Candidate Questionnaire
Taxpayers' Unlimited Inc.
What have you done to promote public safety in your political career? What do you plan to do, if elected, to promote public safety?
The most proactive way I can support public safety is with my vote. It is my responsibility to support our first responders by making sure they have the training and equipment needed to serve our community.
Have you ever been endorsed by a labor organization?
No.
Organized Labor is continually asked to help pass tax programs. How would you involve labor in the development stage of these programs?
This is a very thoughtful question.
Organized labor represents frontline workers who understand operational realities and community needs. If I were involved in developing a tax proposal — particularly one related to public safety or essential services — I would absolutely want labor at the table from the beginning.
Too often, stakeholders are asked to support measures they had no role in shaping. I believe collaboration during the development phase leads to stronger proposals and a more unified message to voters. Labor should be a partner in policy discussions that affect its members and the services they provide.
Excelsior Springs voters have already shown grace to our public safety departments by passing the Public Safety Sales Tax. Recently there was a council decision that I was not a part of that allocated what had been a 50/50 split between the Fire Department and the Police Department to a 60/40 split with 60-percent going to the budget of the Fire Department. I am not sure of the reasoning for this. This is an example of when it is important for all of the stakeholders to be at the table early in the policy development process and I hope all effected had an opportunity to voice their side.
As an elected official, would you direct the administration to conduct “good faith” collective bargaining with the employees’ Unions?
I believe collective bargaining should be conducted in good faith, with a sincere effort by both the City and the Firefighters Union to reach a voluntary agreement. So, yes.
Would you vote to submit unresolved negotiation issues to binding arbitration?
My first preference would always be negotiation and, if necessary, mediation to resolve differences. If those efforts are exhausted and an impasse remains, I would be open to submitting unresolved negotiation issues to binding arbitration.
Firefighters provide critical emergency services to our community and, because they cannot strike, they deserve a reliable and fair mechanism to resolve bargaining impasses.
As an elected official, would you vote to maintain and not reduce the current level of funding to your employees’ pension funds?
In 2021, while on the Council, I voted to approve a classification and compensation study so that the City could be competitive in pay and benefits. However, ultimately I am responsible for the fiscal health of the community. If making changes in employee pension funds is on the table, there are a lot of other issues that will have to be taken into consideration in the decision making process. My goal would be a balanced approach that respects our firefighters while safeguarding the long-term financial stability of the community.
Do you support NFPA and OSHA guidelines for staffing fire and EMS apparatuses? How would you prioritize those recommended staffing levels when making budgetary decisions?
Each year, the Council meets with department heads to develop the annual budget. The budget items for staffing and equipment come directly from the recommendations of those departments. Our staff are highly professional and know their needs better than I. Their recommendations carry the most weight with my decision making process.
Other questions:
Some of the questions asked would require me to have information in order to make a thoughtful, balanced answer.
Excelsior Springs is a town of approximately 11,000. In a community of our size, firefighters and police are highly visible and trusted. Our voters typically support public safety initiatives, while at the same time being sensitive to tax increases.
On the question of privatization of public services and facilities, I would be open to that discussion. As I understand, privatization of the fire department would mean several ballot initiatives would be considered by the voters and all would have to pass. I would hope that the City and Fire Chiefs could work together on ballot language and have a united campaign that explains the benefits to our community before placing any such initiative on the ballot.
In consideration of using union labor for campaign materials, using American made goods and services for procurement of City purchases, I think it is important to use Excelsior Springs local vendors first if available. The City pays prevailing wage to our contract laborers in most cases. I am pro-union … my grandfather and father were in Ford’s automotive union, my daughter was in the teachers union. I am pro public safety. My other grandfather was a police officer and my uncle was a police officer.
Public safety is the number 1 issue for me. People need to trust that they are safe where they live.