A Democrat, a Libertarian and a Republican are running to represent Eudora, parts of eastern Lawrence, and east-central Douglas County as the commissioner for the new District 4.

Candidates shared the personal experiences that they believe qualify them for this office, their views on solar and wind energy and more.

Democrat Gene Dorsey, Libertarian Steve Jacob and Republican Timothy Bruce will face off in the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election.

These questionnaires initially ran ahead of the primary election, but we gave candidates a chance to update their answers for the general election. (None of these candidates chose to update their answers.) We did not give candidates a word count limit but advised them to keep answers concise. Candidates’ answers appear below verbatim, minus minor typos edited for clarity.

Will this race be on my ballot? Check which Douglas County Commission district you’re in at myvoteinfo.voteks.org.

Early voting began Wednesday, Oct. 16. Voters can request a ballot to vote early by mail through Tuesday, Oct. 29 at KSVotes.org. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, which is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Find out more at lawrencekstimes.com/election2024. 

Jump to a topic:

• Meet the candidates
• Experiences and qualifications
• Top 3 issues
• Property taxes
• Wind energy regulations
• Sky Energy Center solar project
• Question for your opponents
• Free space
• Just for fun

This district

District 4, the green district on the map here, includes Eudora and much of eastern Douglas County, and it reaches west into portions of Lawrence as if it’s pointing a finger.

Its northern and eastern boundaries extend as far as the county line in some places. Its western boundary zigzags through east-central Lawrence, as far west as Iowa Street for a short stretch between West 19th and 23rd streets.

In Lawrence, its northern boundary hits around North 1550 Road/East 11th Street, running west just past Haskell Avenue and approximately to Burroughs Creek Trail before dipping south.

Its southern boundary in Lawrence runs along 23rd Street to Massachusetts Street, then heads south to East 30th Terrace and East 31st Street and includes most of Prairie Park neighborhood. At East 1800 Road, the boundary heads south to North 900 Road; at East 2000 Road, it heads further south to North 700 Road.

Click here to open a big zoomable PDF map of the district in a new tab.

Meet the candidates

About you and your positions

Q: What specific experience and qualifications do you possess that make you the best candidate for the commission seat you’re seeking?

Dorsey (D): Financial experience in directing and preparing budgets in excess of 800 million and capital budgets exceeding 200 million. I have attended most county commission meetings since 2016 and I am the only citizen to sit through all budget hearings for the last two years. I am the only candidate to graduate from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Citizens Academy this year. Additionally, I have lived experience as the caregiver to my son with bipolar schizoaffective disorder for the last two years of his life. He died of heart failure at home in his sleep November 29, 2022. I have also attended Eudora Township meeting and Eudora City Commission meetings over the last few months.

Jacob (L): I pledge I will turn in a revenue neutral budget and call for a vote on ending the county food sales tax.

Bruce (R): As a City Commissioner for the City of Eudora over the past 9 years, I’ve spent countless hours hearing the local citizens concerns while balancing the initiatives of the city. I’ve served cities across Kansas as a local business owner for 11 years which has provided me insights on how the county can assist and provide resources for not only our people but also the businesses of Douglas County. For two decades I’ve held executive positions in project management roles with experience in overseeing the people, resources, and timelines for multimillion dollar projects.

Q: Please list the top three issues motivating you to run for this office. What concrete ideas do you have to make a difference on each issue if you are elected?

Please be as specific as possible.

Dorsey (D):
Transparency and Cost Control
The budget has doubled in about 5 years. Commissioner salaries have gone up an average of 5.6% each year for the last 5 years. This years budget calls for a salary of 49,706 versus 38,794 in 2020. Legal fees have gone from 246,000 in 2021 to 550,000 for 2025. Outside counsel costs 220 an hour while internal counsel would be less than 85.00 per hour saving over 300,000 a year. Not a second was spent on administration costs during the recent hearing.

Infrastructure, expanding commercial base, and housing
The Panasonics ultimate 8,000 employees will affect Douglas County. We need to join the Mid-America Regional Council and the Total Transportation Policy Committee to have a seat at the table. Current K-10 plans call for 6 lanes to the Douglas County Line then dropping to 4. The County needs a new industrial park to attract related businesses to Douglas County to spread the tax base. We need more housing in affordable ranges to attract young families with children to fill our schools.

Listening to Constituents
To give more voice to Eudora city and Township citizens I will be in Eudora a lot holding informal meetings and getting feedback.

Jacob (L):
1) For sure taxes, Democrats are talking a good game about it at the forums. And in general Libertarians don’t trust Republicans on doing what they say. Did you see the deficit under Trump? That’s why we need a Libertarian to be in there to make tough decisions that no one else will.

2) Ending the sales tax on food at the county level. That’s the most cruel of taxes.

3) Corporate welfare. I have not worked for the city for 34 years cleaning toilets so I can retire here and make the Doug Comptons of the world richer.

Bruce (R):
1. Ensuring the voice of the rural parts of Douglas County are heard, in my view the constituents in our county feel like they are not currently represented for their needs and wants.

2. I have a desire to protect the county, specifically when it comes to our agriculture, that will be impacted by the solar and wind farms which do not have a place in Douglas County.

