Your primary voter guide to who is running for Sedgwick County Commission District 3

Only one of this year’s two Sedgwick County Commission races drew enough candidates to require competitive primaries on Aug. 6.

Democrats AlmaAnn Jones and Celeste Racette and Republicans Alan Reichert, Greg Ferris and Stephanie Wise are vying for their respective parties’ nominations to represent Commission District 3, a sprawling, largely rural district that includes much of west Wichita, as well as Andale, Bentley, Cheney, Colwich, Garden Plain, Goddard, Mount Hope and Viola.

Sarah Lopez, the lone Democrat on the five-member commission, will defend her District 2 seat in south-central Sedgwick County against Republican former Wichita City Council member Jeff Blubaugh in November. Because Lopez and Blubaugh were the only candidates to file, they automatically secured their parties’ nominations.

Commissioners are paid a base salary of $101,527 a year. They are responsible for setting policy direction and approving a budget for vital services such as EMS, 911, Comcare, corrections and the sheriff’s office. They also oversee Fire District 1 and serve as the board of health, the board of canvassers of elections, and the hearing panel on tax appeals.

The advance voting by mail process has begun, and advance in-person voting will get underway Monday, July 22, at the Sedgwick County Election Office in the Historic County Courthouse at 510 N. Main.

To help readers familiarize themselves with the District 3 candidates, The Eagle sent a questionnaire asking each to share biographical details about themselves and responses to a series of questions about their priorities and some of the pressing issues affecting Sedgwick County. Candidate responses have only been edited stylistically for clarity.

Democratic primary

AlmaAnn Jones

Age: 52

Position: Personal assistant to six grandchildren. I’ve served as the elected Democratic Precinct Committee Woman for Precinct 519 since 2016. I also serve on the Civil Service Board of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department and the Sedgwick County Corrections Advisory Board

Past position: Civil Service Board for the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department, appointed by the County Commission, and the Sedgwick County Corrections Advisory Board, appointed by the Mayor and City Council. Served as Precinct Committee person for District 519 since 2016.

Education: Attended Markoma Bible Academy through high school in Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Phone: 316-253-9245

Email: ann41936@gmail.com

Website: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/almaann

Why should voters consider you the most qualified candidate? What is your overall vision?

I’ve spent a decade advocating for families trying to navigate complicated systems of government, often during the worst time of their life. I also serve on community boards, which isn’t flashy and often not very exciting, however, that’s where the real decisions get made. Sedgwick County’s government needs to focus more on customer service and best practices instead of continuing things that we know don’t work simply because we’ve always done them that way. Families are struggling in Sedgwick County and it doesn’t feel like very many people in government care to do anything about it. I’m not afraid to ask the hard questions and I have a proven track record of standing up for the underdog. I will use that experience to stand up for the other regular working people of Sedgwick County.

What is your top priority and what specifically would you do to address it?

My top priority is to get serious about modernizing how we approach mental health and substance abuse in our community. The Sedgwick County Commission also serves as the Board of Health, and in that role, we should be doing much more to tackle these crises in our community. Right now, the County is spending a lot of time doing PR campaigns, but they are not investing in the resources we desperately need. Right now, if someone struggling wants to get help, they can get on a list and maybe get help in 2-3 weeks. If you know anyone who struggles with mental health or addiction, the idea that we are asking families to wait weeks to get help is inhumane. We need a medical detox and to focus on helping those struggling instead of criminalizing them.

What, if any, changes should the county make in the services it provides?

The County should change its focus on providing services that reduce crime, not “fight” crime. My time spent serving on the Sedgwick County Corrections Advisory Board has made clear to me that many of the people we are housing in our jail need help, not punishment. Often, the punishment is something related to being poor, not being a criminal. Instead of criminalizing our own residents and harming their economic potential, we need to create programs that intervene and provide opportunities to change the course of their lives. Until people get the medications or other resources they need, they can’t get back on their feet. That ends up costing us more money in the end than it would to help people turn their lives around earlier before they hit complete rock bottom.

