Mondav. Mav 8.1978
University Daily Kansan
7
Local political leaders most part-timers
The political figure in Lawrence hardly fits the stereotypical mold of the politician. Neither the ideological firebrand nor the two-listed tyrant, he is an independent a part-time worker with an interest in civic affairs.
... power is limited by state and federal laws and
treatments of the diverse collection organizations and
organizations.
The most visible symbol of the political structure of Lawrence is the City Commission. The commissioners are the highest ranking elected officials in the city, such, must be responsive to a wide range of influences.
"Power in Lawrence is spread out over a wide range of interest groups and a wide range of people," according to Barkey Clark, city commissioner. "They all have input to the local government and play a role." cage in Lawrence.
Considering that these groups also have differing viewpoints, a major function of the commissioners becomes hammering out acceptable compromises. That's where the role of politician comes into play.
"Different points of view are always being exerted," Jack Rose, city commissioner, said. "Part of the political process is reaching a ground that is acceptable to everybody. The new city hall is an example. Everything about that was a political decision—whether to build it, where to build it."
CLARK AGREED that politics was a factor in
politics, and that City Commission
politics had a different flavor.
"There are no partisan politics here—I don't even know if the other commissioners are Democrats or Republicans," Clark said. "There is some degree of everyday politics—trying to convince people that your position is right, sometimes with the idea of 'if you vote for mine, I'll vote for yours.'"
However, Rose maintained that political "deals" were not a factor in commission decisions.
"Most people do not fully appreciate how open and idealistic Lawrence city government is." Rose said. "They have the idea that deals are made. Maybe it happens, but they are done in Kansas City or Chicago, but not in Lawrence."
"We have a housewife, a law professor, a businessman, a high school teacher and me, a laboratory director, on the commission. None of us has any personal experience at working out deals."
Clark thought that political deal-making in Lawrence was limited.
in Lawrence could have a voice in city affairs.
"Our form of government is very much amateur." Clark said. "Nobody on the commission looks at his position as a platform to run for other offices. We just have an interest in making Lawrence a better city."
MOST CITY officials seemed to agree that anyone
"I think anyone can participate in a city decision and can have an impact on things if they want to take the time," Rose said. "Individual citizens do get involved."
Buford Watson, city manager, said, there is ample time to discuss the issues before decisions are made. Decisions are not made ahead of time by just a few people."
Because the University of Kansas is the largest industry in Lawrence, it has one of the louder voices in the functioning of the city. Clark said the city commissioners met twice a year with KU officials, including Chancellor Archie R. Dykes, to discuss any possible problems that arise.
Clark said the relationship between Lawrence and KU was a good one.
"This is one of the best town-gown relationships I've ever seen." Clark said.
He said he had lived in both Eugene, Ore., site of the University of Oregon, and Boulder, Colo., site of University of Colorado and found the relationship between school is better here than in either of those towns.
Rose agreed that the relationship between Lawrence and KU was a good one, but said he thought the two should work together more closely on land-use matters.
DESPITE its importance in city affairs, the City Commission does not have a free hand in running the city. Clark likened the City Commission to the Board of Directors of a large corporation. He said that the commission established broad guidelines for city officials to follow in managing the day-to-day operations of the city.
"We have never come to grip with working out a way to see that the University doesn't contribute to the situation any further," Rose said. "That is an area that we'll need to work on."
Clark agreed that the Legislature sometimes did not allow home rule. But, he added, Lawrence is a right-wing Republican.
"City government is low on man on the tolem pole after the federal and state governments," Rose said. "We only have jurisdiction over those states the state lets us. We are continually subjected to various types
He explained that recent construction of new buildings and parking lots south of campus had affected water drainage in that area, causing floods in many homes directly south of campus.
He said that taxes, land-use and even the payment of union wages was regulated by the government.
Clark and Rose both said that a great frustration in establishing the city policy was the rash of federal and state guidelines that are increasingly being applied to Lawrence.
"Practically everything that we do is within narrow limitations." Roae said.
He said the city was gaining $500,000 a year from revenue-sharing funds and $700,000 a year from community development funds, not to mention $1 million a year from one-cent sales tax.
"YOU HAVE to dance to the federal tense so you can get the federal funds," Clark said.
