Experience, issues and ideas

Briefly (in 2 or 3 sentences), why do you want to serve on the Lawrence City Commission?

Paul Buskirk: Service to others was embedded in my upbringing. My father was a pastor; mother was a special education teacher; sister was a nurse; and brother was a doctor. And I was an educator at KU for 38 years — helping high school students get to college — helping college students finish their degrees.

In my previous campaigns for public office I had the opportunity to see Lawrence very much from the outside — we have a community with many challenges and … we are incredibly blessed with resources which so many of our sister communities across the state do not have.

Now that I am retired I am ready to dedicate my service to our community to ensure that we leave this legacy for our children and our grandchildren.

Mike Courtney: I’m running because Lawrence is facing a housing affordability crisis, and I believe there are viable solutions to make Lawrence a more affordable place to live without compromising its unique character. I want to serve on the Commission to implement housing and budget solutions that will allow our neighbors and our children to put roots down here for decades to come.

Mike Harreld: We find ourselves in difficult, interesting times that require more from us than many of us thought we could give. It is my desire to see despair to give way to hope, and I wish to use the position of City Commissioner to do just that. As we say in the mental health industry “Better is possible.”

Steve Jacob: I love this town, wanted people off like me, working and lower classes, to continue to live here. Tired of politician’s “talking loud and saying nothing”

Bart Littlejohn: I have been honored to serve on the commission and I want to continue the progress that we’ve made in terms of housing/houselessness, the land development code, our asset management plan for infrastructure, and working to create an economic ecosystem that will help those at every level. Given the uncertain external circumstances we face, I want us to navigate a path that will help us be flexible and resilient.

Amanda Nielsen: I feel that lower income people, such as myself, need a voice on choices made for our town. To be a different perspective.

Kristine Polian: I absolutely love this City, and am surprised at where we are. People are getting priced out of their homes due to high property taxes, yet we have little to show for the money we have spent. I would like to provide my expertise to this city to correct our path.

Bob Schumm: I have a lot of experience in municipal government (12 years) and I have witnessed what I would refer to as “out of touch” proposals during the last couple of years.The proposal to move City Hall out of downtown was one of the most preposterous: the proposed site was obscure and difficult to find, the building was old and in need of a major investment, and the City was going to pay $4.5 million for it. After the Commission turned it down, through public urging, the building later sold for $1.5 million! Need I say more? We paid a consultant for that (bad) advice; I believe that my experience could have aided in making a better decision.

Peter Shenouda: Our city is projected to face a $6.6 million shortfall. Homelessness has become a significant and growing expense that we must address responsibly. We have spent millions of dollars, yet the issue persists without real solutions. With my business background, I know I can be part of the team that works to resolve these issues and bring real results for our community.

Courtney Shipley: Lawrence is a wonderful place to live. We need to provide enough career and housing opportunities to ensure that the next generations can continue to thrive here. I believe serving in local government has the most positive influence on the quality of our everyday life.

What experience — in your work, education, personal life and otherwise — qualifies you to serve on the Lawrence City Commission?

Paul Buskirk: My role as an educator for so many years involved listening to people — bringing diverse perspectives and values together to work in a common cause.

Mike Courtney: My decades of tech leadership have taught me how to build consensus, manage budgets responsibly, and most importantly, to get things done. I also know how to identify and implement tech solutions to improve efficiencies and reduce costs, which our city could greatly benefit from.

I’m currently an Artificial Intelligence (AI) engineer at Cisco Systems, the largest networking company in the world. I have a 25-year career as a technology leader at Nvidia, a Silicon Valley executive, and a Dell and IBM employee. I also have years of state, local, and federal experience, and I built the public safety network of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC, which is used by the region’s first responders. I have led and managed six, seven, and eight figure projects for 200 customers domestically and internationally.

Mike Harreld: I’ve worked as a supportive housing case manager for the past 4 years, worked in the shelter for a year, and have a special interest in academic literature on economics, anthropology, and infrastructure. I know the most effective answers to housing and homelessness due to my work experiences and delving into the literature on these topics. I also have a general familiarity with differing public policy and the real world impacts of implementing such policy.

Steve Jacob: City employee for 34 years, lived east on Tennessee since 2001, the forgotten side. I know what it’s like to stretch a dollar in retirement (drive uber also). If you’re not struggling on this new post-Covid economy congratulations.

Bart Littlejohn: I currently serve on the commission so I’ve had the opportunity to see what possibilities and actions are there to help our community. My work there has been informed by previous work in various organizations like the Pinkney Neighborhood Association, St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee, Junior Achievement, Parks and Rec Advisory Board and the Community Health Improvement Plan. I primarily work with folks in a mid-size business here in Lawrence. I think that all of those opportunities have helped shape my perspective as a commissioner.

