Questionnaires were sent to all USD 397 Board of Education candidates: Steven G. Jirak, at-large; Jesse E. Brunner and Amber Peterson, position 1; Mark A. Heiser, position 2; and Terry Deines, position 3. Following are comments from those who responded.
USD 397 Board of Education
position 1 candidate
Amber Peterson
Q: Why do you want to be elected?
Peterson: I see results of the school board policies through the children I see and I am aware of how they are learning. I would like to work with other board members for the good of the Centre students and bring new insight to the board. Since I have three children attending Centre schools, I care about what is going on with the students. I would offer a different way of looking at policies and offer new opinions to help with decision making to make sure our school continues to be a top quality school.
Q: Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the current administration?
Peterson: Mrs. (Jeri) Kemble has shown new and positive leadership by making our community more aware of what is possible to improve our school. For example, she has begun new programs which benefit the school and students, such as the garden project, Character Counts, and the green school. I am very satisfied with the current administration. There are always new ways of thinking, and I would bring new ideas to the board.
Q: What is your background or what are your qualifications for office?
Peterson: I have worked in two county government offices. I am a graduate of Leadership Marion County class in which I learned new methods in working with groups. I am a parent of three boys and am interested in their education. I have organizational skills and have a willingness to work with others for the good of the students of the district.
Q: What are your goals for the school district? How do you plan to accomplish them?
Peterson: Each child should achieve success whether they decide to go on to college or stay in the community on the family farm. The programs that our school offers should help equip our children for the future. We can make sure our programs have the funding they need to succeed. If cuts are necessary, we can figure out ways to keep as many programs as possible without hurting students. We need to focus on which programs are successful and which ones help the students and keep them growing.
Q: What is the most important issue for the school district? Why?
Peterson: The most important issue facing the district is the education of students in the basic studies of reading, writing, and math. In order to meet state standards and succeed in school and in the future, students need to have as much opportunity as possible for learning. Our declining enrollment has made it necessary to find new methods of making our school more appealing to more people. The virtual school is a positive addition for attracting students to our curriculum.
Q: Funding is a major issue for all schools right now. How do you think the district can cope with funding issues?
Peterson: State funding is difficult to project, but continuing positive changes with the funding we have gives our students the chance to succeed.
Q: Other information?
Peterson: I am married to Ty and we have three boys — Tanner is 15, Austin is 11, and Kyle is 6. I am a business owner in Tampa (The Tampa Café) and I live and work in the school district. I worked for Sumner County for six years and Marion County for 2½ years. I am a member of the Tampa PRIDE Association and a member of the core committee that wrote the grant which obtained funds ($64,000) from the Kansas Department of Commerce (SCIP Grant) for the park in Tampa.
USD 397 Board of Education
position 2 candidate
Mark Heiser
Q: Why do you want to be re-elected?
Heiser: I enjoy serving in my community and representing the patrons in this area.
Q: Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the current administration?
Heiser: Very satisfied with current administration, having served eight years. I was able to help in the selection of current administration and feel we have quality people in key positions.
Q: What is your background or what are your qualifications for office?
Heiser: I am completing my second term and feel I have learned a lot about what it takes to run a school district and all of the people it takes to make it successful. I have enjoyed representing the area I have lived in my entire life.
Q: What are your goals for the school district? How do you plan to accomplish them?
Heiser: I don’t have any personal goals. I just want to help keep a high quality of education while not burdening taxpayers during this slow economy.
Q: What is the most important issue for the school district? Why?
Heiser: 1. Relocation of the elementary to the rural facility, to get this venture completed. 2. To continue to upgrade our technology in our schools to develop highly educated graduates.
Q: Funding is a major issue for all schools right now. How do you think the district can cope with funding issues?
Heiser: Continuing to make cuts in the budget without affecting the business of educating our children.
Q: Other information?
Heiser: I have lived in the Ramona area my entire life, graduated from CHS, and attended vocational school. Married my spouse, Katherine, 31 years ago. She is employed at Family Eye Care in Abilene. Raised two daughters who also graduated from CHS and are now involved in successful careers. Stephanie works as a research technologist at HJ Heinz, North America in Pittsburg, Pa. Krista is employed at Via Christi in Wichita. She works as a registered nurse in the Surgical and Trauma Intensive Care Unit. We attend Strassburg Baptist Church, where I teach the adult Sunday school class and have served other positions within the church. Now also currently serving on the Colfax District No. 3 volunteer fire district, the Lewis Cemetery Board, USD 397 school board, make a living as a farmer/stockman, and run a patrol for Marion County Road and Bridge.
Questionnaires were sent to Ramona City Council candidates: Nathen A. Bailey, Jayme Linn Brunner, Jeanette “Jeannie” Goza, Kathy A. Matkins, Byron Noeth, Roy Marvin Rains, Arthur Stroda, Alan J. Svoboda, and James Thompson, and mayor candidate Brendan D. Bailey. Following are the responses from those who submitted information.
Ramona mayor candidate
Brendan D. Bailey
Q: Why do you want to be elected?
Bailey: I would like to return something to the community that I have called home for the past 39 years. I have served once as mayor in Ramona and delivered on all my promises. I feel that with the right combination of people in the local government that we could work together to make Ramona a strong, thriving community.
Q: Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the current administration?
