Florence, Ramona candidates share goals
Marion County residents have filed for city council and school district positions. Voters will decide the winners in the April 3 general election.
Marion County Record sent questionnaires to candidates in Florence and Ramona areas. Following are their responses.
Mayor of Florence
Gregory A. Winn
1) Why do you want to be elected mayor of Florence?
Winn: "I believe that I can leverage my experiences to make a positive difference to the people of Florence."
2) If elected, what would be your three top priorities and/or goals for the city?
Winn: "My top priorities are as follows:
"1. Start and complete street and sewer repair projects.
"2. Economic development in the city can be accomplished by working with all of the various groups such as Florence Chamber of Commerce, PRIDE, Marion County Economic Development Council, and help them to accomplish projects they have already initiated. Also work in conjunction with the city, county, and state governments to develop an economic incentives package to market to medium and large businesses on the benefits of building or relocating to Florence. Using/applying for developmental grants to foster small business development.
"3. My third priority will be to clear up some of the administrative and procedural problem areas such as emergency/disaster planning, ADA, and other issues that continue to prevent the city from moving forward in a constructive and meaningful way."
3) Are you satisfied/dissatisfied with the current council and administration?
Winn: "I am satisfied with the council's performance in addressing the needs of the people. However, there is always room for improvement."
4) What is your background and/or qualifications for the position of mayor?
Winn: "I think the most important qualification that I possess is commitment and desire to do the job and serve the people of Florence. I bring to the table a wealth of business and project management knowledge and experience that I gained from my time in the U.S. Marine Corps, and businesses such as Sprint, Entex, and Circle K.
"In business, I have learned good communication and interpersonal skills, working with diverse people and cultures. The Marines taught me leadership and a confidence in myself and my abilities. I have not yet completed my degree and continue to work toward the completion of this goal."
5) Personal information. (Spouse, occupation, residency, etc.).
Winn: "I have lived and worked in the Florence community for approximately 18 months. Born in Eureka, I have lived in Kansas most of my life. I served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Currently I am the manager of Johnson's General Store, located on U.S.-50.
Florence City Council, Ward 2
Gary Nesser
1) Why do you want to be elected to the Florence City Council?
Nesser: "I have decided to serve Florence because several people have asked me to run for city council and to have a feeling of belonging to the community by volunteering.
"I'm getting to the age where I am not physically able to do hard labor for an extended duration, like I used to, and volunteering for city council is one way to participate and maybe give something to the community. I would like to help to improve our town so that people can be proud of Florence and like where they live, and make it a place for others to want to move."
2) If elected, what would be your three top priorities and/or goals for the City of Florence?
Nesser: "I would like to put the council back to being an organization that represents what the people of the city want. I know that no city council can please every person but it should represent the majority of the people and not be some personal agenda of council members or certain individuals.
"We would need to maintain the day-to-day operations of the city and possibly improve general operations including streets, curb and gutter, and sidewalks.
"Lastly, would be to look for creative plans and ideas, to increase the financial budget of the city and/or its citizens through grants and other means. There are numerous ways to achieve this such as increased business ventures, state help, or other ideas not even thought of yet. We are the poorest community in the county."
3) Are you satisfied/dissatisfied with the current council and administration?
Nesser: "Not totally. It seems to me that the council has become an organization that represents what it thinks is best, without regard for what the general population thinks is best. I think in their heart they believe they are doing 'what's best', but it seems there are more personal agendas and gains for individuals rather than for the people on the whole. A prime example is by not allowing people to vote on zoning issues and letting the council decide on their own. The council has stated that they have to power to decide and the general population doesn't know or care about zoning. Even if is legal, it isn't ethical, especially when they known there is opposition."
4) What is your background and/or qualifications for the position of councilman?
Nesser: "The only political experience I have was as a former member and president of Teller County Mountain Search and Rescue organization in Colorado for about five years. I have been either a resident or closely associated with Marion County for a majority of my 58 years. I have common sense and don't have personal agendas or ties with any member or group of people — no family feuds, so to speak. I am a fairly good mediator between disagreeing groups. Mostly I have creative ideas and visions that aren't out of touch with reality. Since I have changed jobs in the past year, I have become a regular participant in city council meetings and special meetings, and feel even if I don't always agree with the council, I still have a working relationship with them. Remember, the council isn't just one person."
5) Personal information. (Spouse, profession, residency, etc.).
Nesser: "I've been married to Janet Nesser for 18 years. She is a para-educator in Marion. I have five children — Matthew, Mark, Luke, Jon, and Elizabeth — ranging in ages from 32 to 11. I am the technology director of the Peabody-Burns school district and formerly with Tyson Foods of Emporia as an electronics specialist.
