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November 2, 2008
Peterjohn qualified I have been a resident of Wichita and Sedgwick County for 55 years. For 45 of those years, I have owned a construction company, Hentzen Contractors. We are intimately involved in the commercial life and health of Wichita. I was privileged to serve the citizens of Sedgwick County as their District 3 county commissioner for eight years, from 1984 to 1992. I have been actively involved in the political life of our city and county for the past 25 years. During my lifelong experience in Wichita and Sedgwick County, I have never seen a candidate for County Commission with better credentials to be a successful commissioner than Karl Peterjohn. By virtue of his education. employment, public skills, work ethic and long experience with the budgets of the major taxing authorities (city, county, state and school board), Peterjohn is uniquely qualified to serve as county commissioner. BUD HENTZEN
Wichita October 28, 2008
Peterjohn's role Representatives of the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce have said that Karl Peterjohn, in his interview with them, was confused about the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition and its role. I can't imagine that the interview proceeded as portrayed by Harvey Sorensen and others (Oct. 26 Reader Views). Why do I say this? Because over the past few years, I've had several conversations with Peterjohn about this organization and its role in Wichita. The letter also said that Peterjohn's opponent "has a record of keeping Goddard taxes low." The record is that in her year and a half as Goddard mayor, the property tax rate increased more than 16 percent. Peterjohn's consistent record against tax increases is to be commended. The mission of the Kansas Taxpayers Network, Peterjohn's employer for the past 15 years, is "to represent Kansas taxpayers at the state and local level by advocating limited taxes and government spending to create a free-market environment." That's who Peterjohn has been lobbying for. BOB WEEKS
Wichita October 26, 2008
What CEOs fear, taxpayers need I find it laughable that so many business leaders are dissing Karl Peterjohn. Certainly it is their right. But I'm behind him. If anyone has been an advocate for the taxpayer, it is Peterjohn. I've read the fear that the business community is putting out about the possibility of a Peterjohn victory in the District 3 race for Sedgwick County Commission, but the business leaders and CEOs can blame themselves. It has historically been the middle class that has had the buying power in this country, kept the economy going and bought the products the CEOs and the businesses manufacture. But guess what? The middle class has ceased to exist. Those same CEOs make millions off the backs of the worker bees while laying off the lowly worker. Those CEOs export jobs overseas. Those CEOs expect the taxpayer to give them breaks by making deals with city, county, state and federal governmental agencies. Taxes continue to go up. USD 259 wants our money. The city wants to build a new library when the old one is fine. The county is building a new arena. My property taxes increase. Health care costs increase. The price of a carton of milk increases. Then there are gas prices and the heating bills I will have this winter. When a company receives a tax break to create jobs, the government still needs that revenue. Where do you think it comes from? It comes from the taxpayer. Peterjohn has my vote. It is time for government to spend less and for corporations to be less greedy and more efficient. BECKY FOSTER
Wichita October 21, 2008
Peterjohn is Sorely Needed The recent opposition by certain Wichita aircraft executives to Karl Peterjohn -- a well-respected and strong candidate for Sedgwick County Commission in District 3 -- is ill-informed. Peterjohn, an economist by training, has long been an advocate for fiscal prudence and has fought, on behalf of the Kansas taxpayer, against government waste, abuse and fraud. The integrity and discipline of Peterjohn are sorely needed in these days of fiscal profligacy and deserve respect. It is also unfortunate that the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce's political action committee has chosen to support Peterjohn's opponent, Goddard Mayor Marcey Gregory. She most recently succeeded in raising Goddard property taxes by 16.6 percent and is fiscally everything Peterjohn is not. Peterjohn has fought for property tax relief for business and individuals at the Statehouse since 1993. He was instrumental in initial legislation, in the 1990s, that led to the complete elimination of the business personal property tax. Peterjohn understands the importance of a well-trained work force, and that was one of the reasons he ran for the Wichita school board in 2007. Peterjohn opposed a 2006 property tax increase by the County Commission, which happened to include a $54 million earmark for Wichita Area Technical College to be used for an aviation technology center at Jabara Airport. Peterjohn opposed the county tax increase, not WATC. Peterjohn has always been and remains a strong supporter of economic growth, the aircraft industry and free-market economics. The fact that Peterjohn supports voter approval of all tax increases should be applauded. The letter was submitted by Colby Sandlian, John Belford, Jean Garvey, George Pearson, Don Slawson, Gerrit Wormhoudt, Cliff Sones, Johnny Stevens and Matt Eck. October 17, 2008
Yes to this 'obstacle' Well, they don't squeal until you sting 'em. So The Eagle editorial board's ludicrous lashing out at Karl Peterjohn indicated just how much the cabal of good old boys in charge of Wichita politics is trembling at the thought of a disruption to its machine ("Obstacle: Legitimate concerns about Peterjohn," Oct. 9 Opinion). It's not surprising that big bosses at Spirit AeroSystems and Cessna Aircraft Co. attack Peterjohn -- it's rare that the direct beneficiaries of government largesse complain about receiving ill-gotten gains from taxpayer pockets. However, it does seem a bit odd that The Eagle editorial board apparently pines for the days when the man Peterjohn defeated in the GOP primary freely took from the poor to give to the rich. As to Peterjohn becoming "Commissioner No" -- that certainly would be a refreshing change in local politics. And the editorial board did get one thing right: The question does now become "whether the voters in... western Sedgwick County can act in the county's best interest." If they can, Peterjohn will be on the County Commission next year. CHUCK KRIEL
