Mail-in and in-person voting begin this month. To help voters make their decisions, The Wichita Beacon asked all Wichita City Council candidates to respond to questions submitted by readers. Questions focused on water, policing and housing.
City Council Districts 2, 4 and 5 have elections Nov. 7. Only residents within those districts can vote on those races.
Two candidates did not answer the questionnaire, Gary Bond and Ben Taylor. Both are running in District 5.
The candidates’ answers have been edited for clarity and length.
Do you favor lowering or increasing property taxes? How do you determine when an increase is justified?
Marcey Gregory, District 2
I would never favor raising property taxes, because that can be such a burden on lower-income families, elderly, disabled, etc. We have no budget shortfall which is the only thing that could justify an increase.
Becky Tuttle, District 2
I am in favor of holding the line on property taxes. Increases can be avoided with economic momentum, cultivating a healthy and hospitable business environment and encouraging local entrepreneurship. Taxes often have a negative impact on the most vulnerable populations in our community, the low income, and the elderly. With inflation being high, people are struggling to pay their bills. Any additional financial burden could force residents to make difficult decisions that could compromise their safety and health. Cities can be like magnets, attracting new residents, businesses and visitors. For a city to develop a strong magnetic pull, its leaders need to make wise and bold decisions. I believe that keeping taxes low will attract new industries in our core sectors of advanced manufacturing, aerospace, agriculture, energy, health care, IT systems/support and transportation/logistics. A low tax environment is key to growing our economy.
Hatim Zeineddine, District 2
I wouldn’t be able to comment on any specific tax changes but in the general sense you have to address the monetary policy of the city as a whole, rather than making specific changes in isolation. An increase or decrease could be justified if there are other changes being made at the same time to ensure a healthy budget.
Dalton Glasscock, District 4
Our property tax appraisal system is a nightmare. While the city cannot reform the process as it is a county and state-level issue, we must encourage our partners with jurisdiction to fix a broken system taxing seniors and those on fixed incomes out of their homes. I would support adding to the city legislative agenda the support of a sunsetting property tax increase for those past retirement. Regardless of that broken system, the city must live within its means. Before tax discussions are on the table, the city must look at streamlining resources and consolidating departments and programs between the city and county governments. One such consolidation that makes sense is the consolidation of city and county parks and recreation. No one in our community cares whether or not they are going to a county park (Sedgwick County Park) or a city-owned park (Pawnee Prairie Park). They want to take their family to a public facility that is well-maintained. Smart consolidation has to be on the table.
Judy Pierce, District 4
That’s a bit of a loaded question. Of course, everyone likes to lower taxes and they’re scared to death to tell people when they need to raise taxes. I think we all know that two things are certain in life and that’s taxes and death. I think the important part is how and why we go about it. If we want a strong infrastructure, nice parks, swimming pools and important public gathering places we might have to increase tax contributions slightly. If people don’t care about having roads without potholes and sidewalks that you don’t trip on then, I’m sure we can find a way to lower taxes. Inflation and the need for taxation are not separate issues. It’s all about goods and services. If you want nice things in a nice city, you may have to pay for it. If you want a city that has few public places to gather, overgrown parks, pothole filled roads and wavering staffing in areas like public safety and a crumbling infrastructure, then lowering taxes is the way to go. My job is to do the will of the voters of the 4th District, so it’s not my sole determination, it’s the voice of the voters.
J.V. Johnston, District 5
Home valuations have increased faster than inflation, which has raised property taxes. This has added an additional burden to homeowners, including many seniors. I am in favor of adjusting the mill levy downward to keep the increase in taxes to no more than the inflation rate.
What policies would you instruct city offices, including police, to follow to ensure that the LGBTQ+ community, especially its transgender members, is protected from harassment or bullying?
Marcey Gregory, District 2
The nondiscrimination ordinance that the council passed in October of 2021 was a good start, but I believe we need education to counteract some misinformation that exists around those communities. People fear what they do not understand, and education is the best way to alleviate that fear.
Becky Tuttle, District 2
No one in our great city should be discriminated against. The city of Wichita is a leading-edge organization serving a dynamic and inclusive community. I would refer to the Wichita Police Department Code of Ethics regulation 3.601 that states “Members of the Department shall not discriminate against any person or organization as the result of racial, ethnic, religious, sexual, political, or personal prejudice.” The Wichita Police Department has community liaisons to help build bridges with diverse communities, including LGBTQ+. The WPD Academy conducts inclusion panels for recruits to understand cultural differences and communication barriers to help treat all people with the same fairness and equality. In addition, the city of Wichita has adopted a publicly appointed Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights Advisory Board (DICRAB). The DICRAB’s purpose is to nurture organizational development to create a culture that values intrinsic diversity, civil rights and inclusion in services, programs and policies. If community members were to make me aware of issues regarding any potential policies that would make Wichita safer for everyone, I would bring it to the attention of the DICRAB for their review.
