Month: October 2021

Mary Gonzales, candidate questionnaire

Mary Gonzales

Name and office sought: Mary Gonzales, BPU At-Large District 1

Occupation and experience: Retired educator

Education:
BA Education, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama.
MA Curriculum and Instruction, Emporia University.

Organizations, clubs, groups to which you belong:
American Public Power
American Water Works
Rosedale Development Association, board member
Civic Leadership Academy for Olathe schools board member

Reasons for running:

Increase communication and cooperation for joint projects involving the UG and BPU.
To make sure the utility remains a municipal, one that is not governed by an entity outside of KCK, Wyandotte County

Important issues facing this position and how to handle them:
Infrastructure: keeping our system repaired and upgraded is a concern. I would address this by making sound budgetary decisions.
Communication: Finding more and better ways to communicate with our customers.

Incumbent accomplishments:
Some time ago, at a national conference I heard about a plan utilities were using called “pre pay.” Some years later the BPU has a program similar called “Flex Pay.” It was not solely my idea, but I pushed for it.
I respond to customers when they ask for assistance or help with issues in a timely manner.

Run for office previously: I am an incumbent.

100 jobs coming to Bonner Springs

Gov. Laura Kelly today announced that Medline, the country’s largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, will invest $77.5 million to construct a new distribution center and create 100 new jobs in Bonner Springs.

“Medline’s decision to choose Kansas to expand their footprint is a testament to our central location, infrastructure network, and world-class workforce,” Gov. Kelly said. “This project is a major win for Bonner Springs and the state as a whole. This company exemplifies the type of businesses we are working to attract and retain, and this new facility will be a fantastic addition to the local and regional economy.”

Medline provides medical supplies to Kansas City area hospitals, long-term care facilities and across the continuum of health care. The company has outgrown its current facility and plans to bring 141 team members to Bonner Springs. The project also will create approximately 350 construction jobs.

The location is the southwest corner of 110th and Riverview, in the Compass 70 Business Park.

The expansion is part of the company’s Healthcare Resiliency Initiative to increase supply-chain efficiencies, reliability, and speed delivery to customers. Medline has prioritized planning and inventory management systems to ensure supplies can be delivered to its customers when and where they need them.

“Kansas is the perfect place to put down roots that reach the world, and we’re so excited to see Medline ready to do just that while putting more Kansans to work,” Lt. Gov. and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “This news shows once again how our geographic position, infrastructure and workforce make Kansas the best place to invest, which more and more companies are discovering every day.”

“Medline is excited to expand our services to healthcare providers from our future home in Bonner Springs,” Bill Abington, Medline president of global operations, said. “Our state-of-the-art, medical-grade distribution center will allow us to deliver critical healthcare supplies to the entire continuum of healthcare, quicker, more efficiently, and to a broader territory, while creating quality new jobs and opportunity in Wyandotte County.”

“We are excited to welcome Medline to Bonner Springs with the knowledge that they will be a great addition to our city. With their commitment to the community, we are happy to have them select Bonner Springs as their regional distribution facility location,” Jeff Harrington, mayor of Bonner Springs, said.

“We look forward to Medline calling Bonner Springs home here in the Kansas City region in the Compass 70 Business Park. Its central U.S. location and access to the interstate makes this a great location for them to reach their customers,” Greg Kindle, president of the Wyandotte Economic Development Council, said. “Thank you to Medline, the city of Bonner Springs and the state of Kansas for bringing this project to fruition.”

Claudine Sanders, candidate questionnaire

Claudine Sanders

Name and office sought: Claudine (Dinie) Sanders running for Unified Government, Commissioner at-large District 2.

Age: 51

Occupation and experience: I have worked in Armourdale at CSTK, Inc., a refrigerated trucking sales and service center, for 25 years. I have worked every office job there in my time, from HR director, A/P, A/R, parts management, service writing/management, corporate accountant and now serve as the administrative manager. I have also been the executive secretary for Wyandotte County Bar Association since January 2020.

Education: Associates degree in business administration/general accounting received from American Institute of Business in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1990.

Organizations, clubs, groups to which you belong: Armourdale Renewal Association former secretary and current vice president since 2015; Stony Point – Hunters Glen Neighborhood Association former secretary and president, current member since 2015; District Attorney Community Liaison Board since its creation in 2017; 12 Step “Anonymous” Program since getting clean and sober 11/29/97, in which I’ve held nonprofit positions in from meeting leader to regional convention chair and multi-zonal service symposium registration chair.

Reasons for running: The empathy and compassion she has gained from her own journey through addiction – recovery and support for fellow addicts carries over to everyone she meets. She views no person and no situation unmanageable or without promise. Having lived everywhere from 5th Street to 83rd Street and in between, while working in Armourdale the past 25 years, she feels strongly that all residents of WyCo deserve an equitable amount of honor and respect, as well as access to the same services. She lives by her principles and believes that living in the problem and not the solution is unacceptable. Her honesty and openness in her personal life leads her to seek the truth and transparency in others, especially at the level of local government.

What are the three most important issues facing this position and how would you handle them?
Community involvement
We must hold town halls to have discussions with residents. Attending neighborhood meetings is sporadic. I will push to have a monthly town hall in different parts of the county so that all residents have an opportunity to be heard. They are currently allowed a very small amount of time to give voice to issues at Board Meetings.

Community transparency
Create a commissioners page and email the access to residents weekly that plainly and simply states what is happening and what’s coming up. Residents should not have to search through pages of minutes to find out what is going on in WyCo.

Better eco devo
We need to start attracting green energy and technology businesses to WyCo instead of low wage distribution warehouses. I will stop allowing the latter businesses to get in here tax free, when businesses that have been in Wyandotte for decades are experiencing giant property tax increases.

If you are not an incumbent, what would you change if elected?
I would vote yes for Safe and Welcoming.
I would push for help for existing and new small businesses instead of low paying warehouses.
I would ask for a community board to look into the corruption issues that everyone in Wyandotte has talked about for decades and work with the KCKPD and Sheriff’s Department to regain the residents’ trust.

Have you run for elected office previously? When, results?
No.