Incumbent and Democrat Karen Willey will face Republican Pam McDermott in the race to represent Douglas County Commission District 3, which includes much of west Lawrence and most of the western side of the county.

We asked candidates for their positions on wind and solar energy, what questions they’d ask their opponent and more.

These questionnaires initially ran ahead of the primary election, but we gave candidates a chance to update their answers for the general election. 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 opponent
• Free space
• Just for fun

This district

District 3 has changed following county voters’ November 2022 vote to expand the commission to five seats from three.

District 3, shown in blue in the map here, includes roughly the western half of unincorporated Douglas County.

Its north, south and west boundaries reach the county lines. The district includes a portion of northwestern Lawrence, with part of its eastern boundary north of town along East 1000 (Queens) Road.

The eastern boundary expands as far east as Stone Meadow Drive and Crossgate Drive in some places, roughly between Harvard Road and West 27th Street. South of North 900 Road, the eastern boundary heads south along East 1296 Road and East 1250 Road.

Click here to see a zoomable PDF map of the district.

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?

Willey (D): As a PhD scientist with a background in soils and ecology, a history of hands-on entrepreneurship in housing and manufacturing, and my consulting work with urban nonprofits, I am a necessary voice for making grounded, evidence-based decisions that move us forward in the areas of economic development, environmental stewardship, and equitable opportunity.

I have a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a Ph.D. in Geography, both from KU. My research and teaching covered the interactions of soils, ecology, and climate. This environmental background informs my data-driven policy decisions.

I co-owned several businesses including building affordable housing and running a design and manufacturing company building forklifts; my experience as an entrepreneur makes me budget-wise and frugal.

My work with Kansas City nonprofits gives me a window into how other communities approach social service work with lessons for Douglas County.

I have over 25 years of volunteer service across our community. My current roles include a dozen years and counting as a volunteer firefighter, 8 years on the board of the Kansas Rural Center, 5 years as president or vice-president of BRAC, a housing nonprofit in Baldwin, 3 years as secretary of the NAACP Legal Redress Committee, and this last year I served as the fellow-in-residence at the Dole Institute of Politics- leading a discussion series on sustainability in Kansas. As a county commissioner, I sit on the board of the KU Innovation Park and until recently, on the Affordable Housing Advisory Board for the City of Lawrence. I am a past member and chair of the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission. I serve broadly and faithfully throughout Douglas County.

McDermott (R): My husband and I have been married for 35 years and have 5 adult children and 10 grandchildren, all in Douglas County. We have been active foster parents for teen boys since 2018, although we currently have an 8 year old boy. I believe this experience is invaluable when it comes to making decisions that will affect families and young people.

I have spent 30 years helping to build and lead a faith community where individuals from every kind of background come together for something bigger than themselves. This experience has helped me be open- minded, curious, and appreciate what people can accomplish together.

I believe I can help build a more citizen-led local government by listening to the hardworking and every-day people of Douglas County, the taxpayers. They are the ones who pay the bills and fund the budgets. They are in fact, the government, and deserve to have elected officials who will listen to them and work effectively on their behalf. I want to help make Douglas County affordable, safe, and welcoming.

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.

Willey (D):
Economic development:
Support opportunities for diverse entrepreneurs to thrive
Encourage growing local businesses and new industry to expand our tax base
Implement a county tax rebate for income-burdened seniors and disabled Veterans
Continue to address affordability and the residential tax burden

Environmental stewardship:
Build policy around our newly adopted climate action plan: Adapt Douglas County
Connect citizens to resources that protect cultural spaces, prairies, woodlands, and wetlands through the Douglas County Open Space Program
Expand local food and farming systems that improve soil health
Begin a community discussion around the future of the Wakarusa Valley

Equitable opportunity:
Value diverse voices in policy decisions across the spectrum of race, age, politics, sexuality, gender identity, ability, military service, and geography
Improve emergency response times in west Lawrence and all of district 3
Support public safety, public health, and crisis care
Center the needs of seniors in discussions on supportive housing and care

McDermott (R):
1. The Budget, Taxes, and Property Valuations
The Douglas County Commission has not been sensitive to the enormous tax burden on citizens. I do not believe they understand how their decisions are impacting people. The budget has grown 233% over seven years, from $89 million to over $200 million. The County has more than $160 million in cash on hand. This is outrageous. If the mill levy goes down a little bit and the valuations go up, there’s no tax relief for anyone.

