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.
Not meant to be any sort of shot at Ms. Gonzales but the way to get cheaper rates for kcks residents is to actually hire an outside entity to govern the utility. I realize some of the upper hierarchy knows this already but I see this as a good time and place to mention it myself – o.k., I’m done posting here for a while.