"With the change of employment this past year, I now work hours where I am able to be more involved with our community. I have lived in Florence for a little more than five years and plan on being here a long time."
Trayce Warner
1) Why do you want to be elected to the Florence City Council?
Warner: "I am a believer that it is easy to talk about the issues and more difficult to take action. I would like to be a take action type of person and to serve my community."
2) What would be your three top priorities or goals for the City of Florence?
Warner: "I would hope to promote economic growth and development. I would love to work with the various organizations in Florence to improve our parks and recreation. My only promise would be to stay available to and interested in the ideas and opinions of the community, and to use my best judgment when making decisions.
3) Are you satisfied/dissatisfied with the current council and administration?
Warner: "At a recent council meeting, I heard auditor Dale Clark give the city a glowing financial report. That shows me that this council has focused on financial stability, which should be a top priority. This council also has shown me they are committed to being above aboard in all their dealings and receptive to the concerns of the community."
4) What is your background and/or qualifications for the position of councilman?
Warner: "I have been a member of the Florence Chamber of Commerce for five years, secretary for three years, and have to help promote new and existing businesses. I began helping the Labor Day Committee nine years ago and was chairman of that committee for three years, coordinating fund-raisers, event schedules, event logistics, and dozens of volunteers. I currently am a member of the class of 2007 of Leadership Marion County, and hope to learn new skills and make new contacts. I am compulsive note-taker, trying to make sure I have the facts and not just hearsay. I also believe that research is the key factor to making informed decisions."
5) Personal information. (Spouse, professional, residency, etc.).
Warner: "My husband, Mike, and I have been married for 28 years, and we bought our home in Florence in 1990. We have three children — Letitia, 24, who is living and working in Baltimore, Md., Kade, 21, and Cody, 16, who both live at home. The two older children are graduates of Marion-Florence High School. Currently Cody is a freshman and was born after we moved here. Mike is a fuel delivery specialist for Cenex Fuels, a volunteer firefighter, and rescue truck operator. I am an emergency medical technician and training officer of the Florence crew of Marion County EMS. In addition to my involvement with community organization, I was a Florence city employee for two years, driving the trash truck and working on projects in the other departments. I also truly love to cook, not only for my family but for friends and community events."
Mayor of Ramona
Pat Wick
Did not respond to request.
Ramona City Council
Nathen Bailey
1) Why do you want to be elected to the Ramona City Council?
Bailey: "I would like to help guide our town in making wise and informed decisions for the overall benefit of our community. I want to help make Ramona a town where new families can move to and feel they can live and raise their children in a secure and safe town with friendly townspeople."
2) What would be your three top priorities or goals for the City of Ramona?
Bailey: "A) I would like to get a maintenance plan set up for our decaying streets and park facilities to assure they can be enjoyed; B) to ensure that our sewer pump and sewer lines are in a continued maintenance plan with the sewer ponds being taken care of to stop erosion; and C) to get Ramona to support all business opportunities, old and new, alike."
3) Are you satisfied/dissatisfied with the current council?
Bailey: "I am very dissatisfied with the current council for the lack of progress on our street maintenance, sewer maintenance, and park maintenance."
4) What is your background and/or qualifications for the position of councilman?
Bailey: "I am a former council member and vice mayor for several years. I helped with the planning and work to improve our sewer system. I helped to get our streets put to asphalt from rock, dust, and mud that we had for years. I worked for Marion County Highway Department for 33 years, maintaining roads and solving drainage problems. I have the 33 years of experience to help solve our problems here in Ramona."
5) Personal information (spouse, profession, residency, etc.).
Bailey: I have a resident of Ramona for 45 years. I worked as a farm/ranch manager before going to work for Marion County. My three older children attended Ramona grade school after moving here.
"My wife Verleen passed away several years ago after a bout with cancer. I am now retired. I enjoy gardening, hunting, and fishing. I have one son who still resides in Ramona."
Jayme Brunner
Did not respond to request.
Jeanette Goza
1) Why do you want to be re-elected to the Ramona City Council?
Goza: "I would like to be re-elected for Ramona City Council because I feel the people here are like my second family and I enjoy being a part of what makes Ramona such a special place to live."
2) What would be your three top priorities or goals for the City of Ramona?
Goza: "1. I would like to see city beautification. 2. I would like to promote business. 3. I would like to promote community involvement in education for fire safety among other things."
3) Are you satisfied/dissatisfied with the current council?
Goza: "I am on the current council and it is running very smoothly with positive goals in mind."
4) What is your background and/or qualifications for the position of councilman?