3. I am committed to help lower our taxes by improving the tax base and clearly examine all of the programs under the current budget to ensure they are beneficial to the county as a whole and not a specialized group. Given my vast experience with infrastructure, I am devoted to make use of this knowledge to make sure the county is provided the best level of service countywide.

Q: Many Douglas County residents have voiced concerns about property taxes increasing over the last several years. Do you believe that property taxes can be reduced from current rates? If yes, how would you reduce them, and if no, why not?

Again, please be as specific as possible.

Dorsey (D): I believe costs can be controlled through analysis. Raising expenses to meet the growth in property valuations is not sustainable. We can’t afford to pay our employees above average salaries when people ae in danger of losing their homes due to property taxes.

Jacob (L): Hiring freezes, layoffs if necessary, targeting nonessential employees, stopping major construction and road projects, giving back the cash pile already stolen from past taxpayers.

Bruce (R): Property taxes can be reduced. The current surplus of funds clearly shows the county is currently collecting more taxes than they need to operate or even to maintain a healthy fund balance for unforeseen expenses. In my view we have plenty of areas to minimize spending that could easily allow for reduced taxes and not compromise the level of service the county is currently providing.

Q: On a scale of 1-5, please rank how much you support the wind energy regulations the commission approved in May.

(1= Do not support at all; 5 = Fully support)

Dorsey (D): 3

Jacob (L): 3

Bruce (R): 1

Q: If you had been a commissioner in April when the commission approved a key permit for the planned Kansas Sky Energy Center, how would you have voted?

Only yes/no option given

Dorsey (D): No

Jacob (L): Yes

Bruce (R): No

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Q: Please explain your answers to the previous two questions, if you wish, and/or share other key points you’d like voters to know about your stance on wind and solar energy projects in Douglas County.

Dorsey (D): Planning is guided by Plan 2040, which states, “All development proposals must comply with the comprehensive plan. If a proposal does not comply with Comprehensive Plan requirements, then the applicant must pursue a plan amendment.” Since the plan does not address utility scale renewable energy any conditional use permits for solar or wind are premature.

Jacob (L): We have GOT to get off coal somehow. Anything helps, and the less government involvement in doing it the better.

Bruce (R): As one of motivations to run, I do not feel that cannibalizing our beautiful agricultural land for solar and wind farms is the best use of our resources. The county has spent a good deal of time and resources over the last 20+ years trying to keep our agriculture in tack and I do not believe solar and wind farms will not be value add for our county.

Q: Please share a question we didn’t ask that you’d like your fellow candidates to answer. How would you respond?

Dorsey (D): County Commissioners at $49,706 now make more than beginning school teachers, will you commit to working full-time for a full-time wage? I will.

Jacob (L): Did you vote Yes or No on “Value them Both”? I voted No.

Bruce (R): How do you plan to make sure our county thrives for generations to come?

As a resident that was born and raised in Douglas County and is now raising my kids here, it is important that Douglas County stay/become again a safe, healthy and cost efficient place to live and raise a family. We do that by first taking care of the county before we extend help to those from outside the county. When you are flying they tell you to put your oxygen mask on first before you help the person next to you. They say that because you cannot help someone else if you are not healthy enough to help. I think the same applies to the county. By continuing to improve our infrastructure we live a better life and provide a better life to those around us.

Q: Free space: Please share anything you’d like voters to know about you and your stances that we haven’t asked here.

Dorsey (D): I have compassion for the mentally ill due to my personal experience but I also have compassion for the late 70’s widow who is struggling to stay in her house with ever increasing property taxes.

Just for fun

Candidates were not required to answer any of these questions, but we wanted to give our readers a chance to get to know them a little better and have some fun with this.

Dorsey (D):

Favorite color? Blue

Zodiac sign? Libra

Do you have any pets, and/or what’s your favorite animal? Bodhi is my 2 year old 80 pound sheepadoodle.

What’s a fun fact our readers may not know about you? (Have a hidden talent? Interesting hobby?) I have been to 40 countries and 49 states, I missed North Dakota.

Favorite book, TV show and/or movie? Open Range

Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you in running for office or serving your community that you’d like to share? “Don’t argue with fools. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” — Mark Twain

Jacob (L):

Favorite color? Light blue

Zodiac sign? Capricorn

Do you have any pets, and/or what’s your favorite animal? No pets, possums

What’s a fun fact our readers may not know about you? (Have a hidden talent? Interesting hobby?) Enjoy going to the movies

Favorite book, TV show and/or movie? I loved “Bottoms” I see a lot of movies where you can predict the ending … not that one.

Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you in running for office or serving your community that you’d like to share? “There is only one bad word, taxes” — Ron Swanson

Bruce (R):

Favorite color? Orange

Zodiac sign? Taurus

Do you have any pets, and/or what’s your favorite animal? A Dog – Ruby, she is a Goldendoodle.

What’s a fun fact our readers may not know about you? (Have a hidden talent? Interesting hobby?) I love being on or around water with my family.

Favorite book, TV show and/or movie? Freakonomics

Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you in running for office or serving your community that you’d like to share? “Smooth seas never made a skilled sailor”

This post is by the Lawrence Times news team.

If you have news tips, questions, comments, concerns, compliments or corrections for our team, please reach out and let us know what’s on your mind. Email us at Hello@LawrenceKSTimes.com (don’t forget the KS!), or find more contact info and a quick contact form at LawrenceKSTimes.com/contact.

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