Incumbent Kevin Cook and lifelong Topekan Robert Soria will face off in the Aug. 6 primary election for the Shawnee County Commission District 2 seat.
The seat, which covers the north-central and northeast parts of the county, has been held by Cook since January 2013. The winning Democrat will move forward to the Nov. 5 general election , where he would face Henry McClure, a Republican and lifelong Topekan. McClure is unchallenged in the GOP primary.
The Capital-Journal posed the same five questions to each candidate. Answers were lightly edited for formatting.
What issues compelled you to run and where do you stand on them?
Kevin Cook : From a young age I felt called to public service. As I entered the practice of Law, after graduation from Washburn University, I saw issues that compelled me to run for Shawnee County Commissioner including, cuts to mental health, reduction of law enforcement support and the need for expansion of quality-of-life outlets.
During the Great Recession the Shawnee County Commission had made cuts to mental health funding and drug and alcohol counseling. These budget cuts had caused a lack of services for those were most vulnerable. As Commissioner, I have continually advocated for increased mental health services.
In addition to mental health services, support of law enforcement and the Department of Corrections have remained important issues to me. As Commissioner, I have worked to ensure that these bodies remained fully staffed to protect the citizens of Shawnee County. Currently, both the Shawnee County Sheriff and Shawnee County Department of Corrections are highly staffed, and I am proud of the employees that work to protect our Shawnee County citizens.
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Robert Soria : There is no real representation for constituents of Shawnee County District 2. We are fed up with the status quo and I will change that. There is a lack of respect from the current commissioner continuously voting to raise his salary on the back of taxpayers' hard-earned dollars.
At the same time, he continues to raise property taxes. While he has been double-dipping as the county commissioner ($60,833.14) and the city’s public defender ($190,000), he has maintained a revolving door that puts real criminals back into our neighborhoods. I will be different representative, more accountable, transparent, listening to constituents, and working hard every single day to be their voice.
Tell us about a time you put forth a good idea that was put to use and brought positive effects.
Cook : When Shawnee County Parks and Recreation looked at the assessment of the Oakland Pool there was serious discussion with not replacing the existing fifty-nine-year-old pool. The pool, at that time, had seen declining attendance and revenue was not sufficient to cover the expenses associated with the pool.
As Commissioner I asked that the Department review why the attendance was low. The review showed that the pool had declined in appeal as it had no amenities (Diving boards, slides, etc.) and the constant repair to the fifty-nine-year-old aluminum pool had left it very rough on the bottom. The review also showed that there was great interest for a community pool with the more than 5,000 residents of the neighborhood.
As replacement of the existing pool commenced, I advocated to my fellow Commissioners for the replacement of the pool with the new Oakland Pool, as opposed to a splash pad. The public engagement sessions reflected that the community also wanted to have the construction of a new pool, as opposed to a splash pad. The new Oakland Community pool is set to be open in early August 2024.
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Soria : In my current position, I pushed to implement GIS mapping of Shawnee County demographics. I am helping identify specific areas of need based on our strategic plan. This allows us to make sure our services are reaching people who need it most. I am idea driven and focus on looking at the future and how to do things better.
Currently, the commissioner is operating on the same old approaches to serve our county. Using data requires us to be accountable to the facts and look at innovative ways to solve our many problems.
What should the county's role be regarding the homeless?
Cook : The role of Shawnee County in addressing homelessness should be in the area of addressing mental health, drug and alcohol addiction and thinking of homelessness as a public health crisis. The City of Topeka has many resources to address homeless issues, however, only Shawnee County has the resources of the Shawnee County Health Agency.
After discussions with local advocacy organizations, I believe that if homelessness was addressed as a public health issue there are additional resources that Shawnee County could use to help address and lift individuals out of homelessness.
Additionally, with the construction of the behavioral health wing at the Shawnee County Department of Corrections we will be able to get mental health services to individuals to reduce the rate of reoffending while addressing the criminal offenses that brought them into the Shawnee County Jail.
Soria : The county has been irresponsible in partnering with the city to deal with issues such as homelessness. It is often perceived that our representative is uninterested until election time. We must take initiative when addressing complicated issues that impact a large portion of the area we serve. This isn’t going to be solved with one solution but must include a public health approach. Public health is the county’s responsibility, and I will ensure that the silos come down.