Local property tax revenues have increased each of the last few years. If property values go up again next year, would you support the county capturing more tax money or should the county lower its mill levy?

The County should capture the additional revenues so we can fund the services we need. Every County service is stretched too thin. Sure, politicians can brag they saved you a few bucks, but they ignore the long lines we all have to wait in to pay for our tags or do other business with the County. It costs my family more money to wait in long lines than we ever save when the mill levy is decreased. Property taxes are too high because the Republican supermajority in the Kansas Legislature refuses to do their job and fix the formula that allows property valuations to be raised arbitrarily behind closed doors. Unlike all my opponents in this race, I am willing to stand up to our corrupt and lazy leadership in Topeka, like Dan Hawkins, and shame him until he does his job.

What role should the county play in the community’s ongoing homeless prevention efforts? Should that role include financial support?

The County must be a real partner to the City to provide quality homeless prevention services in our community. I’ve heard other County Commissioners try to pass the buck to the City, but unless we address the issues that lead to homelessness, like addiction and mental health issues, we will never reach functional zero in our community. The County must increase funding to beef up the crisis and intermediate care services provided by ComCare, including increased wages for social workers. We can’t increase the services ComCare provides residents until ComCare can increase its staff and that starts with increased wages and better working conditions to attract and retain workers.

What, if any, county operations should be privatized or consolidated with the city of Wichita? Explain.

I do not support privatizing services, unless it is a professionalized service that the County does not perform often or requires expertise that can be more efficiently provided on contract. If any services are consolidated with the City of Wichita, I would only support it if it provided union representation to County employees. In the past when consolidated services had been discussed, it was designed to eliminate the union bargaining unit that exists at the City and create a consolidated non-union unit. The County suffers due to the lack of collective bargaining agreements with its employees, the EMS scandal is a recent example. The County will only attract and retain high-quality employees if they respect them with fair contracts and wages.

Sedgwick County commissioners approved spending $2.1 million in ARPA money to lease two floors at the Ruffin Building until at least July 2025. Where do you think Sedgwick County’s administrative offices should be located in the long term, and how should it be paid for?

I’m disappointed that the County used $2.1 million on rent when it should have been invested in infrastructure improvements we could not afford prior to receiving ARPA money. When our community is struggling with increased homelessness that is associated with mental health and addiction issues, my top priority would be investing money in prevention and treatment services, not expensive rent in a fancy building that does not even provide a long-term solution for office space. This type of wasteful and short-sighted spending is why people are fed up with the government. Sedgwick County taxpayers, like myself, want the government services we pay for to work. We don’t care how fancy the Commission office space is, but it didn’t stop them from wasting $2.1 million dollars of our money.

Are elections in Sedgwick County secure, accessible and accurate? What, if any, changes would you propose?

The Sedgwick County Commission is put in a unique position as our Election Commissioner is appointed by the Secretary of State. This has resulted in the Election Commissioner being more partisan than most residents would prefer from the person in charge of running secure, accessible, and accurate elections. Overall, I think that our elections are secure and accurate. We can always do more to make elections accessible and our low voter turnout in local elections illustrates that. However, as County Commissioner it is important to me that our Election Office has enough resources to hire the staff they need to do things properly and by the book to maintain the integrity of our elections.

What would you do to make county government more transparent?

The County could be more transparent about how we collaborate with the cities within Sedgwick County. Right now there are boards of elected officials that meet, but it’s more of a way to drink coffee and rub elbows with each other. I’d like to see Sedgwick County follow the example of Johnson County and modernize and streamline the way we do business. There is no need for Sedgwick County to run a bunch of elected offices with separate budgets when that work should be handled by professional staff. This only creates opportunities for politicians to pay off their friends with government jobs or groom their next political replacement. Sedgwick County taxpayers are sick of funding political offices that should be professionalized for efficiency and optics

Celeste Racette

Age: 68

Position: Save Century II Chair, WASC VP, P.E.O. Council, and Wichita Wurltizer Board Member

Past position: FDIC Bank Examiner and Investigations Specialist, Chief Internal Auditor, Manager - Accounting Services, Accounting Officer, Staff Accountant - Sedgwick County Public Works Department, USD 259 Substitute Teacher

Education: MBA, BS Accounting, CUNA Management

Phone: 316-644-5048

Email: celesteforkansas@gmail.com

Website: celesteforkansas.com

Why should voters consider you the most qualified candidate? What is your overall vision?

My 25 year job experience in the banking industry has given me the skills to be a watchdog on behalf of taxpayers. I am concerned about the County finances, especially now that we are spending the last of the $210 million in CARES/ARPA funds the federal government gave us to get through COVID. Property taxes have been rising, and developers have been getting taxpayer funds with limited returns on our investment. My overall vision is to fund essential services, including the new proposed 100-bed mental health hospital and the K-96 expansion to Goddard. The current funding formula for county government needs to be reexamined with the goal of a fair and balanced tax load that doesn’t burden property tax owners.

What is your top priority and what specifically would you do to address it?

My top priority is high-quality government services provided by ethical professional management and funded by a fair and equitable tax structure. This requires the most efficient and waste-free spending. I will lead a public discussion regarding an alternate funding mechanism, such as special purpose sales tax, to relieve the tax burden on property owners. Property assessed valuations increased 7.3% in 2023. Sedgwick County families are reeling from the effects of inflation and increased taxes on their pocketbooks. At the same time, the county must maintain a balanced budget while providing competitive pay and space needs for county government, like administration, public safety and elections.

What, if any, changes should the county make in the services it provides?

The county should partner with the city to minimize duplicated services. This could include consolidating certain functions. Encourage the state legislators to adopt Medicaid expansion to cover the $10,000,000 annual health care expense for the incarcerated. Other changes the county should make in the services it provides would be greater coordination and shared resources to provide greater efficiency. Economic development should not be subsidizing projects that benefit developers, or special interests, at the expense of the taxpayer.

Local property tax revenues have increased each of the last few years. If property values go up again next year, would you support the county capturing more tax money or should the county lower its mill levy?

The county needs to meet is fiscal responsibilities in the face of a looming financial crisis. We are short $5,000,000 in 2025. The county should be extremely cautious about continued reliance on inflationary property tax increases from homeowners. The property tax penalizes homeowners with inflationary valuation increases that can only be recovered if the home is sold. An alternative source of income must be found to remedy this tax burden.

What role should the county play in the community’s ongoing homeless prevention efforts? Should that role include financial support?

The county should continue to lead the community dialog addressing the homeless problems. We must address all aspects of this situation: mental illness, affordable housing, substance abuse, job training, etc. No one entity can solve the problem, but a combined effort using effective communication and shared strategies gives us our best chance for success. Pattern our efforts after OneRise, a San Antonio, Texas, program that is providing tangible results. Funding for this effort should be shared by all community partners, including the state government. Town hall meetings open to the public are an important way to generate support for proposed solutions.

What, if any, county operations should be privatized or consolidated with the city of Wichita? Explain.

The first step is to prioritize consolidation as a community discussion. Bring in independent expertise to identify the most appropriate opportunities for consolidation. Past efforts have been hindered by self-serving government interests. Tourism spending keeps tax funds away from the county even though expenses to maintain and operate Intrust Arena, Exploration Place, and the Sedgwick County Zoo come out of the county’s funds. Economic development should be consolidated between the City and County. Boeing’s acquisition of Spirit affects our economy, we should be working together to maintain those important aerospace manufacturing jobs. Riverfront Master Legacy plans cost $700,000, and now another $400,000 is being spent. Consolidation may provide more effective fiscal oversight.