Amanda Nielsen: I drive the city buses and have contact with many disadvantaged residents. I experience the struggle of affording to live in Lawrence even while working 2 jobs.

Kristine Polian: I have over two decades of local government experience in multiple states at an executive level. My expertise is in public finance, where my entire career has been focused on protecting tax-payer dollars through sound governance and efficient and effective use of resources. I have managed capital improvement projects, issued millions of dollars in debt, managed utility billing, HR, and all other functions for multiple local governments. It is my expertise and my passion that is desperately needed right now for the City I hold dearest to my heart.

Bob Schumm: I have a degree in Journalism from KU. I have 45 years experience owning and operating restaurants in Lawrence. At the height of my career I had 250 employees. I have 12 years experience as a City Commissioner and 3 terms experience as Mayor. I am married, and Sandra and I have 4 children and 7 grandchildren. Best of all I know Lawrence really well! I have lived here since I was 17.

Peter Shenouda: As a Principal Vendor Manager I manage a budget of over $250 million and work daily with vendors to negotiate fair, mutually beneficial agreements. Here in Lawrence, I have owned multiple businesses and understand what it takes to generate income and create opportunities for our community.

My family owns several real estate properties in town as well, so I know firsthand the challenges and the importance of affordable housing. I’m also a certified home builder in the city, which gives me practical, on-the-ground insight into what it really takes to create housing that meets our community’s needs.

Courtney Shipley: I served as Lawrence City Commissioner from 2019-2023, including a term as mayor, the first Latina Mayor of Lawrence. I have served as chair of Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods and on the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals as well as the advisory board for the Transient Guest Tax Grant Program and the boards of the Lawrence Preservation Alliance, The Friends of Oak Hill Cemetery, and the Lawrence Sister Cities Board.

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What do you think is the most pressing issue facing the city, and what concrete solutions would you propose to fix it?

Paul Buskirk: In my observations, the various entities which should be leading Lawrence seem to operate in silos: I am uncertain whether the elected commissioners are guiding decision-making or is it the city staff?; the city and county commissioners do not seem to communicate in areas where they clearly overlap; and the school board operates seemingly insulated from everyone. Yet all these bodies have taxing authority and serve the same community.

Lawrence leadership must begin by bringing together all parties, finding common ground, and work together to serve the community.

Mike Courtney: Affordability. In the last five years, increased property taxes and utility fees have created financial strain for residents. At the same time, the city has overspent on their annual budgets and taken on hundreds of millions of dollars of debt. The city needs a long-term financial plan that smooths out these major expenditures and reduces the burden on taxpayers.

Here are three concrete solutions to this issue:

1) Develop a comprehensive 10-year plan to address the major road and infrastructure work our community needs, rather than cramming these projects into the existing 5-year plan, which has caused our city to take on huge amounts of debt in a few short years. This extended timeline allows us to distribute major capital expenses more evenly, preventing the dramatic spikes in property tax collection and utility fees residents have experienced when multiple large projects coincide.

2) Do not implement rec center entrance fees. The administrative costs and minimal revenue generation do not justify undermining services that enhance our community’s quality of life and economic attractiveness.

3) Reduce the $65 million in debt proposed for the second half of the Municipal Services and Operations (MSO) campus by consolidating functions at the new facility at the end of the current phase. Once operations are transferred, sell the former MSO properties to commercial developers. This prime industrial land can generate significant revenue that directly offsets the MSO campus costs while simultaneously expanding our commercial tax base.

Mike Harreld: There are two primary issues facing the community: Fascism and the rising costs in town. The answer to the former is to build up our community. To prepare our city institutions to better support the broader community in any resistance work that it does and identify rules for engagement regarding ICE.

The answer to rising costs is going to be building up our public housing, shift to just cause termination, make it easier for workers to unionize, develop support for more resilient and robust business models, and focus to more local spending over ‘cheap’ and fast external actors.

Steve Jacob: The budget. The tax hikes this decade are insane, hurting our citizens, and our debt load is hurting future residents.

Bart Littlejohn: I think continuing our work on housing is critical and essential for the future of our city. We have to strive to find ways to make it more affordable, accessible, and available.

We’ve done tremendous work to try to add more market rate, entry-level, long-term affordable, transitional and supportive housing in collaboration with the county and community organizations using the plan: A Place for Everyone.

But we still have more work to do. We need to seriously consider all options which could increase affordable single and multi-family housing throughout the city. Our lack of affordable and available housing limits opportunities for tenants and homeowners who wish to expand their families, those who want to build personal equity, making sure that those who have a place to stay can stay in that place, and our work to transition folks from houselessness into housing.

