Story updated 10 a.m. March 26
Mayor Tim Reazin has declared he will run for City Commission again in the next election while Commissioner Jolene Cullen will not pursue another term. Instead, her husband will enter the race.
Reazin was first elected in 2009 and said Tuesday that he feels there are still things in the community that he is committed to working on.
“We’ve been working through baby steps, but it feels like we’re on the verge of completing a lot of projects, and we have some things going on with our water treatment plant and just continuing to button up planning for the future. I’d like to still be involved in that,” Reazin said.
Reazin wants to continue his commitment to helping the senior population, something that was important during his time on the commission with Ruth Hughs, he said.
“When Ruth Hughs and I were on together, there was a big push and commitment to help take care of those folks that are choosing to age in place, that want to be here, so I want to continue to work with the Senior Foundation and make sure that we get some affordable housing options for them kind of buttoned up and finished,” he said.
Reazin said he also wants to continue working on growth south of K-10 and being conscious of connector roads and the impacts those will have on everyone in town. Work is also still ongoing with the Kansas Department of Commerce on a STAR bond district to help diversify the tax base, he said.
Cullen’s spot on the commission will also be up in January, and she has decided not to run. She’s been on the commission for 12 years and has enjoyed her time, she said.
Her husband, John, has decided to run, though, she said.
John Cullen Jr. moved to Eudora about four years ago, but he grew up in a town a similar size, he said. He said he feels he can help Eudora prepare for growth while keeping the small town feel.
“I may not be from Eudora, but I have, you know, chosen Eudora as my home, and I look forward to getting to know and hopefully to serving my fellow Eudora residents,” he said.
He retired from the Army, so he has experience with leadership and pulling teams together to accomplish goals, he said. With Eudora’s many organizations like the Chamber, CPA, Lions Club and others, there is opportunity to work together.
The charm of the city is what brings people to town, he said. New projects like the proposed sports complex south of K-10, expanding Nottingham Center and expanding utility infrastructure are all things Eudora has been discussing, but the city also can’t over tax residents, he said.
He said there are ways to expand that would keep the city’s integrity, like adding more sit-down restaurants for people to gather and socialize.
“We need that broader tax base to come, at the same time, but that’s what gets us, you know, the ability to get new power, upgrade our water facilities and things that are going to take us into the next 20, 40, 50 years,” he said.
No others have filed or notified the Eudora Times of their running. No one has filed for the School Board election as of March 25.
The general election is Nov. 4. The filing deadline is noon June 2.
