NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce held a candidate forum on Tuesday night, July 16 at the Stringer Fine Arts Center on the HutchCC campus.
The overarching theme of the night in all races was limiting the size of county government and reducing property taxes when possible, but not everyone saw that as an equal possibility.
Reno County Commission District 2 candidates Melony Ball, Ron Hirst and Kenneth Nisly focused on serving that district, with Ball and Nisly both agreeing that services that are available in Hutchinson, should, to the degree it makes fiscal sense, be available in the western portion of the county, as well. Hirst did not disagree, but he wants to know more specifically what those constituents want and to have civil discourse about the issues facing the county and to make sure the options are studied as they prioritize spending.
Reno County Commission District 3 candidates Timothy Davies and Ron Vincent are lifelong acquaintances with different approaches to limiting government. Davies is a numbers guy as a former controller and budget expert for the county, Vincent leans on his business experience and what he calls common sense as the themes to his decision making.
Reno County Commission District 4 incumbent John Whitesel sees there being a clear distinction between him and his opponent, Richard Winger.
Whitesel notes that he sometimes seems not very agreeable, as he sees his role as an advocate for the taxpayers to fight for what is right and to fight to have more transparency in what the county does at all levels, including with lower level boards and study sessions.
Winger is someone who wants to listen is willing to serve and be a part in this community. He didn't take particularly strong policy positions in his answers on Tuesday, appearing to want more information than was in the questions provided before deciding specifics.
Hutch Post will reach out to each candidate in an effort to get them on KWBW before the primary.
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