Sedgwick County commissioners approved spending $2.1 million in ARPA money to lease two floors at the Ruffin Building until at least July 2025. Where do you think Sedgwick County’s administrative offices should be located in the long term, and how should it be paid for?

Alternative sites should be considered, such as the vacant former public library at 223 S. Main where COVID vaccines were administered. The City of Wichita teamed up with the County to open up this 90,000-square-foot public building, and should do so again. There is no reason why this award-winning building should sit empty and disused. There may be other downtown buildings available to purchase. Long-term solutions should be driven by available funding and not reliant on disappearing federal funds. The decision for offices needs to be sustainable into the future. Short-term leases should only be used on a temporary basis.

Are elections in Sedgwick County secure, accessible and accurate? What, if any, changes would you propose?

Yes, Sedgwick County elections are secure, accessible and accurate. However, continued success relies on adequate funding for elections - poll workers, election office staff, and modern election technology.

What would you do to make county government more transparent?

Citizens don’t understand the mill levy. Make a renewed effort to explain complex funding in a manner that taxpayers can understand. With any proposed sales tax, hold town hall meetings to include discussions on funding alternatives. Revenue neutral is a term that many people do not understand. Break it down in the simplest terms.

Republican primary

Greg Ferris

Age: Not provided

Position: Business Consultant

Past position: Wichita City Council - 12 Years. Local business owner over 25 years

Education: WSU graduate

Phone: 316-516-0389

Email: votegregferris@gmail.com

Website: gregferrisforcountycommission.com

Why should voters consider you the most qualified candidate? What is your overall vision?

During my 12 years on the City Council many projects were completed. Four flyover projects along West Kellogg were among these. Growth in city spending of the General Fund was less than the rate of inflation. This experience separates me from any other candidate. If elected, I will work full-time for citizens. I also have worked on both sides of government. This has allowed me to see where unnecessary bureaucracy causes citizens and businesses waste of time and money. Government is for the people, not the other way around.

What is your top priority and what specifically would you do to address it?

Completion of West Kellogg past Maize Road and Northwest Bypass. Use the local sales tax that is dedicated to highway construction, along with working with the State and City, to move these projects forward. Lower property tax is also a priority. County should lower mill levy as valuations increase.

What, if any, changes should the county make in the services it provides?

EMS and 911 services need to be evaluated. There have been some issues with these and they are too important to remain as they have been for years.

Local property tax revenues have increased each of the last few years. If property values go up again next year, would you support the county capturing more tax money or should the county lower its mill levy?

Lower mill levy.

What role should the county play in the community’s ongoing homeless prevention efforts? Should that role include financial support?

The County plays a significant role in the mental health services of the community. This should be extended to the homeless effort.

What, if any, county operations should be privatized or consolidated with the city of Wichita? Explain.

The County and City should look at any operations that lend themselves to consolidation. The Planning Dept. and Building Dept. consolidations have worked well. Other similar consolidations should be evaluated.

Sedgwick County commissioners approved spending $2.1 million in ARPA money to lease two floors at the Ruffin Building until at least July 2025. Where do you think Sedgwick County’s administrative offices should be located in the long term, and how should it be paid for?

County offices should be in a location that is easy for the public to access in a central location. There should be public parking available. The County currently pays rent and these dollars can be used to fund a move if necessary. However, the Ruffin Building has provided a central location with adequate parking. If it is cost effective, remaining should be considered.

Are elections in Sedgwick County secure, accessible and accurate? What, if any, changes would you propose?

Sedgwick County has very secure elections.

What would you do to make county government more transparent?

EMS and 911 records, that are not privileged, need to be easily accessible. Cutting the red tape to access these and other County information would make the government more transparent and accessible to citizens.