Amanda Nielsen: Affordability of living in Lawrence is the most pressing. We are pricing ourselves out of a work force.

Kristine Polian: I believe the Commission lacks strong leadership to discern between what is necessary and unnecessary for our City in these challenging times. I will provide the education and expertise to empower the Commission to govern the city, instead of solely relying on staff’s recommendations to make decisions.

Bob Schumm: The budget morass which keeps our property taxes on an upward trajectory is the most pressing issue. I would reduce the CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) by delaying some of the projects and spreading the cost out over a longer time line. I would reduce the employee count through attrition, delaying new hires, and buyouts. We hired over 150 new people a couple of years ago when we were flush with money and now we can’t afford the headcount.

Peter Shenouda: I believe budget and crime are the two most important issues we need to address in Lawrence right now. We need to approach our budget with the mindset of a city that must live within its means focusing on what we need to have versus what’s nice to have. We should have an honest discussion about which projects are truly essential and which can wait until our finances are back on track.

When it comes to crime, we need to dig deeper to truly understand what’s driving the increase and find real solutions to keep our neighborhoods safe.

Courtney Shipley: The rising cost of living is the primary concern for people in Lawrence today. We are fortunate to have an affordable housing trust in our community and we must continue to be aggressive in expanding affordable housing units. We also need to address the persistent conflicts of interest on the Affordable Housing Advisory Board. We need to continue to refine the new development code to encourage densification of new neighborhoods while preserving the character of established neighborhoods through intelligent infill.

What do you think is a local issue that has been overlooked or not given enough attention, and why is it important to you?

Paul Buskirk: Taxation upon our community — from city, county, school board, state — is typically framed as “such-and-such mill increase or property appraisal increase will only raise the average homeowner by $18 or $22 or 27 per year.” Yet these increases are approved nearly every year and the impact upon our working families and fixed-income neighbors is significant. We must keep all members of our community very much in mind as we move Lawrence forward.

Mike Courtney: Lawrence faces a critical housing affordability crisis that is locking out a majority of our residents from homeownership. More than half of Lawrence residents currently rent and are unable to transition to buying locally, where the average price of a new home is $315,000. Lawrence is losing families and young professionals who want to build their lives here but can’t afford to stay.

I’m developing a practical, bi-partisan approach to this challenge: high-quality modular housing that doesn’t compromise on features or long-term value. These aren’t the prefab structures of decades past, but modern off-site constructed homes that can include full basements, attached garages, and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms.

These homes can be delivered at 30-40% less cost than traditional site-built houses while maintaining the same standards for financing and appreciation. A large-scale development that delivered many of these homes could make housing attainable to many Lawrence residents looking for an affordable path to home ownership.

Mike Harreld: Childcare. I don’t have kids, but I know many who do and struggle to provide adequate care for their children while working full time. I’d love to see us develop free or reduced cost daycare. Local constituents have pointed out to me that there is a major barrier here for parents with children with disabilities and so I’d love to see us develop services that address that as well. And I care about this because these are my friends and neighbors impacted, and I want to see them taken care of.

Steve Jacob: Residency requirements for employees. It can’t be retroactive of course, but I will find out how much of our payroll leave the city, county and even state. If you don’t live here, are you a stakeholder?

Bart Littlejohn: I would say economic development because I think it touches everything. From job creation, so we are able to retain/employ our folks graduating from Peaslee, Haskell, and KU as well as our high schools in the area. To jumpstarting/increasing our housing stock by encouraging companies to locate here as well as expanding our local businesses. To diversifying our tax base and lessening the burden on residential by adding more commercial.

I’m driven to help expand our economic ecosystem with community stakeholders to find formal and informal ways to support folks starting, growing, and maintaining their businesses and employees; such as under-addressed areas like child care and the trades.

That entails making sure that we’re speaking to businesses who want to locate here as well as growing our local businesses. I want to make sure we don’t forget those folks who run medium-size businesses looking to take the next step in terms of growth. We should strive to have multiple economic hubs around town like Downtown, North Lawrence, East Lawrence, West Lawrence, Iowa Street, 6th Street, and 23rd Street. All of this is the kind of intelligent economic development that works for everyone.

Amanda Nielsen: The wage to rent disparity is talked about but the real numbers often get overlooked. Most rent in town cost a paycheck and a half for the average worker. I experience this personally. We must work to bring higher wages to the average employees of our town.

Kristine Polian: The Commission, in my opinion, does not clearly understand their role as managers of this city. The Commision’s job is to set policy that governs this city, but what is overlooked is their vital role of monitoring and protecting the fiscal solvency of this community. The Commission is the last line of defense to ensure our community’s money is being spent wisely and protected from fraud.