Hatim Zeineddine, District 2
Better outreach from the city to connect with the people of Wichita and in specific the LGBTQ+ community would help develop their stake in city government and ensure better protections.
Dalton Glasscock, District 4
Wichita must be, and I believe is, a welcoming place for all people. Our LGBTQ+ community, just like any of our minority groups, is an incredibly diverse group of people, and we can’t look at them as a monolith. Ensuring our policies and procedures protect every person from harassment or bullying is nonnegotiable. It doesn’t just make moral sense but also economic sense for Wichita. We have the laws already on the books to ensure this is the case.
Judy Pierce, District 4
I think the previous council has already taken some very positive steps with the nondiscrimination ordinance. Sometimes I am baffled by the fact that we need to instruct city offices, police officers, or anybody in our community to treat people with respect. No one should have to tolerate harassment or bullying, regardless of how they identify. It’s also my understanding that there’s been a great deal of training that goes on with our city staff, and to provide the best service they can to citizens and whether it’s the water department or the police department, city employees should be serving the public to the best of their ability and without discrimination. As a community, I think that each one of us needs to stand up against bullying and harassment in all of its forms, and if we see it going on, we need to report it so that actions can be taken to ensure it stops so that we can have a safe and inclusive community.
J.V. Johnston, District 5
I believe in treating everyone with dignity and respect, I have done this my entire life and will continue to do so. However, I believe the city should concentrate on traditional core functions, public safety (police, fire etc.), public works, infrastructure (roads) and parks and recreation. There are already laws that protect all groups including LGBTQ+.
Important upcoming elections dates:
Oct. 17 – Last day to register to vote in the general election.
Oct. 18 – Advance voting by mail begins.
Oct. 23 – Early in-person voting begins in the Sedgwick County Election Office.
Nov. 2-4 – Early in-person voting in satellite locations.
Nov. 6 – Last day to vote early in the election office.
Nov. 7 – General Election – voters go to assigned polling locations.
What do you think of the current city manager? Do you believe the mayor and council provide enough oversight? Do you believe he should remain in his position?
Marcey Gregory, District 2
Professional staff is critical to a city’s continued growth and development. There have been policy changes, as well as changes to the council as a whole, and I believe the council needs to be better at communicating the wants and needs of the people in the community it serves to the staff delivering the services with a more unified voice.
Becky Tuttle, District 2
Manager Layton has served Wichita well, steering Wichita through two different economic crises in 2008 and 2020. His ability to identify, manage and protect city finances affords the city the resources to keep the community safe, build and maintain infrastructure and produce a strong quality of life. The council sets the policy and budget direction that the city manager implements. The evaluation process is the same as for any other city of Wichita employee with scoring metrics completed by the mayor and six City Council members. There are five categories that are scored and three additional opportunities to provide feedback. The mayor and City Council share this information with the city manager and provide feedback and areas for growth. In addition, the mayor and each City Council member meets with the city manager at least once a week for updates and communicates with the manager on an almost daily basis to receive updates and discuss the daily operating business of the city. I believe that this level of oversight is appropriate, and Manager Layton has serviced the city of Wichita with a servant’s heart focusing on our mission to be an exceptionally well-run city.
Hatim Zeineddine, District 2
Our current city manager has been in his position for close to 15 years and I think the people of Wichita want new blood in city government. There’s a limit on how long power can be held before it’s time to change the guard.
Dalton Glasscock, District 4
I support our city manager form of government but believe the mayor and council must provide more oversight. The elected officials are responsible for liaising between the public and the operational form of government. The mayor and council only have hiring and firing authority over one individual, the manager. I support an employee review of the manager’s position and believe all options should be available. Manager Layton has dutifully served our community for nearly 15 years. Our city should ensure that no one person has too much influence over operations and that we continually seek fresh perspectives and challenge the status quo.
Judy Pierce, District 4
On a personal level I’m sure that Robert Layton is a very nice person. However, I take issue with many of the decisions that have been made over his tenure. Having not been involved in the meetings with the council and the city manager, I don’t know that I can make a statement on the amount of oversight. I know from my union experiences that checks and balances are important and I intend to use my knowledge and experience to keep an eye on things. I follow the rules and run a tight ship. I personally believe that it is time to have a change of direction and we need a new person in that position.
J.V. Johnston, District 5
Mr. Layton has served the city well for many years. I hear he is considering retirement. His replacement would be the most important decision the City Council will make. I believe I have the skill set to evaluate the persons who apply to get the best “fit.” It is a really important position, and they must work together with the mayor and City Council to garner the trust of all Wichitans.
