of BPU so that it can remain a respected and valuable benefit to the people as well as to the Unified Government.
• To focus on the utility needs of our customers.
• Examine the opportunities to modify the cold weather conditions rule; from being dependent on temperature; to a period of time before your utility services are terminated.
• Clear and comprehensive billing; paying for utility services directly consumed by the consumer.
• Free annual audits of the energy efficiency of customers appliances; this is an attempt to have consumers become and remains energy efficient; lower the consumption of utilities, which affects the cost of the utilities for the consumer and the provider.
• Purchasing program for energy efficient appliances; one of the features of this program will ensure that the labels of energy efficient is correctly reflecting the capability of that appliance.
• Efficient delivery of utilities to customers by BPU with accountable negotiations when outside services or providers are needed for our customers; this is an area that needs a comprehensive review by the members of the board in which I will wholeheartedly participate as a board member.
These suggestions came about with dialogue with Thomas and the current customers of BPU in which I will enthusiastically embrace and will support while serving “the at large position #3 as a member of the Board of Directors for the Board of Public Utilities.” I need your support and the support of your friends. Let this be known to all your friends…that the BPU is a part of the community and Thomas H. Gordon is the link to bring unity to the community in 2015.

Murray D. Anderson Sr. is running for the Board of Public Utilities, 3rd District at large position.

His candidate statement:

BPU privatization campaign platform: The Kansas City, Kan., BPU must be privatized and in fact acquired by the BPU through an employee stock ownership plan.

The value proposition and benefits of privatizing BPU:

1. The BPU employee stock ownership plan shall facilitate real ownership equity in the for-profit business model as stockholders and taxpayers.

2. BPU employee stock ownership plan shall provide the ways and means for the BPU employees that do the real work for the company to build wealth and long-term shareholder value.

3. Privatization of the BPU shall in fact eliminate payment in lieu of taxes, now associated with the cost of Wyandotte County taxpayers and property owners paying our utility bill.

4. Privatization of the BPU shall in fact require the Unified Government mayor and county administrator to be held accountable and be solely responsible for the financial solvency and insolvency of the UG.

5. Privatization of the BPU shall in fact require the UG charter to be amended to re-balance the power of the UG Board of Commissioners and move away from this dysfunctional monarchy form of government that is in fact masquerading as a democracy.