Bailey: I would have to say that the current administration, like all administrations, has had its ups and downs. It is hard to sit on the council and make decisions that everyone in the city will agree with. I, like others in this community, have in the past not totally agreed with the decisions that the city council has made. That is the beauty of our government; we have the right to disagree with the governing body and express our beliefs. The most important thing to remember is that we as the city government are the voices of the people. We should represent what the people want and take the time to listen to them.
Q: What is your background or what are your qualifications for office?
Bailey: I have already held the office of mayor for Ramona. I have also been involved in city politics for several years. I have been in law enforcement for several years, most in a small town environment. I feel that this will allow me to have a better understanding of the legal issues that occur while in office.
Q: What are your goals for the city? How do you plan to accomplish them?
Bailey: I actually have several goals for the city. I would like to see the streets get repaired. To do this, I would work with and talk to the county and see what we could do to start the city on a maintenance plan for the streets. I would like to see the illegal activity in Ramona stop. Having a background in law enforcement, I would like to approach the sheriff’s office and see what could be done to start a neighborhood watch program. I would like to see Main Street get fixed up and cleaned up. I would approach this from a couple of different directions. First of all, see if there is any state money that could be obtained to assist in clean up; second, I would approach citizens in town to “help out a neighbor” and assist in repairs to properties.
Q: What is the most important issue for the city? Why?
Bailey: There are a lot of issues facing Ramona. Figuring out which one to start with is the problem. There are the problems with the streets, city equipment that is needing repaired, old buildings, flooding, sewer issues, bonds that need repaid, government requirements, and the most important, lack of money to do it all. The reason we do not have the money to do this is simple. We do not have the population base to support what we have to spend to keep the city running. The best and fastest (well, not the best) way to fix this is to raise taxes. This is not going to happen. Ramona has one of the highest, if not the highest, mil levy in the county. Why is this? The city government says it is the county; the county says it is the city. Do we really know? We need to get into office and find and eliminate unnecessary spending. The economy has taken a trip to the outhouse and, as of yet, has not found its way back. We need to learn from our history, not repeat it.
Q: More information?
Bailey: I have never been one to talk about myself. I was born and raised in Ramona. I attended Centre schools and Tabor College. I am an EMT-I/D and a volunteer firefighter in Ramona. I currently work at Herington Municipal Hospital as the emergency preparedness/safety director and a phlebotomist. My wife, Michele, and I have been married for 10 years (how she has put up with me for that long, I don’t know), and we have three children: Jacob, 17; Ronnie, 14; and Cheyenne, 9. My hobbies include reading, photography, woodworking, black powder reenactments, hunting and fishing, camping, and spending time with my family.
Ramona City Council candidates
Jeanette “Jeannie” Goza
Q: Why do you want to be re-elected?
Goza: I believe if you want to see good things happen in a community, it is vital in being involved, not only on the council, but with events and in the community involvement as a whole. I care about Ramona.
Q: Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the current administration?
Goza: Very. I have been on the council several terms and seen so much enthusiasm from the current council and mayor to make Ramona fair and a good place to live. Also, I have noticed that every member and mayor have donated hours of service to events.
Q: What is your background or what are your qualifications for office?
Goza: I have been on the city council several terms and served one term as vice mayor.
Q: What are your goals for the city? How do you plan to accomplish them?
Goza: I would like to see Ramona’s debt-load get better and better. We have worked hard to maintain a budget that fits with a small town. I would also like to see the community come together as a whole and take pride in Ramona.
Q: What is the most important issue for the city? Why?
Goza: It is a sticky situation dealing with ordinances but we really need to continue updating them so that our ordinances fit our current situations. It is very important to bring the community back to caring and being thankful for one another.
Q: More information?
Goza: I am originally from Emporia. I have six children, all raised. I have been employed for eight years at Herington High School as a food service worker. I strive to work with children and believe community involvement shows our next generation it is great to help make the world a better place. I love living in Ramona and believe everyone is important even through their differences.
Kathy A. Matkins
Q: Why do you want to be re-elected?
Matkins: I hope to be re-elected so I can continue to help the residents and community members to live in a viable, stable, and secure environment. The current mayor and council members have been very diligent and committed to our financial considerations and to keeping the city of Ramona as a great place to live. I feel I can make a difference and truly help this town and community.
Q: Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the current administration?
Matkins: Very satisfied. We have a very efficient and adept mayor and a council that works together to achieve “common good” for the whole town and its residents.
Q: What is your background or what are your qualifications for office?
Matkins: I believe my government experience is a key factor and a consideration for me. I have served as an ongoing council member since 2003 and the past two years as vice mayor to the mayor. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in business and economics with an emphasis in accounting from Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina.
Q: What are your goals for the city? How do you plan to accomplish them?
Matkins: Keep the city of Ramona viable, a great place for people to live, kids to attend the Centre school system, and a safe, secure community to reside. I can accomplish this by serving my community in the most productive means possible and keeping our city clean and attractive for future families to move here.
Q: What is the most important issue for the city? Why?
Matkins: Remaining viable and financially secure to maintain our town and provide a happy, safe, and clean environment for all the residents who live here. To live in cooperation and harmoniously with our fellow community members. Be respectful and considerate of others.
Q: Other information?
Matkins: I work for the postal service for 22 years, as postmaster of Ramona for 11 years. Moved to Ramona in 2003. I have one daughter, Jennifer Werth. I am married to Don Matkins, a city maintenance worker, and we live in Ramona.