I would set all categories back to 2017 and fully fund essential services that benefit all of us like fire and medical, roads, Sheriff, and so forth and build up from there based on what we need. I would look at every regulation that hinders business growth, and I would not commit to Plans (A Place for Everyone, Open Spaces, The Climate Action Plan) or ideas without knowing exactly what they would cost taxpayers or what kind of impact they would have on the County. I would like to see more money back in the hands of the taxpayers so that they can give to organizations that are meaningful to them.

2. Representation for Taxpayers and Rural Douglas County
District 3 includes nearly half of the land area of Douglas County and is full of hard working farmers and rural residents who seem to have no representation on the current BOCC. It’s also home to a significant number of business owners, families with children, and retirees who want Douglas County to be affordable and safe, first and foremost.

3. Transparency
We have no control over our tax dollars in Washington DC, but we should all be able to know exactly what is happening with them in Douglas County. Local government is the place we can actually have accountable government, and that matters.
There have been serious questions asked about the County financials by serious people, and they are ridiculed and dismissed. There is a pending lawsuit against the County and a sitting Commissioner regarding transparency. A lack of transparency erodes the very thing we need, trust.

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.

Willey (D): I have lowered the county property tax rate by 10% in my two years in office. The 3 mil reduction for 2025 should offset anticipated valuation increases on homes and businesses.

The Douglas County tax mill levy increased drastically between the 2008 and 2018 tax years before flattening out for four years. The county added justice programs and mental health funding that are a net benefit for our community, but there is room to evaluate and streamline services as we coordinate a more efficient ecosystem of care.

Recent sharp increases in real estate valuations (which we do not control) need to trigger reductions in mill levy (which we do control). While all county goods and services are subject to inflation pressures, the valuation spikes have also been driven by a lack of housing stock. Ultimately, an increase in commercial and industrial properties are needed to relieve the burden on residential property taxes in Douglas County.

McDermott (R): Yes, I believe property taxes can and must be reduced from current rates.

Because of inflation, the price of everything is going up: food, gas, insurance, housing. Some people I talk to are very concerned, especially people on fixed incomes. Others are just angry at our wasteful and inefficient spending.

The Commissioners will tell us the good news is that our homes are worth more, but the increase in property valuation itself does not directly provide money to pay the higher taxes. Instead, it reflects the potential for increased tax revenue for local governments. They know this.

Part of the solution is to expand the tax base. But, we can’t ignore that we have burdened ourselves with all kinds of unnecessary and excessive regulations, high taxes, a shortage of homes, and growing public safety concerns that make us unattractive for investment as a community. Those things have to change if we’re going to expand the tax base.

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)

Willey (D): 4

McDermott (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?

(Or, incumbents, how did you vote?) Only yes/no option given

Willey (D): Yes

McDermott (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.

Willey (D): Energy demand is increasing, and our coal plant is aging. Even if climate change were not an existential threat of our time, there would be solid economic and environmental reasons to move away from fossil fuels and toward more renewable energy sources. Oil, natural gas, and coal produce known and devastating impacts on local environments where they are mined, transported and burned. Costs to our ecosystems, waterways, and public health are not factored into the price of fossil fuel use and even so, solar and wind generation are cheaper as well as cleaner. Even though our electricity needs are balanced by diversified production (nuclear, coal, gas, wind, and hydro) across the 13 states of our shared power grid, there is always security in meeting our needs close to home. Douglas County regulations for wind and solar set an especially high bar for environmental and community protections.

Kansas Sky Energy Center
The County Commission voted 3-0 to grant the Conditional Use Permit for Kansas Sky, but there are multiple required conditions that will come back for a public hearing and vote. Stay tuned.

Douglas County wind regulations
I am generally comfortable with our newly adopted wind regulations based on the data from the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department literature review which supported the setback and noise protections for non-participating landowners.

