Join our Mailing List!
Please click the link below to sign up for your community paper mailing list. Stay up to date with all the events going on in your community as well as the latest news.Sign Up Today!
Mayor candidates tackle tough questions
By: Jessica Marshall, Managing Editor
Shawnee Mayor Jeff Meyers seeks his second term as the city’s leader.
He faces opposition from current 1st Ward Shawnee City Councilman Dan Pflumm in the April 1 general election.
While both men agree on maintaining public safety and increasing the city’s tax base, they have differing opinions on city services versus property tax and supporting regional efforts.
Candidates agreed to answer the same questionnaire, starting some answers with “yes” or “no” with an “X” used in place of a definitive answer.
Following are the candidates’ own words:
• Do you support the city’s efforts to increase the tax base?
Meyers: Yes. We have made much progress by increasing our commercial and industrial portion from 22 percent to 27 percent, and projects in the pipeline will keep us on course to achieving our goal of 35 percent.
Pflumm: Yes. As a City Council member for six years, I have been a driving force behind economic growth in the city. As mayor I will aggressively seek commercial development to reduce the tax burden on residents.
• Has the city used business tax incentives appropriately?
Meyers: Yes. Without them, we would not be where we are today in diversifying our tax base.
Pflumm: Yes. The few that we have provided have benefited the city. But, as our fellow Johnson County cities have proven, tax incentives can be used to provide exponential growth opportunities, which Shawnee has missed out on.
• Is keeping property taxes low more important than offering quality city services?
Meyers: No. However, we need to be looking every day for more efficient ways of delivering services. Adequate services will require adequate funding and anybody who tells you different is not telling you the truth.
Pflumm: Yes. We need to operate within the means of the tax base. If we intend to increase services provided to our citizens, we need to increase the tax base to pay for the desired services.
• Do you support a one-quarter-cent county sales tax for public safety?
Meyers: Yes, however, this will be voted on by the people and the county has the responsibility to sell the need for this project to the public.
Pflumm: No, unless all the expenditures were clearly defined and the tax increase was put on the ballot so the taxpayers could determine for themselves.
• Would you support a regional light rail transportation system?
Meyers: No. Light rail is very expensive and my fear is that Shawnee might end up having to pay for something from which we would receive little or no benefit.
Pflumm: Yes, if the majority of the funds were federally funded, if the majority of funds raised in Kansas stayed in Kansas, and only if Shawnee benefited from the system.
• What is the most important issue to Shawnee residents?
Meyers: Public safety is always at the top of the list. Maintaining sound and solid police and fire protection is the first priority for city government.
Pflumm: To live in a city that is clean, safe, and has a great quality of life with quality police and fire protection.
• If elected, what will be your top priority?
Meyers: Protecting our professional city government from those who would attempt to destroy it. We have achieved success because we have had continuity in our management team and that will not change as long as I am mayor.
Pflumm: To increase the commercial tax base and aggressively compete with neighboring cities for commercial development to reduce the tax burden on our citizens.
• Rank by importance your qualifications for office.
Meyers: A four-year record of solid accomplishments as mayor. Nine years’ service on the City Council representing two different and diverse wards. Six years of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Pflumm: I started DanCo Systems from scratch, managed the business for 14 years, and have sold and managed large engineered projects throughout the Midwest.
• Why are you a better candidate than your opponent?
Meyers: Having a game plan and being prepared, doing my homework. Being available and accessible, building consensus on the council, and respecting and working with our professional city staff.
Pflumm: Because I will expand the tax base, reduce unnecessary spending and not demand higher taxes from our citizens.
Bio info:
Jeff Meyers (incumbent)
Age: 49
Occupation: head football coach and teacher, Olathe East High School
Education: bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Kansas State University
Family: wife, Susie, and two daughters, Caitlin, 23, and Brenna, 18.
Previous offices held: Shawnee City Council, 3rd Ward, 2000-2004, and 2nd Ward, 1993-1998; Shawnee Board of Zoning Appeals, 1987-1993, and chairman, 1991-1993.
Community involvement: Johnson & Wyandotte County Council of Mayors chairman; previous Grand Knight, Shawnee Council Knights of Columbus; American Football Coaches Association member.
Dan Pflumm
Age: 46
Occupation: engineer
Education: bachelor’s in engineering from Kansas State University
Family: wife, Julie; daughter Jill; and sons Dustin, Bud, Tanner and Joshua.
