University Daily Kansan, September 1, 1983
Page 5
Mayor Longhurst aims to juggle public, private life
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the first in an occasional series of profiles on members of the Lawrence community.
By JOHN HOOGESTEGER Staff Reporter
David Longhurst never had to worry about what he said in publ.
But since becoming mayor of Lawrence, he says he has learned that there is a distance between the two. He prefers a philanthropist and a philanthropist.
"You have to clean up your act a little bit,
because you always represent the city."
LAWRENCE PEOPLE
Longhurst says. But an occasional swear word still slips into his casual conversations.
He jokingly says that he can no longer sweat on camera and that it probably wouldn't be a good idea for to him to go out on New Hampshire Street and moon nope.
"You can maintain your sense of humor, but it is important to me to remain politic and respectful."
Longhurst was chosen mayor in April. The most important change in his life, he says, is that the mayor of Philadelphia is
"You can't be pig-headed when you're in office," he says. "Before I was in office, no one cared about my opinions."
Longhurst's opinions have been in the public light even more in recent weeks on the issue of downtown redevelopment. He has strong convictions against Schedule 4, the original plan the City Commission recently discarded, because he and Commissioner Mike Amyvx voted against it.
"There is a tendency to think that your opinions are better now than they were before," he says, "but we're still just as likely to make mistakes."
Longhurst, 40, has drawn some criticism since being in office, particularly on the downtown redevelopment plan. And he says he is particularly sensitive to criticism.
"I want people to think I'm doing better than he says. "I's largely a matter of perception."
He is not slow to provide volumes of information about his views on downtown redevelopment as he pushes for revisions in the downtown development plan that he thinks the public will accept.
Some of the criticism he has received stems from his printing business, the House of Usher, which is on the 800 block of Massachusetts and the midst of the proposed area for redevelopment.
Loulurst rents the building he is in, and isn't too concerned about what happens to it, because it's just a small building.
"If they tear down the building, I will get money to move and expand my business, and I'll be criticized," he says. "If I stay where I am, my rent will go up and I will have a big increase in business opportunities, and I'll be criticized for that, too. I lose public respect either way."
As mayor, Longhurst must attend many social functions something he says he is not entirely comfortable doing.
He's just a shy guy
His new position has caused other changes in his life, he says.
"I'm not a very social person," he says. "I tend to be somewhat shy and reserved. Prior to running for commission, I tended not to participate in community activities participating in now. I'm not much of a joiner."
"I think it's great that people want me there, but it bothers me in the sense that it still a little
He has already had some philosophical differences with his fellow commission members, particularly on the downtown issue, but they appreciate his good humor.
"He's very quick-witted and energetic," said Commissioner Nancy Shontz. "We have some philosophical differences, and I do see possibility of a future where he's very business-oriented and willing to learn."
Longhurst was born in New Mexico, and spent two years at the University of New Mexico before enlisting in the Marine Corps. His last year was spent in Vietnam.
After his discharge, he came to Lawrence because his father was teaching at the University of Kansas. His parents owned a small printing press, and when he came to Lawrence, Longhurst started a printing service in their basement.
His printing business, named after his
grandmother, Mae Usher, now has two locations and 24 employees.
"I attribute my success to all the classic things," he says. "I enjoy my work, feel strongly about providing a good service and I've had good people working with me."
"I enjoy my work"
His employees support that opinion.
"David is a very easy person to work with," said Jessie Seabaugh, who works at the House of Usher. "Many of the employees have worked for us many years, and I think that speaks for itself."
In the few months he has been mayor, Longhurst has brought a great deal of attention to the office. In May, he sent letters to President Reagan and Soviet President Yuri Andropov asking them to come to Lawrence to discuss world peace.
The invitation sparked media attention to the work for Longhorn to be included in CBS Morning News.
Longhunter says he didn't expect so much attention from the invitations, which he says stemmed from his love for his son and a friend's desire to win the American athletics who came to the Kansas Relays.
"I found it hard to communicate with them, hard to know what they really meant. But when they talked about their kids, that meant something. I recognized the love they have for their children, and had the feeling we all want to live in peace without fear of nuclear holocaust."