McDermott (R): There are several reasons I’m not in favor of industrial wind in Douglas County.

The massive foundations in the ground will never be removed. There’s not a single state that has a comprehensive set of regulations in place on the wind industry requiring the removal of the 1000 tons per turbine foundation which has a life span of 25 years at most. This isn’t fair to future generations.

Some of the minerals used in turbine construction are mined by slave labor in China and child labor in Africa, and I think this should matter to Americans.

Locally, more than 1500 mostly rural citizens signed a petition against wind energy in Douglas County. All together, they spent thousands of hours over 3 years providing excellent research and studies on the topic. They researched NextEra, an opportunistic company we would have been forced to deal with forever. I’m thankful for their commitment to our land and beautiful landscape.

Utility solar does not belong on farmland in Douglas County. I still don’t understand how that was allowed to happen, and the Commissioners acknowledged that it’s the biggest project Douglas County has ever undertaken. People I’ve talked to in my district are in favor of solar on rooftops and in parking lots, anyplace where it will benefit locals.

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

Willey (D): Will you accept the results of this election?
Do you support the science behind vaccinations?
Do you value the human rights of our LGBTQ+ neighbors?

My answer to each of these questions is yes. I would encourage voters to seek these answers from other candidates.

McDermott (R): How will you go about representing all of the residents in your District, even those with whom you have sharp disagreements?

I would work hard to find common ground by talking with people. I believe many of us want the same basic things but disagree on how to get the best solutions.

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

Willey (D): I draw on my science background, my business experience, and my deep love for our community to build sound public policy. The people of Douglas County deserve an independent thinker like me who brings the experience, skill set, and diligence to do the job well. It is an honor to serve as your county commissioner and I would be glad for your vote in District 3.

McDermott (R): It’s not simple to communicate about complex issues in 90 seconds in a forum setting or in one paragraph, and I would sincerely welcome the opportunity to have a conversation on any topic.

One thing I have learned by spending time with people in the unincorporated parts of Douglas County during this campaign is that the needs and interests of the rural community are different and have been ignored. I’m committed to doing whatever is required to fix that.

Lastly, I’m not running as an expert in any area. I’m running as a citizen who is confident about the fundamental things that will make Douglas County better for everyone: lower taxes, public safety, and real representation for the people who live here.

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.

Willey (D):

Favorite color? Blue

Zodiac sign? Cancer

Do you have any pets, and/or what’s your favorite animal? I have a nine-year-old, nearly deaf rescue dog, Luna and three cats: Cali, Larry, and three-legged Dobby. The last surviving tetra fish from my daughter’s tank also seems to have become mine. I have nine sheep that graze my backyard and a small herd of British White Park cattle.

What’s a fun fact our readers may not know about you? (Have a hidden talent? Interesting hobby?) I dearly love wilderness backpacking. I have logged a few hundred miles in states across the US including Georgia, Maryland, and Maine on the Appalachian Trail. I hope there are many more adventures in my future. I’m also a Douglas County history buff.

Favorite book, TV show and/or movie? I read widely in fiction and nonfiction with a particular love for young adult literature. I prefer books that stretch beyond my cultural upbringing and especially those that address the immigrant experience in America. Thank you to the constituents who have loaned me books on the topics they care about!

Watching shows is still a family activity at our house and we take turns choosing. Science fiction is a mainstay including all 95 hours of “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (it took us years).

Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you in running for office or serving your community that you’d like to share? “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” — Muhammad Ali

McDermott (R):

Favorite color? I actually like most colors, except purple. I can’t work with purple.

Zodiac sign? Libra

Do you have any pets, and/or what’s your favorite animal? No pets at this time.

What’s a fun fact our readers may not know about you? (Have a hidden talent? Interesting hobby?) I read almost every day, and I have a small stack of books to get to. My 10 grandchildren live in Lawrence and I enjoy being involved in their lives as much as possible.

Favorite book, TV show and/or movie? My favorite movie is probably “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Contrast the depth of that with “The Office” … there is a scene for everything in life

Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you in running for office or serving your community that you’d like to share? Love your neighbor.

This post is by the Lawrence Times news team.

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