By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
If you live in Ward 4 within the City of Great Bend, you’ll have options to vote for when picking a representative for the Great Bend City Council. Rickee Maddox and Randy Myers were at the candidate forum last week hosted by the League of Women Voters – Barton County. Both will seek a Ward 4 spot on the council in the November election.
Maddox has lived in Great Bend since 1981, and she was appointed to the council this past August. Maddox now looks to be elected to a full, two-year term on the eight-member council, two reps to each of the four wards.
"The mayor, council system of government that we have here is obviously very popular, because nearly half of the municipalities operate that way," said Maddox. "With two individuals with overlapping terms offers continuity and involvement in the many processes of the city."
Myers was born in Barton County and has served on the city council in the past. Myers stated he wanted to see changes with the city government, including concerns on sales and property taxes.
"I personally think we're taxed too much," said Myers. "We just raised taxes for the new police department and we're raising taxes for quality of life. Between the City of Great Bend, Barton County, the college and the school district, the taxes just keep raising and raising. The population has gone from 25,000 to 14,300 and we're using .85% a year. If we're going to spend money, let's do something with that money that's worthwhile."
Natalie Towns also represents Ward 4 on the council. You can watch the entire candidate forum on the Great Bend Post Facebook page.