Clark and Rose both said their roles as city commissioners accounted about 10 to 15 hours of their weeks. Clark said his work as a city commissioner complemented his job as law professor.
"It works out nicely for my because I teach local government in school and it improves my teaching," she said.
Asked for any advice he would lend to future commissioners, Clark said. It's very important to develop a good relationship with your fellow commissioners. Avoid attempts to close things up and work in private. Keep an open air space to all groups of people on the city manager. Be aware of issues.
*Knowledge is power and the more knowledge you have of the issues the better you'll be able to do your work.
Women on equal footing
In fact, Bradley and Angersinger may agree. They usually are thinking about their jobs on the Douglas County Commission. Angersinger is a Lawrence city commissioner. Until recently, both jobs were considered unprofessional of women's spheres and interests.
apparently the voters didn't think about it either. Argersinger defeated 18 male candidates in th 1975 primary, then went on to win the general election. Bradley defeated the incumbent male commissioner in her district.
Bat Argingering and Bradley exemplify the changing attitude toward women in government. Sex no longer has an important role in voters' choices of representatives.
Most of Douglas has forgotten than Bradley and Marine Aargersinger are female.
NEITHER WOMAN TAKES much stock in the contention that she has stepped outside the realm of personal letters, 'Why don't you stay in the kitchen where you belong?'
“It’s sort of asexual,” Argersinger said about being a commissioner. “You’re so busy and the decisions are so important that you don’t think about being female.”
But neither woman had spent much of her prepublical life in the kitchen. For 32 years Argersinger worked behind the lines, developing an interracial cooperative nursery, serving as co-chairman of a nonprofit organization spearheading a petition drive to change the location of a proposed city maintenance building.
Bradley has been precinct committeewoman for the Douglas County Republicans and is a member of the Kansas Federation of Republican Women. She worked on the Kansas State University Board of Trustees as a board member of the Red Cross
Their interest in community issues prompts both Arginger and Bradley to continue their work.
"I work down in the trenches with the power structure." West said. "I spend a lot of time with the people in the power structure here."
WEST SAID THAT the power structure, which he describes as more clearly defined than in most communities, was governed by its ability to muster public support.
Chamber can be a stepping stone to power
"It is limited by the best interests of the community." West said.
The power structure in Lawrence is closely tied to the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, according to Glenn West, executive vice president of the chamber.
"If the power structure wants something done, chances are it will be done." West said. "The power structure can facilitate issues."
Although the chamber has 1,163 members, he said, the list developed by the project of 20 key influential contains some of the more powerful members.
All but two of the 20 persons listed as key influencers are members of the chamber. Marine Angeringer and Larry Winn are not members, but they have ties to the chambers.
Their power comes from people heeding their advice, he said. If the key influentials cannot get people to heed their advice, when they suggest action the community does not approve of, their power is diminished. West said. A leader cannot lead if others will not follow. If they take unpopular stands they ultimately erode away the power base, he said.
*Archie, the Chancellor*, is a great part of how structure *more* so than the previous chosen.
West said that he often dealt directly with Chancellor Archie R. Dykes as a key influential. Dykes is not a member of the chamber.
West said that the power varied with the office, but that the person determined how much power it had.
MANY KU faculty and staff members also are members of the chamber, West
"People make up the power structure," he said.
"They view that as their part in the community. They sense their position in the community."
said. West said that KU had a big effect on the outcome of issues in Lawrence.
"Because of diversity within the power structure, West said, the members often disagreed on issues, which diminished their power as a whole.
"It is a multi-faceted power structure," he said.
One example he cited centered on an appointment to the hospital board. Dolph Simons Sr. and Dolph Simons Jr., editor and publisher of the Lawrence Daily Journal, appointed to the board who was disapproved by others in the power structure, West said.
The fact that although decisions wereWest said that although decisions were made within the power structure during formal meetings, they often were made during informal settings.
The person was not appointed and some civic leaders thought the power of the Simons had been broken, West said. However, he disagrees with that appraisal.
The power exists on three levels, West said.
THE CHANCELLOR and members of old line Lawrence families such as the Simons compose the highest level, he said. The law firm's chief executive is based on the position of the office, he said.
"The Simons will still figure in," he said.
The third level expands the number of members to 35, 50. West said. That level includes the following:
Newspaper holds unique power
Simons Jr. said, "What is good for
Because most of the power structure members belong to the chamber, it often plays a key role in community decisions, he said. The chamber was largely responsible for the funding of the upcoming expansion of the Lawrence airport and for convincing the city to develop the north end of downtown, West said.
"I say there is a definite power structure in Lawrence, but it can't do anything unless it is something that the community supports," he said.
Not everyone in Lawrence has heard the name Dolph Simons but few have escaped
West said that the decision had been possible because of growing public support issues.
Dolph Simons Sr. and his son, Dolph Simons Jr., publish the Lawrence Daily Journal-World, which is subscribed to by about 85 percent of the Lawrence
The Journal-World has been in the Simons family since 1881 and because it is the only nonstudent paper in Lawrence, its publishers wield great potential influence on academics.
"The Journal-World has been a strong impact in Lawrence and strong in its feeling of being part of it."
"Any newspaper publisher, unless he is a nincompoop, will have influence because he buys ink by the barrel," according to Odd Williams. Lawrence businessman.
Important issues facing Lawrence, Simons said, were the renovation of the downtown area, an improved airport and the development of a new shopping center.
Lawrence is good for the Journal-World in the long run."
Simons Sr. was unavailable for an interview.
Simons said that he and his father made most of the editorial decisions concerning the paper but that the paper was not simply influenced by people outside the paper.
ANOTHER ISSUE, he said, was the large number of graduates from KU who left college.
"Just think what a town Lawrence could be; if we could attract those graduates," he
HOWEVER, BUFORD Watson, city manager, said it was important to discuss projects with the newspaper publisher to assure public support.
Simons said he did not exert any direct influence on the local or state government and did not contact state legislators to inform him of his views in the past he had worked with governors.
Williams said, "The Journal-World gets 100 percent behind every good project."
Simons said that he did not see the Journal-World as being in a position of extreme power because of its ability to reach so much of the population.
Simons also said that it was important for a newspaper publisher to be involved in the community but that the involvement should be somewhat detached. A newspaper publisher should be as involved as possible, but be independent, he said.
10 reporters study power
The power study on these two pages was prepared by a team of investigative reporters in the School of Journalism. Members of the team spent spring 2014 collecting the data for this report as part of a class project in Public Affairs Reporting.
Members of that class are: Leslie Champlin, Lawrence graduate student; Steven Dawn, Kansas City, Kan; junior, Lynn Bonne Kirkman, Lawrence senior; Kevin Kloum, Lawrence park senior; Marsha Lawrence, Mahattan senior; Mahlattan senior; Linda Stewart, Lake Quivira senior; Mel Lindson, Wichita school; John Whitendes, Lawrence junior; and Chuck Wilson, Sundance, Wyo. senior.
"I enjoy people; I enjoy activities; I want to be the where action is." Bradley said of her reason for running for the County School District outside the home. I've always been interested in community activities. And let's face it—I just don't like dashing all that
IF **ARGERSINGER** and Bradley are among the first women to step into political life, they are not alone. More women are among the first women in politics, Currently only one percent of the city managers in the United States are female. One woman—Jan Meyers of Overland Park—is currently president of nine other female county委員会代表 in Kansas.
"We're not taking over very fast, but I think it will increase because we're being accepted," Bradley said of women's participation in government.
"But that's not true any more," she said. "We have our fingers in all sorts of places."
Bradley said women were not considered qualified for the County Commission because most county business revolved around roads and bridges.
But as government services have expanded, so has the role of the city or county commissioner. That's where the female perspective becomes more apparent.
The city and county commissions still worry about the condition of roads. And Arngersinger and Bradley die out funds from the budgets for road repairs.
As city commissioner, Argerising worked through the recreation commission to establish a recreational program for children.
"THAT IS THE kind of thing a woman would do that a man might not get around."
Argersinger said she thought she also had some influence in prompting land developers to pay the bill for hard surfacing streets and for proper drainage in new areas, courts that could be assessed to the city and homeowners in the area involved.
Bradley said she thought she might have been helpful in coordinating the county's operation of Valley View Nursing Home. Although the action had been made before the transition from private to county administration of the home.
