County commission candiates share views
Primary will determine district two commission seat
The Aug. 2 primary election will determine a Marion County commissioner for district two since two candidates represent the same political party.
Marion County Commission candidates were asked to respond to questions regarding their views on county issues.
Following are responses from the two candidates, Max Hayen and Dan Holub, for commission district two, and candidate Randy Dallke for commission district three.
Max Hayen
Question: Why are you running for county commissioner?
Hayen: I believe I have experience and knowledge to offer to the position. Maybe even some wisdom.
Question: What are three strengths of Marion County?
Hayen: 1. We are nearly surrounded by areas of economic growth and this has helped stabilize our economy. 2. Main line railroads crisscross our country and this is extremely important when recruiting industry. 3. Some natural resources such as rock, oil, gas, and water.
Question: What are three weaknesses of Marion County?
Hayen: 1. Our near total reliance on federal money. Social security, agriculture payments, and SRS funding is in the 50 to 60 million dollar range annually.
2. Every year over 90 percent of our high school graduates must leave Marion County to find employment which leaves us with an extremely high average age of our population.
3. Very restrictive zoning which makes commercial and residential development difficult.
Question: What issues are important to Marion County and to you as a commission candidate?
Hayen: 1. The current commission is seeking an economic development director and I believe it is vitally important that we have one. Economic development is a difficult job and requires more vision than most of us possess. Good economic directors demand a high salary and poor ones are even more expensive by being non-productive.
2. Currently, our mill levies are about 50 percent higher than Wichita or Salina. If we are going to see a reduction in taxes, then we must make an effort to attract people. Our county lake could be more attractive to visitors. The reservoir could be better promoted. These are only minor issues. What we really need are more jobs and more full- time residents.
Question: What qualifications and experiences can you bring to this position?
Hayen: My current position requires me to visit with elected officials all over Kansas. I have called upon 101 counties and over 400 cities in the past four years. I have seen first hand their strengths and weaknesses and what they are doing to improve their counties and communities.
Question: What other information would you like to provide?
Hayen: For 63 of my 68 years, I have lived in Marion County and I am very familiar with the entire area. I was a board member of Marion County Hospital District #1 for 18 years and currently serve on the board at Parkside.
I am a Christian and an elder at Marion Christian Church and also serve as church treasurer. I have considerable experience with governmental accounting and budget preparation and fully understand the governmental differences between cities and counties.
Dan Holub
Question: Why are you running for county commissioner?
Holub: I think this county has a lot of untapped possibilities to grow and provide a very satisfactory lifestyle for its residents. I would, like others, enjoy having my children and eventually grandchildren close-by, but as things stand now there's not much chance of that due to limited job opportunities. I would hope to make changes that would improve the potential of this happening, and allow our residents to prosper.
Question: What are three strengths of Marion County?
Holub: A. Year-round recreational opportunities that draw thousands of people. We not only derive income from these visitors, but I feel if we create a climate of prosperity, real jobs, and business opportunities, some of these visitors just might be induced to stay.
B. Promoting business opportunities requires basic infrastructure, a big part being transportation. This county is blessed with four major highways (U.S.-50, U.S.-56/K-150, U.S.-77, and K-15), railroads in seven of 12 towns, and two airports. These assets need to be exploited.
C. Small town living. We have the safety and security of small town living yet access to eight large metropolitan areas with a 30-to-60-minute drive. Couple that with our school systems and numerous religious denominations and who wouldn't want to live in Marion County?
Question: What are three weaknesses of Marion County?
Holub: A. Taxes are entirely too high, not only causing difficulty for residents but hampering the potential of businesses and people moving here and providing the growth we need.
B. Inefficient government. Too much time is spent making decisions resulting in missed opportunities.
Also, I don't feel three commissioners meeting once a week can adequately manage, in a timely manner, a county government and all it entails. I think the possibility of using an administrator should be explored. This is not a novel idea — school districts, city governments, and other counties are utilizing administrators with varying degrees of effectiveness.
The bottom line driving the effectiveness of an administrator is this person cannot be used to relieve elected officials of their 'responsibilities'."
C. Apathy. I feel there is a significant apathy level in this county, but keep in mind apathy is a symptom not a problem. People are reluctant to get involved and participate in the process when people are systematically excluded from participation by such things as meetings during normal working hours. I feel strongly that governing officials need to make themselves available and to use every opportunity to give residents a chance to get involved.
For instance, occasionally holding at least some weekly meetings at hours people can attend rather than during normal working hours or the use of public forums to discuss specific issues, would give an opportunity to those who desire to participate.
I also would like to see regularly scheduled meetings with city mayors, school districts personnel, and any interested citizens in an effort to coordinate efforts, share resources, discuss problems, etc.
Question: What issues are important to Marion County and to you as a commission candidate?
Holub: My key issue is 'economic development' and the jobs as well as associated income that will be generated. A large part of government expense remains somewhat static with population changes. Thus growth, while not necessarily generating more expense, will provide additional income, thus reducing an individuals' share of the total cost (tax).
