University Daily Kansah, August 21, 1985
Page 11
Busy, busy, busy
Praeger's service to city is ceaseless
By Jill Ovens Staff Reporter
As a teen-ager on a trip sponsored by her church, Sandra Praeger saw the work of the Indian missions on reservations in New Mexico and Arizona and she became skeptical about attempts to change traditional values.
The diversity among the native American groups and the strength of their beliefs impressed her deeply, she says.
"I realized how important it was that they retain their values," she says as she sits in her office, surrounded by promotional materials for the Haskell Foundation.
Sandra Praeger, Lawrence's newest city commissioner, stands with her husband, Mark, left, and her son. J.D.
The phone in her office at Haskell Indian Junior College rings constantly, and the half-time position takes up a lot more of her time than 20 hours a week, but the work is important to her and it's been recognized by leaders in the native American community.
But the native American cause isn't the only issue that drives Praeger, 40. As well as juggling her work for the foundation with her roles as the wife of Mark, a Lawrence surgeon, and the mother of two active teen-agers — Gretchen, 16, and J.D., 14 — Praeger has dedicated her boundless energy to women's groups, arts societies and committees.
On top of that, she was elected to the Lawrence City Commission in April. Her contribution to these groups has earned her a reputation as being a leader on the cutting edge of the community.
Her friends and colleagues attribute her success in community affairs to her extraordinary enthusiasm, her dynamic ability to lead and to organize, and to her intelligence. As well, they say, she has a natural warmth and concern for others, carries over into all her activities.
Ann Wiklund, Praeger's best friend, says Praeger is so excited by her work on the foundation that she talks about it constantly. And Wiklund says Praeger's sincerity has brought results that few can match
"She isn't looked upon as a dogoer at Haskell," Wiklund says. "They really trust her. That's why she's been able to do so much."
Stephan Ovens/Special to the Kansan
Last year, when the Chamber of Commerce asked Praeger to be chairman of the Haskell Affairs Committee, they saw it as a social
organization to help out with the festive side of the Haskell Centennial.
But the committee, Praeger says, soon identified some critical problems, out of which grew the Haskell Foundation, which was set up to provide financial support for the college and to lobby for federal funds.
It was Praeger's leadership and her ability to accomplish goals that got the Haskell Foundation off the ground, says Gary Toebben, executive vice president of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.
"Sandy's the person to always get the job done." Toobben says.
In fact, it was because she impressed others on the committee that she was asked to manage the foundation. It's a voluntary position now, but Praeger says she expects the position eventually to become a paid position.
In May, she left her part-time job as docent coordinator at the Spencer Museum to take the Haskell position. It was a job she had for five years and one she thoroughly enjoyed, she says.
"Sandy is always aware that most people don't like to talk in public." Harper says. "She knows they must feel strongly about something or they cannot speak. Lots of public officials do not understand that, or they forget."
Paeragex's concern for others gives her an unusual ability to understand people, her colleagues say. When Paeragex served on the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission, fellow commissioner Nan Harper noticed Paeragex's empathy with the person on the street.
Howard Hill, who serves with her on the Haskell Foundation as well as on the city commission, says, "She's a warm, friendly, engaging person, but she can be firm. She has a way of dealing with the issues in public meetings, which is persuasive without being overbearing."
Critics say that there's no doubt Praeger is charming and popular but that much of her support comes from the business community, especially the real estate sector, because she tends to vote in favor of unrestricted growth.
Tim Miller, a KU lecturer in religious studies, says for anyone in the real estate business, she's ideal. Lawrence's focus on real estate Lawrence that's anything other than
a smaller Los Angeles, it's a different story.
"I followed her voting record when she was on the planning commission," he says. "Anything that would pour more concrete, she voted for."
But Hill says it's difficult to strike a balance between those who favor severely restricted city growth and those developers who prefer to go ahead on their own, unhampered by zoning limitations.
"Sandy has brought to the commission a sense of good planning the rest of us don't have because of her background on the planning commission," he says. "She has managed to balance protecting the city's needs in terms of planning and the interests of the developer and the property owner."
Some say Praeger was asked to run for the city commission by those wanting to protect business interests. Miller says Praeger was clearly the Chamber of Commerce's choice as candidate.
However, Toebban says, that wasn't the case at all.
"The chamber doesn't endorse any candidate for the city commission," he says.
An ad hoc committee made up of people from various walks of life with different backgrounds urged Praeger to run for office, says Marine Argersinger, a member of the committee.
Argersinger, who was elected mayor of Lawrence in 1977, says she and the others who formed the committee were dismayed at the poor quality of announced candidates because. As they searched the community for an intern, candidate, Praeger's name kept coming up.
"We interviewed her." Argersinger says. "She seemed so sincere. We couldn't believe she wouldn't do a good job. It was very apparent."
Argerising worked with Praeger on her campaign and was amazed at her success.
"Someone would suggest she should send out a hundred letters and she'd send out another hundred beyond that." Argersinger saves.
That kind of extra effort paid off. Praeger's campaign raised more money than did any other can-
county candidate, and given to Praeger's campaign, which $2,500 higher than any other
candidate.
Praeger's list of contributors reusl like a "Who's Who of Lawrence" and includes prominent businessmen and professionals in the community, such as Laird Noller, car dealer, Larry McEwain, funeral-home owner and Olin Petefish, attorney.
The list also includes a large representation of KU faculty and administrators such as Del Shankel, professor of microbiology, James Moeser, dean of fine arts, and David Amble, vice chancellor for student affairs.
In the primary, Praeger came in among the top three candidates, with 3,021 votes, behind Mike Amyx, the mayor of Lawrence, 3,107 votes, and Hill, 3,053 votes, but ahead of Nancy Shontz, an incumbent city commissioner at the time, who got 2,332 votes.
"That was real encouraging," she says. "We felt if we could just hold our ground and try to make up some. I really wanted one of the four-year terms, because then I could really make an impact."
The campaign was harder work than she expected and, with her typical concern for others, Praeger worried about the effects of all the
publicity on her family, particularly her daughter, Gretchen.
"Gretchen is shy," Praeger says. "She's much more of a private person than J.D. She's 16 and just discovering who she is. It was embarrassing for her that mother had to have her siga all over town."
Praeger's successful election to the city commission — she was top votetetter with 4,981 votes, 140 more than Amyx, who placed second — has added more commitments to an already hectic schedule, but juggling hasn't proved too much of a problem for her.
She says the children have their own car, so they can get around on their own.
"We really try to monitor the frequency of trips." Praeger says. "We watch the mileage. But it's good to know they can get around because I often don't get home until late in the afternoon and they never know for sure where I am."
"It's really funny," Praeger says,
"because I'll arrive at various places
and they'll say, 'Your kids have been
looking for you.' "
It's all in a day's work for Praeger
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