Three hopefuls for USD 253 Emporia school board addressed a lot of topics as part of KVOE’s final Candidate Forum of this election cycle, but coronavirus policy and mitigation strategies dominated the discussion.
Christina Faulkner, Jami Reever and Jennifer Thomas — all political newcomers — spent the vast majority of the forum answering questions from KVOE News and KVOE listeners on COVID policy. Reever, a one-time director of the United Way of the Flint Hills and now the director of Kansas Appleseed, says COVID-19 has put Emporia students behind others across the state, so it’s vitally important for the board to do what it can to keep children in school to learn.
Thomas, a Health Promotions professor at Emporia State, believes personal choice should lead policy. She says political agendas at the national and international levels are unfairly dictating policies locally.
Faulkner, an obstetrics and gynecology provider at Stormont-Vail Health, including Emporia’s Cotton O’Neil Clinic, agrees with Thomas on personal choice taking over district policy. She says mask use isn’t the solid mitigation strategy like a lot of people believe, including many in the medical field.
Another topic that came up was wages and benefits. All three are pleased with the stipend approved through the Elementary and Secondary Schools Relief Fund and the decision to increase the insurance fringe benefit paid out by the district, but they also say the district can do more to compensate teachers as they deserve.
Thursday’s interview followed one Tuesday involving incumbent Mike Crouch and challengers Lillian Lingenfelter and Paul Meinke. Besides Crouch’s spot, there are two other seats up for election this cycle with Doug Epp and Melissa Ogleby declining to run for re-election.
KVOE News has also had Candidate Forums involving five of the six Emporia City Commission candidates. Incumbents Susan Brinkman and Danny Giefer have appeared, along with challengers William Garner, Travis Hitt and Jamie Sauder. Jermy Hinkle was unavailable.
KVOE’s Candidate Forums can be found in the KVOE.com Audio Vault after their completion.
The election process is fully underway at the Lyon County Clerk’s Office as well. Ballots are currently being mailed to residents requesting that option, and that process will continue until Oct. 26. Lyon County’s only off-site election event is Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm at the Fairgrounds Anderson Building. Advance voting at the Courthouse begins Monday and continues weekdays through noon Nov. 1. The election is Nov. 2.
As the election draws near, be sure to browse the KVOE-Community National Bank and Trust Voter Information page online at KVOE.com. The page includes information about upcoming deadlines, Candidate Forums, advance voting procedures and polling locations.