Bob Schumm: The KU Gateway Project is a huge opportunity to improve both KU and the City. Much of the financing will be with Star Bonds which uses the state’s portion of the sales tax generated after the facility is built. The Conference Center part of this program will bring many, many out of town guests to Lawrence. They will be spending money in the community, helping our small business people on a Monday through Thursday time frame, when business is not as brisk as on the weekends. The City will see an increase in sales tax revenue!

Peter Shenouda: Crime is a local issue that too few people are talking about. I know that people want to live in and visit a city where they feel safe. Public safety must be a priority if we want Lawrence to remain a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

Courtney Shipley: Lawrence is faced with multiple applications to utilize taxpayer owned assets for profit to private entities. Historically Lawrence has bled money for these projects. We need to have commissioners who drive hard bargains that benefit the taxpayer and the community and who can say “no” when the taxpayer is getting fleeced. A critical eye should be turned to the private use of land assets for $1 while homeowners’ taxes skyrocket.

Free space: What else do you want our readers to know ahead of the Aug. 5 primary election?

Paul Buskirk: It would be an honor to serve our community!

Mike Courtney: Ten years ago, my wife and I had a choice about where we would start our family – we chose to move back to Lawrence. Over that time, we have had two wonderful children, made life-long friends, and in the wake of the pandemic, decided to both get more involved in this community.

I truly believe that the city is at a crossroads. We have seen neighbors struggle under the weight of oppressive property taxes and utility fees. We have watched as our friends’ children have graduated from high school and from KU and cannot afford to put down roots in the town where they grew up.

We need change. My entire career has revolved around bringing people together and working to find solutions.

I will fight and put together a long-term budget to bring down property taxes and utility costs; to reject rec center entrance fees; and bring to the table off-site manufactured homes to provide a pathway to homeownership for first-time home buyers and their families.

Mike Harreld: Whoever you elect will be 1 or 2 out of 5 commissioners. It is the community that truly drives change and policy through our collective action. Talk to neighbors, co-workers, and/or loved ones about the issues that concern you and start organizing if you aren’t already.

While electing me will give you a strong supporter and ally of your efforts, the reality is for that to have any meaning depends on your own work in the community. I am glad to have the opportunity to talk with the community and work with you to build a more resilient Lawrence. A Lawrence, that with your support, will thrive in the face of the on going national disaster.

Steve Jacob: Tax abatements are welfare for the rich. But affordable housing projects will be considered.

Bart Littlejohn: I want to thank Lawrence Times and everyone in town for this opportunity and support. We’ve got a lot of great opportunities in this town but there are also challenges. We’ll need to find those ways to work together to navigate them; and to do so we will need to be collaborative, cooperative and compassionate. I have outlined goals and plans to get us to where we need to be; and I plan to work with folks to realize those ideals. Because I think the future of Lawrence is bright and we are all a part of it.

Thank you again for your support and it is my hope that I can earn the votes of this great town of Lawrence for another term.

Amanda Nielsen: I believe we need to protect our most vulnerable. We need to stand up and fight for the marginalized.

Kristine Polian: I am surprised that our beautiful city is in the state it is, given the resources we have. We have not maintained our infrastructure, we have failed at economic development, we are issuing debt at unsustainable levels, and we are facing a budget deficit, all while we are seeing our rent and mortgages increase exponentially. I plan to bring my experience to the Commission so we can fully capitalize on all of our resources to increase housing inventory, maintain our infrastructure, and bring higher paying jobs through economic development, all so we can afford to live in the city we love for years to come.

Bob Schumm: Rock Chalk Park should remain free to play! In 2013 as the Mayor, when we were planning Sports Pavillon Lawrence, I promised, with the support of the City Commission, that we would not charge individuals of Douglas County a fee to use the recreation center. It was a selling point that we made to the public. This center was built using sales tax revenue from a special recreation fund and, therefore, you are paying for this service every time you make a purchase in Lawrence. Adding a daily charge fee would be putting a new tax on the original tax! Don’t Do It!

Peter Shenouda: I hope our community gets engaged in this election. We can’t keep voting for the same people and expect different results because that simply won’t happen. Our city is facing serious challenges, and we all have to be part of the solution not just a few.

I’m asking for your vote because I promise you this: I won’t just rubber-stamp anything. I will challenge, ask questions, and make sure every decision truly serves our community before I cast my vote.

Courtney Shipley: Community engagement has not improved in the last few years. Lawrencians should continue to expect productive community conversations. We should expect community feedback to be heard and for local government to be responsive to issues of all sizes. Lawrence needs commissioners who seek new voices and ideas and who put the needs of Lawrencians ahead of special interest groups.