This county's taxes are entirely too high. The budget needs to be reviewed in detail and expenses significantly reduced. I feel with proper management, this can be accomplished with minimal affect on services and personnel. Government does not generate revenue, it is an expense. It is considered just that by any business or household, and a decision to relocate will be based in part on tax levels. For any significant economic growth to take place, we must get a handle on our tax rates.
Relative to economic development, I am not convinced we need to hire a person just for economic development (throwing money at a problem).
I think there is ample talent in this county to allow us to set goals and start working to meet these goals. I feel we would be much better served by a concentrated effort to systematically share ideas, resources, and work toward a common goal. If we as a county don't cooperate in this effort, Lee Iacocca would not be able to generate economic growth for Marion County of any kind.
We are at a crossroads and we need to act. State and federal agencies have their own problems and I do not foresee much help from them. We are on our own for the most part and the clock is ticking. An adage I once heard applies: 'If you think you can do something, you are probably right. If you think you can't, you are probably still right'.
Question: What qualifications and experiences can you bring to this position?
Holub: County commissioner duties require a lot of the same skills required of people who manage budgets or run businesses of any kind — keeping expenses down, eliminating waste, making do in hard times, prioritizing, and so forth.
I have participated in budget management during naval service, while serving on the Kansas State Grain Sorghum Commission, USD 408 Board of Education, and meeting my share of the payroll at Deer Trail, Inc. I know how to meet obligations and keep it affordable and within budget.
Although economic development is my key issue, I am not a single issue candidate. I am fully aware issues will surface that, we as a county, will have to deal with.
I don't live with the illusion that it is possible to find an answer to problems that will make everyone happy and have no problem with making a decision that I feel would best serve the county. I do promise I do not believe in favoritism, and I have no hidden agenda. I would always strive to be a commissioner for the whole of Marion County.
Question: What other information would you like to provide?
Holub: I am married and reside four miles north of Marion. My wife Rhonda and I have four children, all are graduates of Marion High School, and all serving in the military. I served 20 years in the U.S. Navy and retired in 1988. After retiring, I initially farmed but had to quit for medical reasons and have worked for Deer Trail, Inc., since.
Randy Dallke
Question: Why are you running for county commissioner?
Dallke: I feel that a county commissioner needs to be able to look at all of the aspects of whatever decision you are to cast a vote on. This means that you personally may not agree but it is the best way for Marion County residents.
My profession allows me to see 75 percent of the county north to south, east to west which will enable me to visualize some of the items in front of the commissioners.
I have been in Marion County almost 50 years and feel in order for us to prosper and grow, the commissioners will have to get outside the box and look around and make some changes if needed.
Question: What are three strengths of Marion County?
Dallke: Our history shows that we are an agricultural county and we need to promote this. Most of our county's industry ties back to agriculture in some way. We have a high quality of life and respect for others in our towns, county, and the USA
Our county has an educated and dedicated work force for any task that we might encounter. We are lucky that we have different attractions for tourism because tourism brings money to our county.
Question: What are three weaknesses of Marion County?
Dallke: A weakness is that we don't have large industry (factories and manufacturing plants) that will, number one, provide jobs, and then help pay taxes on the products they make.
We are one of the largest counties and have a lot of roads and bridges to take care of with a budget of "x" amount.
I hope that this next commission can promote better communication from county to city to resident.
Question: What issues are important to Marion County and to you as a commission candidate?
Dallke: There have been some important issues the past commission has dealt with (landfill, zoning) but a new one is the possibility of wind farms.
If this develops, I think the commission should be aggressive and look at all of the pros and negatives. Most of all, don't sit back and wait for time to go by and lose an opportunity.
Our budget is an issue that continues to get harder to deal with every year. Every department in our county will have to adhere to the budget or else it will cause hardships on others because there is only "x" amount.
Question: What qualifications and experiences can you bring to this position?
Dallke: I was elected to the Peabody City Council in 1999 for a four-year term. I then ran for the mayor's position and was elected in 2003 and currently hold that position.
I was a reserve police officer for the City of Peabody from 1976 to 1999 and a volunteer firefighter since 1980. Throughout my working career, I have enjoyed hearing a lot of different viewpoints and will continue to listen as long as it is a reasonable request.
Question: What other information would you like to provide?
Dallke: I was raised in the Peabody area where I graduated form Peabody High School in 1970. I worked for two different railroads for 15 years. After railroading, I went to work as a maintenance employee for the City of Peabody.
In 1987, I was hired by Greeley Gas Company, which is now Atmos Energy, where I am currently employed.
I married my wife Cindy in 1971. I have two grown children, Roxanne who has four children, and Todd who is single and living in Wichita.
My parents LeRoy and Hazel Dallke have been in Marion County since the 1930s and reside in Peabody.
My goal as commissioner would be to make this a safe, enjoyable, and wonderful place for us to raise our children and grandchildren in Marion County.