Continued from p.1
Merit
consequently could cost the state more money than a bonus.
Harder also proposed revisions in the evaluation system, which Swearingen said should be scraped or simplified because it was expensive to implement these revisions between management and employees.
A way to get rid of unsatisfactory employees would have to be retained, he said, and some form of evaluation would be needed in the case of lavoffs.
Swearingen said merit pay create hadoc for budget designers, who had no idea from one year to another just how much would be needed for their business of living raises, he said, are a better alternative.
State employees are scheduled to receive a 4.5 percent cost-of-living raise in January, six months after the new fiscal year began July 1. The delay was ordered by the 1983 Legislature and Gov. John Carlin because of the state's precarious financial condition.
However, a decision on whether Carlin will call for merit pay increases for fiscal 1985 will not be made until late this year, said Mike Swenson, Carlin's press secretary.
Carlin did not recommend merit pay increases for fiscal 1984, and the fiscal 1983 merit pay increases were frozen because of a lack of money, Swenson said.
Michael Barbara, Kansas secretary of corrections, said yesterday that he sent a letter to the head of the interim committee to clear up a misconception that he opposed the merit pay
FRESHMEN LADIES NIGHT
25 $ ^c $ Draws No Cover
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences wants GRADUATE REPRESENTATIVES for the COLLEGE ASSEMBLY
—Interested LA&S graduate students should complete nomination forms available at the College Graduate Division 210-1 Strong Hall.
Self-nominations are required.
—Filing deadline—4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2nd.
Election will be held Sept. 7-8 in 210-1 Strong Hall.
All LA&S graduate students are encouraged to become involved in the governance of your school
NOW ENROLLING
Kristin Benjamin Director
- Men's Ballet
- Men's Ballet
* Modern Dance
- All levels Ballet
- Jazz
- Modern Dance
* Jazz
- Exercise, early a.m.
& noon
- T'ai Chi
- Body Alignment
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The University of Kansas Theatre is celebrating its 60th continuous season in 1983-84 . . .
*Buy a season coupon before September 23 and save more than $10% over the cost of individual purchases.
come celebrate with us!
*See six rather than five "main stage" productions including two by the professional ANTA LUMBERMAN.
*Have the advantage of being able to reserve tickets a week earlier than regular patrons;
*Help celebrate the 60th University Theatre this exciting program for young theatre artists.
Season tickets are now on sale at the Murphy Hall Box Office. Call 913/864-3982 to order season tickets
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Orchestra Rear  $28.00* ($32.00 value)
*Good for one (1) reserved seat ticket to each production in the University Theatre Series; coupons can be exchanged three weeks prior to the opening performance of each production.
University Theatre Series
The Tawen
October 13, 15, 1983
A History of the American Film
in 6", 1983
Provenced by the ATA Tawen Film
November 3,4,5,10,11,12,1983 Terra Nova
March 30, 31, and April 6, 7, 1984
The Skin of Our Teeth
April 26, 27, 28, 29*, 1984
All performances in the Caution Priere Theater
8:00 p.m. Curtain *2:30 p.m. Mainee
Presented by the ANTA Touring Com Hair
February 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 1984
Die Fledermaus
William Inge Memorial Theatre
DADADADADA
September 27, 28, 29, 30, and
October 1, 2, 1983
The Elephant Man
October 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 1983
The Great God Brown
November 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 1983
The Oedipus Project
February 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 1984
Pot-Pourri Productions
April 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 1984
All performances in the William Inge Theatre
8:00 p.m. Curtaun
KU Theatre for Young People
Starman Jones
September 24, 1983
OPQRS, Etc.
January 28, 1984
Both performances in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre
2:30 p.m. Curtain
Many happy Returns
The Kansas Union Bookstores
are currently paying 6% of total purchases from the Spring of'83 (Jan.1,1983 to June 30,1983). These are period 73 receipts. They may be redeemed at the Customer Service Desk at the Kansas Union Bookstore or at the Burge Union Store, with your student ID. Period 73 receipts will be redeemed until Dec. 30,1983.
KUBookstores Kansas Union Burge Union
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