The election results August 5 were a major victory for Sedgwick County taxpayers. I am deeply gratified by the strong support from the primary voters yesterday. I am also deeply appreciative of the volunteer work from so many citizens who shared my campaign's concerns about taxes, spending, eminent domain abuse, who share my support for term limits, and who support empowering the voters at the polls when it comes to raising county taxes.

 

If you are reading this message, please join this effort. You may volunteer by contacting us through the contact page.

The campaign is hitting the home stretch.  It is interesting to see the reactions of people when I knock on their doors and ask for their support and votes.  I am very pleased by the responses I am receiving.  Today I completed campaigning in another precinct in west Wichita.

 

I'm also delighted to get requests for yard signs, flyers, and folks asking how they can support this campaign to restore fiscal responsibility to the county courthouse.  We'll have a strong financial report that will become public Monday.

 

In the last week this campaign has substantially intensified as my opponent has begun a broadbased response in advertising, signs, and a much more visible campaign.  He can afford to do so with a huge amount of cash that he had accumulated in the past few years.

 

An important fact that is quite different from the last time the incumbent in my contest had to run in a primary related to early voting.  Early voting has been underway with absentee ballots that were sent out about 10 days ago.  Advanced voting at a dozen different locations has also begun.  We no longer have election day, but election weeks.

 

Campaigns in Kansas must adjust to that new reality.  When campaigns start their broadcast advertising a week after the absentee ballots have been sent out, they are starting to reach a lot of voters who have already voted.  A key in broadcast ads is repetition and this takes a while for viewers to see or hear the ads and for this information to sink in.  

 

I am delighted to report that our early voter contact efforts met our campaign plan.  Everyone who has helped with this campaign deserves credit for this substantial accomplishment.  We can all rest on our laurels for 30 seconds before going back to work.

 

That's why the campaign work that is completed well before the middle of July is so critical for a contested primary election that will be finished on August 5.  It is also important to have support show up early instead of at the last minute.

 

The county's budget officials proposed a one mill property tax reduction.  This action confirms my position that property taxes should NOT have been raised 2.5 mills in 2006.  The fact that the county is now proposing a property tax reduction less than three weeks before the primary election and about three months before the November election where two of the incumbents who voted for this tax hike are now seeking reelection is a compelling benefit for Sedgwick County taxpayers.  This action shortly before the election is also a reason why many folks get cynical about government.  Let's look at the plus side of this action.

 

This tax cut shows one positive benefit from my candidacy for county taxpayers.

 

This action demonstrates that the two commissioners running for reelection finally realize that they must now face voters like the two commissioners who unsuccessfully ran for reelection in 2006 after raising county taxes.  Even with this tax cut, the mill levy remains 1.5 mills higher than it was in 2006.

 

The county's one mill tax cut is a good first step but it will not guarantee even about 8/10ths of 1 percent reduction in property taxes for most county taxpayers for several reasons.

 

First, soaring appraisals may mean that this mill levy reduction will simply reduce the property tax hike issued by the county appraiser's office in March.  Other tax jurisdictions may also raise their mill levy.  Last year the Wichita school district raised their mill levy by two mills (after many of them, like Kevass Harding campaigned against raising property taxes while running for reelection in 2007 to the school board).  Other tax jurisdictions could raise property taxes again.  I hope that the city, school district, or any other jurisdiction will look to follow Sedgwick County's example this year.

 

This one mill reduction does not mean that county spending will not grow.  Staff has proposed the first $401 million county budget!  That is almost three times more than what the county was spending in 1993 when the current third district incumbent took office in less than 16 years.

 

My agenda to improve county government extends well beyond the property tax mill levy.  Sedgwick County and the rest of local government in our state needs broader fiscal reforms.  Voters need to be empowered to decide all local tax hikes at the ballot box.  I hope that my candidacy will continue to be a beacon for the folks seeking real reform so we can create a positive economic climate that promotes real growth in our community.

 

Today, there are less than 20 days before primary election day.  Absentee ballots have been sent out.  Advance voting is beginning.  Your help and assistance is going to lead to real change in our community beginning August 5.  What happened yesterday is just the beginning of real fiscal and governmental reform in our community.