Alan Reichert

Age: 68

Position: Senior Financial Analyst

Past position: Public Broadcasting Service Community Advisory Board, Past Grand Knight, of the Knights of Columbus

Education: BBA Wichita State University

Phone: 316-640-8177

Email: Info@alareichert.com

Website: www.alanreichert.com

Why should voters consider you the most qualified candidate? What is your overall vision?

I am a Senior Financial Analyst at Spirit AeroSystems, with 40 (years of) experience in estimating, budgeting, cost reduction and negotiations. I lead teams with diverse skills and backgrounds and I work with complex issues. I also have a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, with an emphasis in Accounting from Wichita State University. I am a veteran and I am involved in the community helping others. I would like Sedgwick County to continue to develop and grow, which includes having a high-tech manufacturing site, and also expand the medical community in the area of AI medicine. These professions will provide economic and social benefits to our community.

What is your top priority and what specifically would you do to address it?

My top priority is to make sure there is no waste in county government spending. Based on my years of analytical experience I will look at the county cost structure and ensure taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently and prudently.

What, if any, changes should the county make in the services it provides?

An underlying issue that has and continues to erode the fabric of our community is substance abuse. The Sheriff Association agrees we have a gap in the treatment of these individuals. I would encourage the collaboration of the Department of Corrections, Comcare, District Attorney’s Office, along with businesses and charities to combine resources to provide an 18-month recovery plan that shepherds these people and provides life and occupational skills to reenter society, have jobs and be productive citizens.

Local property tax revenues have increased each of the last few years. If property values go up again next year, would you support the county capturing more tax money or should the county lower its mill levy?

If the property values do go up, and the budget supports it, I feel the mill levy should be lowered.

What role should the county play in the community’s ongoing homeless prevention efforts? Should that role include financial support?

There are many reasons for being homeless. Sedgwick County currently finances programs such as COMCARE, Housing First, and ICT-1 to assist the homeless. The Mental Health Facility under construction is also a positive step. The county should continue cooperative efforts with the city of Wichita in addressing the homeless issue. In addition, collaborative effort between government and community to find employment for those placed in housing would aid in a more permanent solution.

What, if any, county operations should be privatized or consolidated with the city of Wichita? Explain.

These decisions need to be considered carefully. Any transfer of county operations whether through privatization or consolidation requires a cost benefit analysis to ensure services are provided effectively and at lower cost. There would also need to be accountability, transparency and county monitoring for any privatization or consolidation of operations to avoid reduced quality of services to the people of Sedgwick County.

Sedgwick County commissioners approved spending $2.1 million in ARPA money to lease two floors at the Ruffin Building until at least July 2025. Where do you think Sedgwick County’s administrative offices should be located in the long term, and how should it be paid for?

A cost benefit analysis needs to be performed looking at the lifecycle cost of each option. As part of that analysis, requirements for consolidation of agencies at one location needs to be reconsidered to determine the necessity of that position. A part of the options is funding sources. My preference is Federal and State funding as much as possible.

Are elections in Sedgwick County secure, accessible and accurate? What, if any, changes would you propose?

As a sworn election worker, I did not witness anything for me to question the security of the process. The location I have worked in Cheney was accessible and all ballots, whether machine or paper, were accumulated according to well-documented election procedures. Voting site locations, in addition to the availability of mail-in and drop-off boxes, provide adequate access opportunities. Based on this, I do not propose any changes in the process at this time.

What would you do to make county government more transparent?

The Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) and the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) require transparency in the government. For example, all county commissioner meetings are open to the public, either in person or online. Also the meeting minutes can be downloaded. Kansas law permits Executive meetings to be held in private, however, no binding decisions can be made in those meetings. Based on Kansas statutes transparency is adequately provided.

Stephanie Wise

Age: 37

Position: Street Commercial, Vice President/Associate Broker

Past position: Property Manager and Sales & Leasing Agent at Occidental Management

Education: Goddard School District K-12, Attended Friends University and Butler County Community College

Phone: Not provided

Email: stephanie@wiseforsedgwickcounty.com

Website: www.wiseforsedgwickcounty.com

Why should voters consider you the most qualified candidate? What is your overall vision?

