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Ramona candidates answer questions

Staff writer

Hoch Publishing Company, owner of the Marion County Record¸ Hillsboro Star-Journal, and Peabody Gazette-Bulletin, asked all candidates in Marion County to respond to questions regarding the reason they are seeking election or re-election.

Ramona City Council candidates Jeanette Lea Goza, Jayme Brunner, Arthur E. Stroda, Byron Noeth, Billy E. Alcorn, and Nathen A. Bailey declined to respond.

Ramona Mayor Candidates

Patricia M. Wick

1) Why do you want to be elected to office?

Wick: “We’ve got a good thing going and would like to see that trend continue.”

2) Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the current administration? Why?

Wick: “Current? It’s me — and the current council, most are running again — so not dissatisfied, except we could be more proactive and do more.”

3) What is your background and/or qualifications for office?

Wick: “I have been mayor for five years. The city is in the best financial shape that it has been in years! Hip, hip, hoorah!”

4) What are your goals for the city? How do you plan to accomplish them?

Wick: “We’re needing to establish a local court and up-to-date ordinances. How do me accomplish this? Get a few more ‘movers and shakers’ on city council.”

5) What is the most important issue facing the city? Why?

Wick: “(See above and) Keep a small town from being ruined by junksters and people who do not value their neighbors.”

6) Tell us about yourself — career, family, residence, etc.

Wick: “I’ve lived in Ramona eight years. I also lived here the first six years of my life. I have two grown daughters and one grandson. I teach art at Butler of Marion and at Centre Elementary School. I have my master’s degree in abnormal psychology and marriage and family counseling. I’m a writer, partner in a bed and breakfast with my sister, Jessica Gilbert, and raise a flock of chickens … interesting chickens.”

Brendan D. Bailey

1) Why do you want to be elected to office?

Bailey: “I want to better serve and give something back to the community and people that I have had the privilege to call friends, neighbors, and home for the past 37 years.”

2) Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the current administration? Why?

Bailey: “There are things that anyone can change if they apply themselves to the task at hand. It is easy to sit on your front porch and say that your neighbors’ yard is a mess; it’s another thing to get off your porch and offer to help.”

3) What is your background and/or qualifications for office?

Bailey: “I previously served the citizens of Ramona as mayor. While holding the office, I implemented a program to have the streets paved, the sewer lift station updated, and an emergency generator installed to power the lift pumps. While serving the city of Hope as police chief, I worked with the city council and mayor on implementation of new city ordinances. I also am very familiar with the grantwriting process, having written, applied for, and received several grants for local entities.”

4) What are your goals for the city? How do you plan to accomplish them?

Bailey: “I would like to start more programs for our area youth. I currently am working with state and county extension agencies to re-start a local 4-H chapter in Ramona. I would like the city to work with our area fire department to get our area’s ISO rating lowered. This is the rating insurance companies adjust/set the cost of fire insurance for property owners. Also I would like to see what it would take to help the fire department recruit more members for the fire and first response services in the city. I would like the city to work closer with other small communities to achieve the best for all of our citizens by addressing their concerns on various issues. Neighbors helping neighbors and bringing back small town values and ideals of helping each other without expecting anything in return. A small town is not a bunch of people living in the same area. We are friends and family. I was raised that you always help your family first and friends second.”

5) What is the most important issue facing the city? Why?

Bailey: “In my opinion there are several issues that face the city. I feel we need to address the continuing upkeep of our streets. We have made an investment. Let’s take care of it. The erosion of the wastewater treatment ponds. Is it easier for the city to put off the problem and continue to let it get worse? I feel that this is an issue that we can’t let go for too long. It will cost us more in the long run to ignore it than to address the problems and deal with them.

“Also, we need to improve the drainage situation in the community to help eliminate standing waster and to avoid possible health hazards. Mosquito season is around the corner. The best control for them is to eliminate their breeding areas (i.e. ditches that hold water long after the rain has stopped.”

6) Tell us about yourself — career, family, residence, etc.