Is Wichita doing enough to ensure residents have access to a reliable, safe water supply? If not, what do you suggest? How might water conservation factor in?
Marcey Gregory, District 2
The two main suppliers of Wichita’s water are Cheney Reservoir, which is dependent on rainfall for its resupply, and the Equus Bed Aquifer, which can be artificially recharged, but with year after year of higher temperatures and lower amounts of rainfall, I believe conservation is going to become imperative.
Becky Tuttle, District 2
The city of Wichita is constructing a state-of-the-art water treatment plant that will be more efficient and allow us to treat 125 million gallons per day on peak demand, versus an average of 75 million gallons per day now. The new Wichita Water Works facility will be available for full use in 2025. As demand rises and new economic opportunities develop, we need to be forward thinking and evaluate the possibility of wastewater reuse as a viable alternative for additional supply. Another option are the local well fields near the existing water treatment plant which are operated intermittently and are not used as an everyday raw water source. Finally, there should be more awareness and communication of the city of Wichita Save Wichita Water conservation program that includes a water conservation rebate program, and Drought Response Plan.
Hatim Zeineddine, District 2
No, I do not believe the city is doing enough to ensure a safe and secure water supply. From investing in sustainable water initiatives to partnering with regional and state authorities the city should be placing a high priority on water security. We also need to be aware of environmental factors such as flooding which can contaminate the water supply and work to safeguard our local environment.
Dalton Glasscock, District 4
The city has taken a positive step in ensuring a safe and reliable water supply by constructing a new water treatment plan. Our plant is over 80 years old and was built when F.D.R. was president. This is a positive step, but I have serious concerns with our raw water pipes and the number of water boils in recent years. The primary function of government is public safety and the maintenance of our infrastructure. I’ve been intentional about meeting with the current and former director of public works to understand the challenges facing the department. The city is currently in stage 1 of the Drought Response Plan. As part of that, I support reducing water usage through technological upgrades, including enhanced equipment to water our city’s golf courses. In addition, I support upgrading our irrigation technology and thinking of innovative ways to be responsible for our water usage.
Judy Pierce, District 4
I would like to think so. But a little birdie told me that we are extremely low on water department staff. In my research I’ve also found that usually a city this size has two water plants in case one were to go down and from an infrastructure standpoint this needs to be remedied. Clean, safe drinking water is one of the foundational pillars of the human race’s success. I’m afraid we don’t often think about things like fresh drinking water and sewers that work and roads that we can drive on when we think about what’s important in our community. My brothers and sisters in the IAFF (firefighters union) and the FOP (police union) often get first consideration when we think about where we’re going to spend money on the budget. Unfortunately, I think the general population has become so used to having water every time they turn the faucet, they don’t think about the high level of importance that our access to reliable and safe water contributes to our daily lives.
J.V. Johnston, District 5
Yes, Wichita is investing millions of dollars on a new water treatment plant — and the timing for bond rates was very good. This investment will provide safe water for Wichita for several generations.
What strategies do you favor for growth in housing in Wichita? Where do duplexes fit in and how should they be regulated?
Marcey Gregory, District 2
This is a crisis nationwide, not just in Wichita. I think there are some tools that our city should look at to help solve the problem, such as bringing public land to the table, using grants to put water and sewer infrastructure in place through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and pursuing a concept called adaptive reuse which includes identifying existing land/buildings and repurposing them for housing. Duplexes tend to be looked upon unfavorably, because many times they are rental property, not resided in by a permanent owner, but good code enforcement and diligent property management tools should work to minimize that.
Becky Tuttle, District 2
I believe that a combination of affordable housing and housing that’s affordable is essential for the future of Wichita’s housing issues. Subsidized public housing supports low-income tenants struggling with rising rents. Affordable housing is when rent or mortgage is no more than 30% of take-home pay. Wichita currently struggles to provide both. Implementing the 2019 Wichita: Places for People plan to help prompt development in the core of the city where infrastructure costs have been realized long ago will help with both affordable housing and housing that’s affordable. During my time serving the city as an appointee and as an elected, I have supported zoning and land use for all types of housing, including single family, duplex and multifamily. The path to home ownership is different for everyone and the notification, petition and hearing process works well to have fair and equal representation for all entities involved.
Hatim Zeineddine, District 2
I think there’s no single solution to housing that can work on its own, and we need to pursue multiple avenues to grow. Duplexes can be an efficient use of space to provide housing.