Wichita MATT BICKHARD
Derby October 14, 2008
Questioning is good Regarding "Obstacle: Legitimate concerns about Peterjohn" (Oct. 9 Eagle editorial): It seems to me that the voters of the Sedgwick County Commission's District 3 clearly rejected the policies of Commission Chairman Tom Winters in defeating him in the GOP primary. Eagle editorial board: Please listen to the will of the people. Who are you to second-guess them? It seems to me, although I don't live in District 3, that there needs to be more oversight of how our money is used to promote community development. Obviously, some of that use has been wrong and wasted. It seems these days that every request that comes down the pike for the use of corporate welfare is accepted, with few if any questions asked. It is accompanied by the applause of the media. The fact is that Karl Peterjohn will encourage more careful inspection of these corporate welfare requests. He will ask the hard questions that neither the media nor the majority of the present county commissioners have the courage to ask. I don't believe that is being an "obstacle," as the editorial board indicated. It is looking out for the spending of the hard-earned money the county is taking from the taxpayer. That, to me, is refreshing. It too bad that this is not happening at the national and state levels of government. Perhaps we would not be in the economic mess that we are in if our representatives, such as Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, would have had the courage to stand up and say "no" and not be stampeded into a "solution" that obviously is not working. DALE BLOMQUIST
Wichita October 12, 2008
Peterjohn's voice is not to be feared I am disgusted to read of the actions of the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce and the businesses that fear dissenting voices in our community. It is ludicrous to suggest that the one dissenting voice of Karl Peterjohn on the Sedgwick County Commission could cause the havoc described in the article "Chamber uses PAC to oppose Peterjohn" (Oct. 8 Eagle). We do live in a democracy. I hope the voters in Sedgwick County's District 3 will take note of the businesses that do not trust their judgment. The unfounded and emotional charges against Peterjohn are ludicrous. I, for one, appreciate the idea that the County Commission will have another public servant with a different point of view to direct debate and discussion in a democratic process. We all want a prosperous Wichita. I hope the businesses behind this plan remember that each and every one of their customers is a taxpayer. LYNN BISHOP WEEKS
Wichita Regarding "Spirit chief critical of county candidate" (Oct. 2 Eagle): I have a different assessment of Karl Peterjohn. I have known Peterjohn for many years. I talk with him every year or two, and have observed his televised presentations before local governments and groups. Mostly, however, I know him through reading many of his articles and writings. I have found that he is knowledgeable and has a powerful intellect. He sees deeper than the superficial and remains dedicated to his goal over a long period of time. But he has gone beyond that. Peterjohn has consistently focused on attaining the highest-quality standards with the effective and efficient use of resources. He has always been strongly pro-business and pro-education. He is a voice of reason for the taxpayer. He is an asset to our community and would be an outstanding Sedgwick County commissioner. RONALD DAVIS
Wichita October 11, 2008
Peterjohn moral Karl Peterjohn is your traditional Republican. He doesn't succumb to special interests. He maintains high principles, such as that it's immoral to give taxpayer money to big business. He is a man of integrity who will not be bought off. It is evident that we are now a government by, for and of the multinational corporations. The military industrial corporations are the beneficiaries of our huge national debt, the Middle East conflict, the bailouts and the infamous "free trade" treaties. The middle class and working poor -- who do most of the living, dying and paying of taxes in this country -- will have no representation if Peterjohn loses his race for the Sedgwick County Commission. He needs our vote. Spirit AeroSystems chief executive Jeff Turner is playing his role as a business elitist quite well ("Spirit chief critical of county candidate," Oct. 2 Eagle). Free trade has made community blackmail quite fashionable. Turner and others suggest that if we elect Peterjohn, their companies are going to leave Wichita. We would not be plagued with our enormous national and regional problems were men of Peterjohn's high morality running our businesses and government. President Eisenhower phrased it well: Beware the power of the military industrial complex. JAMES McNULTY
Wichita Unwarranted fears It is unwarranted and even ludicrous to think that the election of Karl Peterjohn -- a conscientious, honest and hardworking man whose main political thrust is merely to make the imposition of property taxes subject to the vote of the people -- would initiate a wholesale flight of industry and investment from Wichita. Peterjohn has been an energetic supporter of business and investment here ever since he made his voice heard, and he was on the Wichita Independent Business Association board in the past. It is to be hoped that the negative opinions expressed in The Eagle would instead inspire his electorate to solidly support him for Sedgwick County Commission. HAIG KURDIAN
Wichita October 5, 2008
Stay out of politics The front-page political attack on Sedgwick County Commission candidate Karl Peterjohn by Jeff Turner, CEO of Spirit AeroSystems, was inappropriate because Spirit is a tax-subsidized business ("Spirit chief critical of county candidate," Oct. 2 Eagle). Spirit takes tax breaks, bond money and community investments from taxpayers. Yet Turner had the nerve to say that he doesn't want someone elected who might conduct diligence and fact-checking before simply complying with the demands of Spirit, Boeing or any other employer that has learned to manipulate local government. When government "partners" with business, that business needs to stay out of the political arena. DENNIS FAIRBANKS
Wichita
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