From spending policy to data centers, Lyon County Commission First District candidates Ken Duft and Rolland Trahoon II had some similarities and some striking differences when it came to different policy matters
One of the key differences came up almost immediately. Duft says the main issue facing district residents, and Lyon County residents as a whole, is the potential presence of solar farms.
Trahoon is also opposed to solar farms, but he says economic development and population growth are connected items for him.
On economic development, Duft says the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas needs a permanent president to help spur efforts towards new jobs of expanded job opportunities.
If it’s possible, Emporia’s data center proposal — and the recent expansion into policy discussions in Americus — has become a hotter topic than property taxes. Both Trahoon and Duft say they need a lot more information before they would be comfortable in voting yes — or no — to any data center proposal.
Duft says knowing the potential end user will bring a lot of answers to the table.
Duft and Trahoon also say they would support a countywide vote on the future of data centers. Both also say potential property tax revenues would be a big benefit for county residents, but it’s not clear to them whether that would outweigh concerns about energy costs, water use, environmental changes and other issues.
Duft is running for his second term in office. This would be Trahoon’s first elected government position.
KVOE has one more Candidate Forum for this election cycle. That will be at 10:06 am Thursday, with Kansas House 76th District Republicans Art Freund, Russel Stukey and Mark Weiser all hoping to be the Republican nominee after Brad Barrett decided against seeking another term in office.
The Candidate Forum schedule comes as the voter registration window closes at the end of business Tuesday, followed immediately by the mailing of over 300 advance ballots to Lyon County voters Wednesday. Also, offsite voter hours begin Wednesday at the Fairgrounds Anderson Building. Hours will be 10 am to 4 pm July Wednesday and Friday, 10 am to 6 pm Thursday and 9 am to 1 pm Saturday.
Click here for the KVOE.com Voter Information Guide courtesy Community National Bank & Trust.
