The Emporia City Commission half of KVOE’s 2023 Candidate Forums have ended after an on-air conversation Thursday morning.
Incumbent Jamie Sauder and challenger Travis Hitt discussed several topics of note, including how the city can move forward to replace waterlines after a lengthy list of line failures this summer and fall. Hitt says this needs to be a high priority long-term.
Sauder says funding sources may well be relegated to the state’s revolving fund dedicated to water projects.
Candidates were also asked what the city’s role should be when it comes to expanding childcare — a topic now seen as essential to economic development from several angles. Sauder says state regulations could well be the biggest hurdle to overcome for providers. As for the city…
Hitt sees city government as possibly being a trendsetter, depending on the circumstances.
This follows KVOE’s Candidate Forum from Tuesday involving incumbents Erren Harter and Becky Smith, along with newcomer WIll Spencer.
Our focus shifts to the USD 253 Emporia Board of Education for the next two Candidate Forums. Incumbents Jeremy Dorsey, Grant Riles and Leslie Seeley appear at 10:06 am Oct. 19, while newcomers Linda Forbes, Christy Grant and Sam Tovar join incumbent Art Gutierrez at 10:06 am Oct. 24.
All programs will be stored in the KVOE.com Audio Vault after their completion.