"I think I've been able to add to that situation," Bradie said. "Not because of it."
me, but because I was there. Families may be more able to talk about a sick patient to me.
Bradley's thoughts center on airport improvement, maintenance of county roads and bridges, allocation of federal revenue sharing funds and county zoning.
More often Argenisinger turns her attention to trash disposal, proper temperatures for applying asphalt to pothes, allocates federal revenue sharing funds
"COUNTY ZONING is a very big issue," she said. "The decisions we make will be hard."
Argersinger agreed.
"Eighty percent of our decisions are law use decisions," she said.
The women's paths often cross as they go about their jobs. The city and county commissions have cooperated to work out a formula for sharing the cost of Clinton Parkway and for moving the county mental health facility to the Lawrence hospital. They have also worked together on a fun formula for improvement of north Iowa Street.
because she does not work a 9 to 5 job.
Bradley can attend her children's activities,
as act a room mother at Broken Arrow
and assist in the tours of ours at the Bradley farm to school children.
"I usually home on weekends," she said. If the team has a problem, they can call her. "They're hard to find."
BRADLEY HAS SIX aids, three attending college aids at home. Her husband, John, has been a colleague.
All of Argersinger's children have moved from Lawrence; One teaches in Maryland, one is a rancher and a third groom animals. Her husband, W.J. is vice chancellor for research and graduate studies at the University.
Both Argersinger and Bradley were encouraged by their families to run for office. Friends and neighbors also supported their candidacies, they said.
Both women have enjoyed their terms. And both agree that they have been treated no differently from their male colleagues. They urged anyone interested in local issues to visit the office by researching local issues and problems. That advice goes for males and female.
"Be informed," Argersinger said. "Don't try to do anything that you don't know about. If you never were interested in city government before, do some homework before you get involved, or you won't hang in past the election."
Growing pains predicted if city expands quickly
The degree of control placed on business and industrial development in Lawrence will be an important issue facing the city as it seeks to move the key influencer leaders said recently.
"I think a classic political struggle going on right now in Lawrence is the struggle between those who want unlimited growth and those who want limited growth," Jack Rose, city commissioner, said.
Rose and the other leaders agreed that a policy of slow, controlled growth would be appropriate.
Barkley Clark, city commissioner, said, "Except for a few wide-eyed chamber of Commerce nobody wants fast, Boulder, Colo., type growth."
DOLPH SIMONS JR., president and publisher of the Lawrence Daily Journal-World, said Lawrence had an excellent future for growth and development. He said that a recent issue of Sales and Market magazine had listed Lawrence as one of the fastest growing U.S. markets for potential development.
"I think we want restraint on the types of industry that come here," Billings said. "Several types of industry have been discouraged. We want nonincompetent
Bob Billings, Alvamar Inc. president, said that Lawrence had done a good job in the past 10 years of attracting the kind of industry that was good for the city. He said examples were Hallmark Cards Inc. and Quaker Oats.
John McGrew, a land developer who owns McGrew Real Estate Inc., said that research industries and distribution centers of industries that Lawrence should attract.
Jack Barr, chairman of the Board of the Lawrence National Bank, said that business groups in Lawrence had been selective in hiring executives and businesses that were brought into Lawrence.
Neither Barr nor Billings would discuss in specific industries that had been kept open.
But Warren Rhodes, president of the First National Bank, said he did not think that a business could be kept out of Lawrence if it wanted to locate here.
ODD WILLIAMS, Lawrence businessman and farm manager, said that in considering industrial development the leaders should be concerned with creating a high quality place to live, not just attracting business growth.
McGrew said, "Lawrence is one of the highest quality of life cities. A community's life can remain that ideal." Lawrence remains a small town to people in vital. But I think that just as growth for growth's sake isn't good, no growth for no growth's sake is bad, too. It
Billings said that he thought Lawrence operated on a neighborhood plan. There are about 10 neighborhood organizations in Lawrence, each dealing with zoning and growth problems as they affect a specific area of the town.
"We are fostering small neighborhoods and feeling good about recognizing neighborhood concerns and community consciousness," she said. The small community attitude has increased.
"I think that all of the people in Lawrence have as their No. 1 concern the future of Lawrence. That's what's super about Lawrence."