Dalton Glasscock, District 4
There is a role of government and a role of the private sector. The government must create an environment that allows the development of these units, and that happens through the zoning process. As chairman of the District 4 Advisory Board, many zoning and development cases come before us before moving to the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission or council. In nearly every case, except with overwhelming neighborhood character protests from neighbors, I have voted to expand housing options in the district. The city must avoid onerous regulations on the building and rehabilitating of homes. Specifically, I would oppose any transfer tax on properties in the community; this discourages home ownership and does more harm than good in addressing our affordable housing crisis. I oppose additional stormwater regulations as part of new development for those same reasons. We are short nearly 40,000 housing units. The only way to close that gap is by developing every housing option, including duplexes, single family and apartments. We need it all.
Judy Pierce, District 4
As the population grows, we’re going to need more housing. I think it’s extremely important to have affordable housing. I also believe it’s also important to protect the integrity and consistency of our existing neighborhoods. Wichita has a variety of different distinct neighborhoods that have a certain look and appeal. I think we have to be conscious of the existing architecture and with our contemporary designs match to match or at least emulate the current construction to ensure that the neighborhood remains as much the same as possible. I’ve heard concerns and have concerns myself about popping the multifamily apartment buildings in neighborhoods where single-family homes already exist. That usually causes parking problems and you have two different types of tenants who have varying amounts of investment in the community. These multifamily apartment buildings might be advantageous for a landlord to make money, but if we don’t have the right balance in the neighborhood, you also change up the quality of life for the neighbors in the already existing homes. And we have to be conscious about our taxpayers’ concerns.
J.V. Johnston, District 5
Planned and controlled growth is best for Wichita. We need more affordable housing options, especially for young people. I believe the free market will address this need. Part of the answer is duplexes. However, I support the “new” recommended standards to make them attractive, not just two big garages. They must also fit into the right location, so as not to decrease single-family home values.
Do you think the Wichita Police Department’s use of gunshot detectors and license-plate detecting cameras is justified?
Marcey Gregory, District 2
As many are aware, WPD is understaffed (again this is a nationwide issue, not specific to Wichita), these devices are “tools” that can help aid with response times for police and EMS in high crime areas. But as with all “tools,” good policy combined with oversight and well trained staff can make all the difference in how appropriately they are used.
Becky Tuttle, District 2
Keeping our community safe is a core function of the mission for the city of Wichita. Safe and healthy communities do not and will not happen by accident. I have been an avid supporter of our police and fire departments during my tenure of Wichita City Council and I have been unanimously endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police. As with most industries and professions, technology is providing opportunities for being more strategic and accurate. Advanced technology acts as another set of eyes and ears to complement current police staffing. It allows the Wichita Police Department to track and respond quicker with a more specific approach that limits risk to the public. Communities that incorporate technology into a comprehensive crime strategy see improvements with response times, evidence recovery, lives saved and witness identification. The Wichita Police Department has been steadfast that when utilizing these tools, the community is engaged in providing feedback and residents’ privacy rights are protected. The Wichita Police Department has a focus on strong policy, robust training and close supervision to ensure technology tools are used effectively and appropriately and protect residents from misuse or abuse of personal information.
Hatim Zeineddine, District 2
While there are some privacy concerns, used appropriately these tools can be used to help keep the city safer.
Dalton Glasscock, District 4
The question of protecting civil liberties and security will always be on my mind when making these decisions. It is appropriate for Wichita police to use modern technology and innovative solutions to keep our community safe. Criminals should know they have no safe harbor here. I support the police working with private industry in installing Flock cameras. These cameras have helped to solve more than 11 homicides in Wichita since 2020. They’ve helped locate stolen cars, missing persons and Amber Alert cases. We need to continue implementing data-driven modeling to help enable proactive crime prevention. In addition to using new technologies, reviving neighborhood watch programs, community policing and increasing accountability and trust between police and community members will go a long way. Having an officer stop by a block party, drive down a neighborhood during regular patrol or pull over in a park to do paperwork, the presence of law enforcement can often be deterrent enough. With better pay and benefits for our police, we can get more officers on the streets. That must be our top priority.
Judy Pierce, District 4
I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the big brother element of the police department detecting where license plates are traveling and the detection of gunshots. However, from a public safety perspective, it’s important for our police department to be able to solve violent crimes, and for citizens who are not engaging in illegal activities, it’s reasonable to assume that there is not a high likelihood that either of these systems would have a negative effect on their life or violate civil liberties. I think that it is important that the information gathered by these detecting systems be used ethically sparingly, and such that they do not violate the civil rights of our citizens to move freely and enjoy their lives. We all want to live in a safe community with living wage jobs where our children can safely grow up. I would assume that it probably is justified if these types of systems can ensure that goal. I believe it is worth giving it a try and if we find flaws in the system, we can make adjustments.
J.V. Johnston, District 5
Technology is rapidly increasing and includes policing. I support anything that can help law enforcement identify and capture criminals more quickly.