I believe that government’s purpose is to protect our rights as citizens and to maintain core services that keep our community safe and our common infrastructure in good shape. That’s it. I’m running for county commission because I want to keep government limited and focused on its purpose. I also want to fight for taxpayers and property owners who often feel like they don’t have a voice in local government. I believe that my life and business experience, coupled with my conservative governing philosophy, make me a strong candidate to represent District 3 on the commission going forward.

What is your top priority and what specifically would you do to address it?

Property Taxes are top of mind for everyone in our community. The county 2024 budget of $546M is funded by around 45% property tax revenue which means we are far too dependent on property taxes to fund our county government. I believe we should not only be advocates for property tax relief, but we should also be advocating for property tax REFORM. The system is complicated and confusing. Assessment rates, as they stand now, are not conducive to economic growth and send a bad signal to our community. It’s time we look at how we modernize government. I will work collaboratively to find other revenue sources to relieve the dependence on property tax income and focus on functional consolidation where we can improve services and lower cost.

What, if any, changes should the county make in the services it provides?

One of my top priorities will be the functional consolidation of county government and its services. We need to take a detailed inventory of every service to see where there are redundancies and inefficiencies that can be streamlined and updated to better serve our residence. This won’t be done laterally, of course. We will need broad collaboration with county employees, residence, and outlying elected officials to find success.

Local property tax revenues have increased each of the last few years. If property values go up again next year, would you support the county capturing more tax money or should the county lower its mill levy?

Both. I would support any measure that balances capturing a percentage of assessed property values while simultaneously lowering the mill levy. Again, the entire property tax system needs to be reevaluated and reformed to better suit the needs of the residence and businesses of Sedgwick County.

What role should the county play in the community’s ongoing homeless prevention efforts? Should that role include financial support?

County government should play a strong supporting role in the community’s efforts to combat homelessness, but it should not be leading those efforts, as that is not part of its core function. Ensuring COMCARE is operating efficiently and at full strength should be a top priority for the county, and I intend to work with our leaders there to make sure they are supported and have the resources needed to meet the mental heal needs of the people in their care.

What, if any, county operations should be privatized or consolidated with the city of Wichita? Explain.

Environmental resources should be looked at for possible consolidation. For example, the contamination site at 29th and Grove exposed some issues with the county and city partnership that need to be resolved. Another potential area for consolidation and partnership is animal control.

Sedgwick County commissioners approved spending $2.1 million in ARPA money to lease two floors at the Ruffin Building until at least July 2025. Where do you think Sedgwick County’s administrative offices should be located in the long term, and how should it be paid for?

I believe the best location for the County’s Administrative Office is downtown Wichita. It’s important to keep services in the core as we continue to work to increase effectiveness and efficiencies within county services. I understand that there are a couple of great options that they are currently looking at, but I would like to see a complete analysis of what the county needs will be if we continue to work towards functional consolidation for services. As a tenant in the Ruffin Building, the County is managing their office needs at a friendly rate, including utilities and miscellaneous maintenance needs that come up in office buildings. The County needs to stay put until they have a better handle on what the long-term needs will be and to ensure our tax dollars are responsibly spent.

Are elections in Sedgwick County secure, accessible and accurate? What, if any, changes would you propose?

Yes, I believe that elections in Sedgwick County are safe, secure, and accessible. Laura Rainwater and her staff in the county elections office have done an outstanding job making our election system one of the best in the state if not the country.

What would you do to make county government more transparent?

As of now, I think our county government is one of the most transparent institutions in the state. The Sedgwick County Budget Roundtables that began this year to help residents understand the budget are great ways to get people educated and engaged. I would continue to support and strengthen those kinds of efforts if elected to the commission.