by Peggy Bair
KNOW YOUR CANDIDATES – EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE
This article is an introduction to the six candidates competing for the three open seats on the Leavenworth City Commission. This article also provides information about how, when and where to vote, what are voter rights, how to register if you are not yet registered and the importance of your action as a voter.
With the city of Leavenworth facing critical budgeting decisions now and in the coming years, the upcoming election for commission may be one the biggest voting decisions citizens will have in front of them as the city navigates decisions that will impact the city now and in the near and far future.
According to the County Clerk’s office, the last city commission election only attracted 19% of the registered voters. That means that only 1 in 5 registered voters made the decision about the city commission presently-sitting members.
This election cycle, six candidates are running for the three open city commission seats. None of these six candidates has held elected office before. However, each candidate in the field of choices brings unique skill sets that voters may wish to consider when making decisions about the next city commission. Presently already seated on the city commission is commissioner and Mayor Holly Pittman and the Mayor pro tem is Nancy Bauder, which means that Bauder will serve as the next mayor on the second Tuesday of December, 2025. The mayor position is for one year and rotates each year. The person who receives the largest number of votes in the 2025 election will serve as mayor pro tem, then will be next up to serve as mayor beginning in December, 2026.
With commissioners voting to approve budgets and make decisions about allotting money for various projects that will affect Leavenworth for decades to come, this particular election cycle will hopefully attract a larger number of voters to participate.
One thing to bear in mind is that the city commission is a non partisan body. Political affiliations may enter the minds of voters when making choices. However, there is no party primary and all candidates, regardless of political affiliation, would work together in their role as commissioners.
With that in mind, this set of articles is intended to not only feature each candidate’s leadership skills and philosophies, previous work skills, and their visions for the future of Leavenworth – but also to take a deeper dive into each candidate’s voice. It’s intentionally conversational – having a cup of coffee in a relaxed setting.
If candidates knock on doors or engage in community conversations during this campaign, voters are encouraged to take advantage of these moments to make up your own minds and form your own opinions as you get to know the candidates. These candidates are all citizens but also may be colleagues, friends and neighbors. They have stepped up to serve our city. Bend their ears. Make informed choices at the voting booth.
Among the choices are three retired Lieutenant Colonels, an IT professional with law enforcement background and a candidate with a work background in infrastructure construction. Yet another candidate has deep ties with the military, and an MBA, with work experience in USD 207.
For City Commission candidates, there are a series of six articles. In these six articles, I personally interviewed (conversed with) each candidate, reviewing closely with them about their backgrounds, their resumes and their visions for the future of Leavenworth. This wasn’t a “gotcha” moment conversation, nor was it a campaign speech platform. There was no “red,” “blue,” “conservative,” “liberal,” “left,” “right,” narrative. It was conversations about experience, skills, knowledge, visions for the future and how each candidate is going to work together on the city’s non partisan body to identify and solve problems – and navigate a path to a prosperous future for Leavenworth.
Included in my articles, I noted that many of the candidates also attended various town halls or forums hosted by different organizations. Some of these forums have links to videos that are posted online Voters are encouraged to scan the articles at least and hear comments from the videos to enhance their knowledge of the candidates so they can make informed choices at the voting booth.
How many of us have gone into a voting booth and said to ourselves, “I don’t even know who that is,” as we looked at the list of candidates? How many of us have simply been told by someone we know either who to or who not to vote for – without doing our own research and making our own decisions?
Voting is a private decision. It’s an empowerment and privilege of the democratic process. And, yes, people have fought and died for that privilege. Complacency or not feeling like your vote will make a difference can sometimes be a barrier. However, in fact, every vote matters.
Case in point, in the 2024 Kansas state senate District 5 race, only 31 votes separated the winner from the loser. https://sunflowerstatejournal.com/klemp-emerges-victorious-in-narrow-senate-district-5-race/
Registration to vote is easy. Click here for voter registration information: https://www.leavenworthcounty.gov/government/county_clerk_s_office/elections/register_to_vote!.php The last day to register to vote in this election cycle is October 14.
If you have a valid Kansas driver’s license, you can register to vote on the Kansas Secretary of State’s website here: https://sos.ks.gov/elections/voter-registration.html
You can also register to vote at these locations.
Click on this link to find out more about how to vote: https://www.leavenworthcounty.gov/government/county_clerk_s_office/elections/advance_voting.php
You have a RIGHT to VOTE. Here is a link to voter rights: https://files.leavenworthcounty.gov/Department/Clerk/Election/voter_rights.pdf