Residents will have a chance to have their questions asked to candidates for the new county commission seat at a town hall event this month.

From 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 23., the Chamber of Commerce will host the event at the high school, giving residents both a casual way to chat with candidates followed by a more formal format.

Candidates Gene Dorsey, Tim Bruce and Steve Jacob will attend.

The event will start with an open house for candidates to interact with residents in the high school commons area. Residents will be able to talk with candidates during this time. Light refreshments will be available. Around 7 p.m. the event will move to the performing arts center for the more organized Q&A with candidates.

Prior to the event, residents can register for free and will be able to enter questions they’d like asked during the event. Answers will be timed to keep the town hall organized and streamlined. It will be moderated by Chamber programming chair Jason Musick.

Musick said he thinks it’s important for the Chamber to put on these kinds of events as local elections have a major impact not just to residential but commercial entities.

“I hope that this is a really good turnout, and I think it provides the Eudora citizens an opportunity to really be involved and to be informed,” Musick said.

He wants to continue these types of events for all local elections so residents get information from the source to make informed decisions that affect their city, he said.

Dorsey, a Democrat of Lawrence, is looking forward to the event because he feels like Eudora residents want to know that whoever takes the seat takes the city and township into consideration. 

“I welcome the opportunity to meet with them. I’ve been spending a lot of time in Eudora anyway with meetings and so forth. So I’m all for it,” Dorsey said.

Dorsey said the main concerns he has been hearing from residents are related to property taxes and concerns about their taxes going to entities that benefit Lawrence but are not necessarily benefiting Eudora.

One of his priorities is addressing transparency within the County Commission. For example, in its current form it is not possible to make public comments during budget hearings, he said. He said he’d also focus on controlling costs.

Bruce, a Republican of Eudora, also said he hears the most concerns about property tax increases. He said many are worried about increased valuations in the county. 

Bruce thinks the county needs to be more efficient and will work to make that happen if elected, he said. There are things that the county gets involved in that should be left up to the cities, he said. The county should instead assist in matters within city jurisdiction.

He’s excited for the opportunity to talk to residents at the town hall, he said. From a City Commission perspective, he said he knows some residents do not get involved until they have a problem, but this town hall changes that.

“I think the more we can get out in front of the public, and the more we can help them, and the more we can share the message and understand what their concerns are, the better off we are,” Bruce said.

Jacob, a Libertarian of Lawrence, also said taxes are on the top of everyone’s mind, and said people are being priced out of the county. Some are worried about the county spending millions on a courthouse renovation that seems excessive, he said. 

Jacob said he feels that Panasonic is not going to save the county, and his priority is to decrease property taxes.

“The County Commission has done everything humanly possible to stunt the growth and have all the financial benefits end up in Johnson County,” he said.

He said he’s excited for a chance to hear Eudora’s perspective and listen to their concerns because he doesn’t get their viewpoints as often.

To register and submit a question, click here.

Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected].