By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Several local candidates attended the first of two forums hosted by the League of Women Voters Tuesday night at the Great Bend Events Center. The forum allowed candidates to prepare answers to two questions related to why they are running for their specific elected office. Current Great Bend City Council members Davis Jimenez and Alan Moeder are both running for mayor. Jimenez answered the first question pertaining to city trends he is most proud of and most worried about over the last 3-5 years.
"The trend I'm most proud of in Great Bend over the last few years is how our small-town way of living continues to shine," he said. "People still know their neighbors, support local businesses, and take pride in their community. The sense of belonging and connection is something you can't find in a bigger city, and that's what makes Great Bend special.
"The trend I find most worrisome is population loss and keeping our young people here. We need more jobs, housing, and opportunities so families and young professionals can see a future in Great Bend. If we don't address it, it affects our schools, our workforce, and long-term strength of our community. By focusing on transparency, communication, and community involvement, we can serve the best parts of small-town life while tackling the challenges ahead."
Jimenez said he is proud to call Great Bend home, even after multiple deployments overseas. His only agenda in serving on the council and running for mayor is to make Great Bend better so kids want to stay home or return after college. He also wants to build a relationship with the county so the two entities can continue to work side-by-side.
Moeder has called Great Bend home for more than 66 years. A Great Bend High School and Barton Community College graduate, he started his own plumbing business in 1982. More than 40 years later, he is still the owner and operator of that business. He has volunteered for Columbus Club, Relay for Life, was a Boy Scouts leader, and serves on the Roots and Wings Foundation Board. His first question related to initiatives he would pursue, how he would implement the initiatives, and how he would collaborate with the city council and public to accomplish those goals.
"As mayor, you have certain jobs," he said. "One of them is running the meeting, overseeing what goes on on the agenda, and trying to run a meeting that's quick, honest, and fair. The mayor does not promote anything. The only time the mayor votes is when there's a tie. He is there to give them information, to teach them what the opportunities are, and which direction to go. But at the end, it's not the mayor who makes the decision, it's the eight council members. That's the way government should work. The mayor is not there to influence anybody."
Watch Great Bend Post.com for more comments from Tuesday night's candidate forum. Tuesday's live stream of the event was presented by Venture Corporation. The race for mayor will be decided in the Nov. 4 General Election.