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2010-02-09

2010-01-19

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Saturday, March 28, 2009 4:00 AM

Meet the candidates: Ottawa

By JODIE GARCIA, Herald Staff Writer

Six Ottawa candidates have a variety of ages, jobs and experiences, but they share at least one goal — a spot on the Ottawa City Commission.

Incumbents Rocky Fleer, Gene Ramsey and Linda Reed are being challenged by Jeff Richards, Shawn Dickinson and Helen Hood in the April 7 election.

Shawn Dickinson

A newcomer to politics, Dickinson, 26, said he decided to run because he wanted to get involved in his community.

Dickinson said he was born and raised in Ottawa, attended Kansas State University for his undergraduate degree, and then returned to town.

He now is a graduate student at Nazarene Theological Seminary and working on a master’s degree in divinity. He has a wife, Megan.

Dickinson said his primary concern is protecting existing projects and services, no matter how tight the budget is.

“It’s important that money is spent well, but also that the money isn’t cut from essentials that citizens need,” he said.

Staying focused on the future also is important, Dickinson said. He said a proposed community center is a good example of a project that shouldn’t be stopped completely just because of tough economic times.

“I think it’s important for something like that to stay on the table,” he said. “Ottawa will be behind if we wait to take care of those things.”

Dickinson said he’s also interested in opportunities for the city to “go green,” such as expanding recycling programs and looking into alternative energy sources.

He said he wanted to run for the city commission to represent people like himself.

“I feel I represent young families in our community,” he said, adding that decisions made by city commissioners affect not only long-time residents but young families and business owners, too.

“It’s important those families are represented,” he said.

Jeff Richards

Economic development and fiscal responsibility are top priorities for Richards, he said.

Richards, 40, currently is vice chairman of the Franklin County planning commission.

He said he believes the city should take a more aggressive approach in working with the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce and Ottawa/Franklin County Economic Development group in recruiting businesses to the area.

“I think we need to take a more active role,” he said.

Richards, a detective with the Overland Park Police Department, has lived in Ottawa since 2000.

He said he’s involved with the Ottawa American Legion and Chamber of Commerce, and he’s an active member of his church, the Church of the Nazarene in Gardner.

Richards and his wife, Michelle, have four children, Jacob, Joshua, Jose and Marissa.

Helen Hood

Now is the time to run for office, Hood said.

Hood, 64, said with her children raised and grandchildren on their way out of school, it seemed like a good opportunity to get more involved in her community.

“I have plenty of time on my hands,” she said.

Hood is retired and has lived in Ottawa for 46 years.

Hood is married to David Hood, Franklin County commissioner. Their daughter, MaLinda, is running for the Ottawa School Board.

The couple has another daughter, RaJeanna Barnhart, and four grandchildren.

Hood is a volunteer for Heart by Heart for the East Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging and the Ottawa Senior Center, and she also volunteers to take people to the hospital and doctor’s appointments in the Kansas City area.

Hood said if elected, she’s not looking to make any big changes, touting the city’s effective and professional staff.

“I want to stay focused on what they’re doing because they’re doing a good job,” she said.

Hood said she thinks more people should become more interested in their communities by attending meetings or even running for office.

“You can take them to the door, but you can’t open it for them,” she said.

Linda Reed

Reed said she represents the average, working individual.

“I hope to listen to people’s voices coming from that population and speak for them,” Reed, 50, said.

Reed is involved with the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce and also served a term on the Ottawa Planning Commission, a position that was “extremely interesting” and shed light on the workings of city government, she said.

Reed was appointed to the city commission in 2008 to fill an unexpired term from the resignation of Deb Henningsen.

“I want to be able to keep learning and put it to use,” she said.

Reed said she wants to maintain a level city budget and keep up to date on projects like streets, curbs and sidewalks.

“I think we do a great job for our citizens right now,” she said.

Bringing more businesses to the city and more jobs for residents also is a priority, she said.

Reed, laboratory director at Ransom Memorial Hospital, said she’s from Pomona originally, moved away and then back to Ottawa 17 years ago.

She and her husband, Louis, have four children.

Reed is on the board for Faith Lutheran Church, Kansas Business and Professional Women and Future Visions. She also is a member of a governor-appointed bioterrorism task force.

Gene Ramsey

Despite serving nearly 15 years for the city commission, Ramsey isn’t ready to throw his towel in just yet.

Ramsey, 79, has served four terms and four years as mayor.

“I have the time and experience, and I’ve worked with three different city managers now,” he said. “I still feel I would like to serve the city for another term.”

Ramsey said he carefully studies every issue that comes to the commission for approval.

“If you’re going to vote on something, you really have to know the background on that,” he said.

Ramsey said as a local businessman, he has knowledge of what’s happening around town, and as a nearly 40-year Ottawa resident, he has a close connection with people in the community.

He and his wife, Anne, have owned and operated Ramsey Printing, 602 N. Main St., since 1973. The couple has three adult children, six grandchildren and five great-children.

Ramsey is a past chairman of the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce, an elder and active member of Westminster Presbyterian church and a member of several fraternal organizations and the Ottawa High School Booster Club.

Rocky Fleer

Fleer, 59, is hoping to add a fourth term on the city commission to her political resume.

Fleer has served as an Ottawa commissioner for a total of 10 years.

“I stand for being the voice of the people that is not being heard,” she said.

Fleer said she’s working right now with the National League of Cities to save the city more than $250,000 to re-certify its levee.

Other important projects include continued improvements to infrastructure, sidewalks and streets, Fleer said. She said she also wants to conserve money, but in a fair way that will still continue projects and services to Ottawa citizens.

Fleer, a driver’s license examiner, has lived in Ottawa since 1980. She has two grown sons.