The city has looked at different initiatives and have had public forums to gather input. I didn’t see my representative present nor address this publicly in the timeframe the city has committed. Living in the heart of the district, I have witnessed the squatting, the increase in crime, and how the wandering, unhoused, mentally ill leaves many residents feeling hopeless. I will make it a priority to work with the city to address these issues.
Describe your experience and qualifications for this office. Why should people vote for you?
Cook : My background is that I was raised in a blue-collar home where my father was a welder, and my mother was a homemaker. As I child I was taught how to live frugally and make things last as long as possible. As Commissioner, I have brought this perspective to Shawnee County in looking at whether a project is a want or a need.
As a college/law school student I worked my way through school without taking on student loans. My wife and I have worked to pass on to our children these values. The value of saving for projects and setting budgetary goals is important for both a household and for government. As Commissioner, I have worked to strengthen our financial standing and Shawnee County debt is less than eight percent of our annual budget. Debt is only incurred as needed for large projects and at a time when it will not adversely impact the Shawnee County budget.
Additionally, I have owned and operated a small business in our community for the past twenty-five years. As a small business owner, I understand the challenges and opportunities that confront and frustrate the business community. As Commissioner, I have worked to ensure that Shawnee County is engaged with the business community and is aware of how we can work to promote both small and large businesses to grow and thrive in Shawnee County.
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Soria: I have spent over 25 years living in the heart of District 2, raising a family in a low-to-moderate income neighborhood. As your Shawnee County District 2 Commissioner I will prioritize attending community meetings on a regular basis, rather than coming around only at election time. With a background in data analysis and nearly 30 years of work experience in public service, I bring a strong skill set to the table.
I will use my expertise to view community issues through a public health lens, leveraging fact-driven data to solve complex community issues will be central to my approach to improving our community, city, and county. I have also been highly invested in volunteerism with LULAC Senior Center Board of directors, Community Action Board of directors, Oakland NIA, creating a neighborhood watch where I live, and more.
This has helped deepen my understanding of the need for and benefits of social services, especially for seniors, the disabled, and those living below the poverty level. I have demonstrated I can lead and bring people together for the benefit of the community. I understand the community and its needs because I am just like you.
What do you consider to be two or three of the key issues the county commission face, and where do you stand on them?
Cook: Property Tax. With the rapid acceleration of the assessed value of real estate in Shawnee County over the last four years the need to reduce the amount of property tax has becomes a priority. Shawnee County has already committed, by public vote, to reduce the mill levy from the rate set for 2024. Additionally, I believe that my fellow commissioners are committed to examine all aspects of the 2025 budget to work towards further reduction of the mill levy assessed. The reduction of the mill levy will give relief to the taxpayers in the amount of taxes paid on property tax.
Homelessness. I have addressed this issue previously.
Public Works. Expansion of Rochester Road. Shawnee County taxpayers as part of the sales tax extension committed to the expansion of Rochester Road from the area just north of Wal-Mart/Dillons to Seaman High School. This public works project will be a massive undertaking for Shawnee County in that it will add needed additional traffic lanes. Additionally, the project will add sidewalks, curbing and storm water drainage. The project will last several years in construction. This project, while monumental in scope, is necessary to the safety of the residents of North Shawnee County and will further enhance our community for future development.
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Soria : A key focus of my campaign is to strengthen the relationship between the city and county governments, fostering partnerships that benefit taxpayers and drive progress. Besides business development, there are other things that impact our community on a day-to-day basis such as public health and safety.
Topeka is about 70% of the county and many people who live in the county work within the city. Ignoring this has been a huge disconnect in prioritizing how people's tax dollars are spent. It only makes sense that we have a better working relationship with the city on the human side of infrastructure development.
People are concerned about high taxes. While taxes are one of the main revenue sources for the county, it is important that we look at the efficiency of the funds we are spending. With my skill set, I plan to analyze how we are distributing funding and measure the outcomes- this includes never voting to raise my salary. We can look more closely at how we are taxing-are we using regressive tax methods that cost governments more in the long run or more.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: These issues drove candidates to run for Shawnee County Commission District 2
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