Early voting begins today. Voters are making decisions now about whom they trust to manage Geary County’s responsibilities and their tax dollars.
Henry Petty has asked voters to visit his campaign website. His campaign advertised it on a brochure left at my door back in June. His materials at last Thursday’s candidate forum advertised it again.
As of today, October 14, his advertised campaign website still displays a generic WordPress placeholder instead of campaign information.
I told him it was not working at the October 8 forum. He knows. Yet nearly a week later, voters still cannot find the campaign information he has directed them to throughout his campaign.
Petty told the audience he has a bachelor’s degree in web design and interactive media. That makes this unfinished commitment particularly difficult to understand and leaves voters with more questions about qualifications.
It is time to vote, and Petty has not figured out how to get his website up and running.
A website is a small undertaking compared with overseeing a multimillion-dollar county budget. But it is a visible example of follow-through. When a candidate advertises something for months, asks people to use it, and leaves it unfinished even after the problem is pointed out, voters have reason to question his readiness.
Henry Petty is asking for your trust. In my judgment, he has not demonstrated that he is ready for it.
Geary County has seen too many half doers—people who announce an idea, get something started, and leave the difficult work unfinished.
Half doing is not doing.
It is great to have ideas and ask ‘what if.’ The real issue is whether you can deliver.
During my eighteen years in banking and finance, results were the measure of my work. At Citi, I was recognized as District Manager of the Year for my region in multiple years for the results I delivered. I was known for turning around problem branches into profitable operations.
Those results required understanding the problems, working with employees, setting expectations, and staying involved until performance improved. I was accountable for the outcome.
I brought that same persistence to my work with legislators and grassroots organizations. I helped secure passage of Convention of States legislation in Nebraska, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Texas, Missouri, and Kansas.
Those efforts took organizing, preparation, relationships, and years of follow-through. When progress stalled, we kept working.
That is the experience I would bring to Geary County.
At Thursday’s forum, Petty offered ideas that would expand county government’s activities and pursue additional revenue. I appreciate him explaining those intentions because they reveal a meaningful difference between us. His approach is to expand government, while my approach is to ensure the government lives within its means.
He proposed that the county acquire Junction City’s skating rink and operate it as a business. I do not believe county government should operate entertainment businesses. Junction City already operates the rink. Why transfer that responsibility and financial risk to Geary County?
He suggested a special visitor-related tax associated with Milford Lake, again a meaningful difference in approach. Instead of focusing on ways to encourage the lake visitors he described at the forum to stay and spend money locally, he proposed an additional visitor-related tax.
He also proposed selling delinquent property-tax obligations to investors upfront, citing a model available in other states. Kansas’s current statutory process does not authorize the investor tax-lien certificate program he described. As a Geary County Commissioner, he would have zero possibility in getting this accomplished, as state laws need to change, and I am the only one in this race with that kind of experience.
These are basic questions of cost, authority, and responsibility. They should be addressed before a proposal is presented as a workable solution.
Geary County cannot afford his tax-and-spend approach to government. He will absolutely look to expand government’s involvement, then look for additional charges and collections to support it. I disagree.
I want the county government to provide dependable public services, protect private property rights and civil liberties, apply rules fairly, and respect taxpayers. I want to attract businesses, promote our resources, and encourage private investment that creates opportunities throughout the county.
Before committing your money, I will ask what a proposal will accomplish, what it will cost, whether we have the authority to do it, and who carries the risk.
Then I will stay with the work.
Voters deserve more than an announcement, an unfinished project, or a promise that the details are coming later. You deserve preparation, accountability, and results.
My name is David Schneider, and I am running for Geary County Commissioner in the 1st District.
I am ready to work for you, and I am asking for your vote.
In-person early voting opens today at the Geary County Office Building in Junction City. Please do not wait until Election Day, November 3. Unexpected things happen, and your vote matters. Vote early!