Goza: "I have been on the city council for the past two terms and vice mayor of the current council. I try to get involved with community activities and I honestly care for the people in this community."
5) Personal information. (Spouse, profession, residency, etc.).
Goza: "I am single and work at Herington USD 487 as a food service worker. I have been employed at this job for five years. Prior to that I owned/operated a café in Ramona.
"I moved to the Ramona area from Emporia where I lived in 1986 when I married James Weber. Unfortunately, we were divorced in 2006. Although I have no roots here I have made Ramona my home."
Angel Harold
Did not respond to request.
Connie Smith
1) Why do you want to be elected to the Ramona City Council?
Smith: "I have had many requests from citizens to run again since I resigned three years ago. I feel it is time to get involved again. I hope to be a voice for those who have chosen to live here and help them voice their concerns."
2) What would be your three top priorities or goals for the City of Ramona?
Smith: "Setting spending priorities for taxpayers' dollars. Maintaining the city's obligations on tax-funded projects, protecting the investments that are in place. Always considering the majority and that we on the council have an obligation to the future of Ramona and all citizens not just to ourselves. Whether we agree or not, the majority elected us to serve for the overall betterment of the community. Using all available resources to get the answers I don't have and not be afraid to ask those resources to attend the meetings."
3) Are you satisfied/dissatisfied with the current council?
Smith: "The concerns about the council and mayor are ones that have been voiced to me by citizens. Some of them feel there needs to be more priority setting when it comes to where the money will be spent, and more preventive maintenance of tax-funded projects."
4) What is your background and/or qualifications for the position of councilman?
Smith: "I have served on the council for five years and was elected mayor for three terms. I also won once as mayor as a write-in candidate. I resigned as mayor three years ago for health reasons. I have since addressed those issues and am ready to serve again. In all, I have served on the council for 11 years. I worked closely and as part of our fire department as I served my terms and was active in weather preparedness. I also have worked closely with Marion County Sheriff's Department with animal issues and anything else for which they came to town. I am a strong advocate for animal heath and Save A Stray.org. I help get lost and dumped animals to safety and then to good homes.
"I have always had the education of 'if you don't know, then find out'. I have always considered the majority and the betterment of the community when voting on issues and listening to the concerns of citizens."
5) Personal information. (Spouse, profession, residency, etc.).
Smith: "My husband, Dan, and I have raised three children here and have been here 25 years. We have a strong sense of family and have nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
"We run a trucking business, D.C. Trucking, here and have for 11 years since retiring from Santa Fe Railroad. I have a home Internet-based business and am a business developer of natural health and weight-loss products.
"I also am raising my four-year-old granddaughter for awhile, so doing this and the trucking, along with my business, keeps me here most times. I feel that I can bring much needed focus to the city council and be a voice for those who need to be heard. I will always get the answers that are needed to make the right vote for the taxpayer and the future of Ramona."
Arthur Stroda
Did not respond to request.
Kathy Werth
1) Why do you want to be re-elected to the Ramona City Council?
Werth: "I want to help the community members and residents of this town. By being on city council, I feel I can be beneficial and help enhance and improve this town. I want to make a difference and help out wherever I can."
2) What would be your three top priorities or goals for the City of Ramona?
Werth: "1) Lowering of the mill levy to remain self-sufficient and be able to support our needs for the City of Ramona by controlling our expenses and maintaining our budget with a yearly carry-over into the next year's financial budget.
"2) To enhance the viability of Ramona by encouraging other people to invest and move to Ramona.
"3) By volunteering and helping Ramona meet its daily goals and needs as appropriate."
"My motto: 'Let us do together what we can't do alone'."
3) Are you satisfied/dissatisfied with the current council?
Werth: "I am satisfied with our current council as we have worked together on various issues and have always worked out the best possible solutions in a very agreeable fashion. We work together as a group even outside of council and have been very productive in our efforts."
4) What is your background and/or qualifications for the position of councilman?
Werth: "I moved to Ramona in 2003 and have the postmaster of Ramona since 2000, almost seven years. I have served on the Ramona City Council for four years and I feel in my personal and professional position in Ramona, I am able to make good sound decisions based on the best interests of the residents of Ramona of which I am one, too. I have a bachelor of arts degree in business and economics."
5) Personal information. (Spouse, profession, residency, etc.).
Werth: "I currently am and have been the postmaster of Ramona since 2000. I commuted to Ramona from Salina for three years and moved here making Ramona my home in 2003. I have a 'significant other,' Don Matkins, who currently is Ramona's maintenance man and works at Cardie Oil, Inc. I grew up in a small town and on a farm, so moving here has been a continuing trend and a pleasant experience and I look forward to being a member and resident of Ramona for years to come."