Bailey: “I was born and raised in Ramona. Most of my family lives in Ramona, with my eldest brother living in Abilene. I attended Centre and then attended college in Hillsboro. During college, I received my EMT license from the state and joined Ramona First Response. I started working for Southeast Dickinson County EMS and continued until 2000 when I met my wife, Michele. She is currently working for Medicalodges of Herington as the MDS coordinator. I currently am employed by Herington Municipal Hospital as a phlebotomist and disaster coordinator. We have three children. Jacob is in Columbia, S.C., while Ron and Cheyenne attend Hope schools. We have purchased the house at 311 B Street and are planning to stay there for many years to come.”

Ramona City Council (Five Positions)

Kathy A. Matkins

1) Why do you want to be re-elected to office?

Matkins: “I have seen so many positive changes in the City of Ramona that I want to continue to be a part of it, working toward a better town to live in, one in which we show our community pride and caring ways.”

2) Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the current administration? Why?

Matkins: “Yes, I have really enjoyed working with our Mayor Pat Wick and our city council members — many great changes and occurrences have taken place due to Pat’s leadership and a group of council members who work together.”

3) What is your background and/or qualifications for office?

Matkins: “I have a degree in business administration with economics and accounting as minors. I have worked with people and issues all my life. I am currently postmaster at Ramona.”

4) What are your goals for the city? How do you plan to accomplish them?

Matkins: “To enhance our town through cleanup measures, to set city ordinances for the betterment of all who reside in Ramona, and to keep the community involved and aware of all we do and events we coordinate.”

5) What is the most important issue facing the city? Why?

Matkins: “Knowledge of who we are and where Ramona is located — we need to continually increase our signage and visibility to all. In addition, we need to give our town a makeover through cleanup efforts and fresh paint to revitalize our town and town pride.”

6) Tell us about yourself — career, family, residence, etc.

Matkins: “I am postmaster at Ramona and have been for nine years. I received my college degree in business administration and accounting from Kansas Wesleyan in 1982. I have one daughter, Jennifer Werth, who will graduate with a BSN in nursing this May, and I have a new husband, Don Matkins. We married Dec. 29, 2007.”

James Thompson

1) Why do you want to be elected to office?

Thompson: “I would like to represent those citizens of Ramona who believe in lower taxes and small government.”

2) Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the current administration? Why?

Thompson: “While I may not agree with all of the decisions the current administration has made, I would have to say that I’m satisfied. This administration is filled with dedicated and hard working individuals.”

3) What is your background and/or qualifications for office?

Thompson: “I have lived in Ramona for the past five years. I served as treasurer during my first year having resigned following the death of my wife. I’m a college graduate and have held many positions in management and training. I spent a year with Campaign California as a grass roots organizer during the 1988 elections. Most importantly is the fact that I care deeply about this town.”

4) What are your goals for the city? How do you plan to accomplish them?

Thompson: “Ramona soon will be able to enforce its ordinances. The council is looking to revise old and outdated ordinances as well as creating new ones. One of my goals is to make sure that those changes are realistic and don’t go overboard while reflecting what the majority of Ramona’s citizens want. Lowering property taxes and cutting spending are other goals I plan working on. The primary tools for accomplishing these goals are communication with Ramona citizens, discussion within the administration and voting against what does not support those goals.”

5) What is the most important issue facing the city? Why?

Thompson: “Enforcing ordinances seems to be the most important issue facing our town right now. Without the ability to enforce the simplest of ordinances, even common sense and common courtesy are failing.”

6) Tell us about yourself — career, family, residence, etc.

Thompson: “I spent the first 10 years of my adult life in marketing, sales and training. I spent four years as a counselor in group homes for abused children. I spent my last five years in California as a computer network engineer. I’ve spent my time here in Kansas home-schooling my children and repairing computers. I’m a widower raising four children and share my home with a fine woman and her son. (Yes, they have their own rooms) My oldest son is married, living in West Virginia, and is shipping to Iraq next month for the U.S. Army. I was raised in Hawaii and California, the latter of which I spent most of my adult life. I have a dog and two cats.”

Last modified March 4, 2009

 

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