KVOE News is underway with its Candidate Spotlight interviews for the 2025 election cycle.
KVOE started with retired businessman Kurt Steinkuhler, who says his retirement gave him another time to give back to his community. Steinkuhler says property taxes are high in Emporia for a variety of reasons, including increased home prices and infrastructure needs. Steinkuhler says the city’s decision to look at a joint task force with Lyon County, USD 253 Emporia and the Emporia Recreation Commission was a good way to foster collaboration on reducing property taxes, even though none of the other entities seem agreeable to the idea. He also says that conversation, especially with Lyon County and Emporia Public Schools, opens up a door for possibly combining certain operations.
Steinkuhler also believes a possible new half-percent sales tax could be used for certain special projects — and also as an offset to property taxes.
When it comes to the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas, which has been running without a permanent president for over 18 months, Steinkuhler says restructuring and, to his perspective, some infighting have slowed down the process. Restructuring has expanded both the number of voting members and added Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College as voting members. Steinkuhler has no issues with the restructuring conversation.
On housing, Steinkuhler says there will always be a push from developers to build new — but the city needs to focus on infill developments, including rehabilitation. He suggests more work on codes to make infill projects more attractive for developers.
Spotlights feature candidate answers to questions about several core topics: property taxes, economic development partners including the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas, housing and a potential new half-percent sales tax.
*Click here for the KVOE.com Candidate Spotlight page featuring interviews with all City Commission candidates
*Click here for the KVOE News Voter Information Guide courtesy of Community National Bank.
