Still time to ask questions of city council candidates

You still have time to help us set the agenda for the city council candidate forum on March 31st. Candidates are busy developing their positions, but it is also important for residents of Midtown to let candidates know what’s important to them.

Candidates include:

• 4th District in district: Jolie Justus, John Fierro
• 4th District at large: Jim Glover, Jared Campbell, Bryan Stalder, Katheryn Shields
• 1st District at large: Scott Wagner, Jeffrey Roberts
• 2nd District at large: Teresa Loar, Jay Hodges
• 3rd District at large: Stephan Gordon, Quinton Lucus, Virginia “Dee” Evans, Karmello Coleman, Forestine Beasley, Carol Gatlin
• 5th District at large: Dennis Anthony, Lee Barnes Jr.
• 6th District at large: Scott Taylor

Here is the repost of the information about the candidate forum we’re sponsoring with five neighborhoods later this month. Please send your questions so we can get them to the candidates before the forum.

About the candidate forum

The Midtown KC Post and several Midtown neighborhoods are teaming up for a city council candidate forum on March 31. The forum is a chance for residents hear from the candidates and ask questions of the candidates for council seats.

The Valentine, Coleman Highlands, Volker, Hyde Park and Old Hyde Park neighborhood associations are co-sponsoring the forum.

The forum is geared toward 4^th district council candidates and all at-large candidates. (The Midtown KC Post covers 22 neighborhoods, mostly within the 4^th district. Since this is our first candidate forum, we are starting small and working with several 4^th district neighborhoods, and we hope if this forum is a success we will be able to expand to cover all Midtown neighborhoods in the future.)

You have a chance to shape the discussion by asking questions you would like the candidates to answer. At the forum, each candidate will be able to give a three-minute statement which should address what issues the candidates feels are the most important to the Midtown area and how he/she would address those issues. They will then be asked questions based upon the input from residents. The candidates will get your questions in advance so they have a chance to respond during their opening comments if they choose.

Here are some questions to get your started. You can also add comments to this post or email the Midtown KC Post at mjdraper@midtownkcpost.com.

Questions

1. What is the most important city issue you would like the next city council to tackle? (Examples: vacant housing, crime, transportation, business development, attracting residents back to the urban core)
2. What three additional issues would you like to see the next city council focus upon?
3. What do you think it going well right now in the Midtown area?
4. What things could be improved to make Midtown a better place to live, work and play?
5. What would you like to tell the candidates for city council about what you want or need from your city government in the next four years?
6. At the candidate forum, what questions would you like each candidate to answer? (The Midtown KC Post will submit your questions to the candidates in advance and ask them to address your questions in their allotted time. You will also have a chance to ask questions at the end of the candidates’ remarks).

The primary election is scheduled for April 7 this year. Each voter gets to vote for at-large candidates from each council district. Only 4^th district voters can vote on the in-district council members for district 4. The candidates that get the most and second-most votes in the primary face off in the general election on June 23.

Details

Candidate forum for 4^th District and at-large candidates

When: March 31 7-8:30 p.m.

Where: The Writer’s Place, 3607 Pennsylvania

Sponsored by: The Midtown KC Post and the Valentine, Coleman Highlands, Volker, Hyde Park and Old Hyde Park neighborhood associations