Previous offices held: Shawnee City Council, first elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006.
Community involvement: St. Joseph Church, American Water Works Association committee chairman, and recreational sports with family and friends.
printable version
e-mail this story
He faces opposition from current 1st Ward Shawnee City Councilman Dan Pflumm in the April 1 general election.
While both men agree on maintaining public safety and increasing the city’s tax base, they have differing opinions on city services versus property tax and supporting regional efforts.
Candidates agreed to answer the same questionnaire, starting some answers with “yes” or “no” with an “X” used in place of a definitive answer.
Following are the candidates’ own words:
• Do you support the city’s efforts to increase the tax base?
Meyers: Yes. We have made much progress by increasing our commercial and industrial portion from 22 percent to 27 percent, and projects in the pipeline will keep us on course to achieving our goal of 35 percent.
Pflumm: Yes. As a City Council member for six years, I have been a driving force behind economic growth in the city. As mayor I will aggressively seek commercial development to reduce the tax burden on residents.
• Has the city used business tax incentives appropriately?
Meyers: Yes. Without them, we would not be where we are today in diversifying our tax base.
Pflumm: Yes. The few that we have provided have benefited the city. But, as our fellow Johnson County cities have proven, tax incentives can be used to provide exponential growth opportunities, which Shawnee has missed out on.
• Is keeping property taxes low more important than offering quality city services?
Meyers: No. However, we need to be looking every day for more efficient ways of delivering services. Adequate services will require adequate funding and anybody who tells you different is not telling you the truth.
Pflumm: Yes. We need to operate within the means of the tax base. If we intend to increase services provided to our citizens, we need to increase the tax base to pay for the desired services.
• Do you support a one-quarter-cent county sales tax for public safety?
Meyers: Yes, however, this will be voted on by the people and the county has the responsibility to sell the need for this project to the public.
Pflumm: No, unless all the expenditures were clearly defined and the tax increase was put on the ballot so the taxpayers could determine for themselves.
• Would you support a regional light rail transportation system?
Meyers: No. Light rail is very expensive and my fear is that Shawnee might end up having to pay for something from which we would receive little or no benefit.
Pflumm: Yes, if the majority of the funds were federally funded, if the majority of funds raised in Kansas stayed in Kansas, and only if Shawnee benefited from the system.
• What is the most important issue to Shawnee residents?
Meyers: Public safety is always at the top of the list. Maintaining sound and solid police and fire protection is the first priority for city government.
Pflumm: To live in a city that is clean, safe, and has a great quality of life with quality police and fire protection.
• If elected, what will be your top priority?
Meyers: Protecting our professional city government from those who would attempt to destroy it. We have achieved success because we have had continuity in our management team and that will not change as long as I am mayor.
Pflumm: To increase the commercial tax base and aggressively compete with neighboring cities for commercial development to reduce the tax burden on our citizens.
• Rank by importance your qualifications for office.
Meyers: A four-year record of solid accomplishments as mayor. Nine years’ service on the City Council representing two different and diverse wards. Six years of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Pflumm: I started DanCo Systems from scratch, managed the business for 14 years, and have sold and managed large engineered projects throughout the Midwest.
• Why are you a better candidate than your opponent?
Meyers: Having a game plan and being prepared, doing my homework. Being available and accessible, building consensus on the council, and respecting and working with our professional city staff.
Pflumm: Because I will expand the tax base, reduce unnecessary spending and not demand higher taxes from our citizens.
Bio info:
Jeff Meyers (incumbent)
Age: 49
Occupation: head football coach and teacher, Olathe East High School
Education: bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Kansas State University
Family: wife, Susie, and two daughters, Caitlin, 23, and Brenna, 18.
Previous offices held: Shawnee City Council, 3rd Ward, 2000-2004, and 2nd Ward, 1993-1998; Shawnee Board of Zoning Appeals, 1987-1993, and chairman, 1991-1993.
Community involvement: Johnson & Wyandotte County Council of Mayors chairman; previous Grand Knight, Shawnee Council Knights of Columbus; American Football Coaches Association member.
Dan Pflumm
Age: 46
Occupation: engineer
Education: bachelor’s in engineering from Kansas State University
Family: wife, Julie; daughter Jill; and sons Dustin, Bud, Tanner and Joshua.
Previous offices held: Shawnee City Council, first elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006.
Community involvement: St. Joseph Church, American Water Works Association committee chairman, and recreational sports with family and friends.