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Thursday, March 29, 1979
11
University Daily Kansan
Editor's Note: Five candidates are running for three positions on the Lawrence city commission in Tuesday's election. A shopping mall planned for south of the city has been approved. The last week the city annexed the land where developers want to build the wall. Can
didates also responded to the issue of fluoridation. The commission voted two weeks ago to continue fluoridation but approved the installation of a water tap at the city treatment plant for non-fluoridated water.
Stories by Shirley Shou
City attracts Schumm
Robert Schumm
Robert Schumm, a Lawrence businessman, says he probably will live in Lawrence the rest of his life, and is concerned about its future.
"I've become more involved with the see and have a tremendous interest in seeing Lawrence progress," he said yesterday, when he appeared in seeing it maintain that quality.
Schumm, owner of four downtown restaurants, has refused to take a stand on the proposed shopping mail. He said he did not intend to visit downtown Lawrence to be a conflict of interest.
Scharmn said he had decided that an nexation of the land for the proposed mall
"The city should have control or lose control," he said. "But I expect to take time to study the issue closely and make sure my decision is the best for Lawrence."
Schumr, who is a graduate of the KU School of Journalism, is a director of the Downtown Lawrence Association and the Chamber of Commerce.
IN THE AREA of transportation, Schumm said Lawrence should start looking for a public transit system. But, he said, Lawrence would have to move slowly and keep the system in balance with the city's needs.
Schumm said the commission probably made the correct decision earlier this month on the question of fluoridation. However, he would not commit himself on the issue.
He said one of his priorities was neighborhood redevelopment and the preservation of existing historical homes and commercial buildings.
"It if comes up again, I'd study it though," he said. "But I would have to wait."
Florence "Danny" Drury is running for the city commission because, she says, she is interested in government and because there are so few candidates.
Florence Drury
"I felt the voters ought to have a choice," she said.
Drury said one of her objectives was to listen to citizens and treat them fairly. She also planned to spend one night a week at city hall so citizens could talk to her.
Drury wants to give voters choice
She said some individuals have told her that the felt their concerns were not given answer.
Drury, who manages the Thrift Shop of 945 Vermont St., opposes building a shop.
ping mall here. She said that a large enclosed mall would not be a wise use of energy and that the proposed location would add to the city's transportation problems.
She approved annexation of the land where the mail would be built, but said she would not vote to change the zoning from residential to commercial.
DRURY SAID the city would eventually establish a public transportation system. Although a bus system failed in Lawrence and a city needed to try public transportation again.
"We need to be more flexible," she said,
"and we need to look at alternatives."
Drury said Lawrence must also look ahead to handling the expected energy shocks.
Drury, who taught math for two years at public schools in Lawrence, said she was in touch with the students.
"It is important for a large segment of the population, particularly the children," she said. "The solution of a tap for non-potable water is our city treatment plant was a pretty good one."
Other concerns Drury expressed included improving the efficiency of municipal services at decreased cost, "people" support and support of the neighborhood associations.
Hot issues lure Binns into race
Lawrence's mayor, Donald Binns, is running for re-election to the city community council.
"I have to confess, I revel in the controversy," he said yesterday.
Bimns, who has been mayor for two years and a member of the commission for four years, has been on the opposing side of Lawrence's most recent controversy, a lawsuit last week he voted against annexing land where developers propose to build the mall.
"BUSINESSMEN MUST take care to expand their businesses. They have aimed
"I would much rather see development downtown," she said. "But if it is denied now, I will make a plan."
at the college market and ignored too much the rank and file citizens," he said.
The city has made an investment in downtown, he said, and the development of the inner city and in the 600 block of Massachusetts is one of his priorities.
He also supports Bus 62, a system of transportation for the elderly, but opposes a public transportation system in Lawrence now.
"Fares account for only one-third of the cost," he said. "A transit system with a large number of restaurants."
Binnis said a public transportation system had been tried in Lawrence before but had not found success.
very cautiously in considering a public transit system.
"I DON'T THINK you would want to subsidize it," he said.
Despite expected increases in the cost of gasoline, Burns said a public transportation system would help.
"I'm not sure we're going to change the habits of people by putting in a system," he said.
In the recent fluoride controversy, Binns voted to retain fluorides in the city water
He said government was a means of helping people and he also said he would like to eliminate hostility toward city government.
Donald Binns
Landreth wants shot at city office
You only go around once, says Jack Landreth, and that is why he is running the race.
"It's something I haven't done, and I thought I would take a shot at it," he said.
Landreth, owner of a local insurance company, said he had been asked to consider running, and then decided he would run for the city commission.
But he has refused to take a stand on the most controversial issue during the campaign.
"My vote on zoning depends on studying the facts as they are presented," he said. "It's only fair to listen to the proponents before making a decision.
"The city shouldn't be put in a position of regulating competition," he said. "We must look at the cost the city would have in comparison to the benefits."
LANDRETH SAID the thing he would like to see most in city government was open communication between all facets of the community.
He said more long-range planning should be done. Although Plan 95, a plan for the city's growth, is a good guideline, he said, needs specific plans for man traffic arteries.
Landreth said he favored fluoridation.
"Listening to the amount of evidence the commission studied. I agree with the action of the Commission."
Landreth, a Kansas State University graduate, said he liked living in Lawrence.
"There is a great spirit of cooperation between the University and the townpeople and their community," he said. "Lawrence is a desirable place to live and I would like to keep it that way."
Jack Landreth
Francisco says variety needed
Many people feel they are not represented by the City Commission, Mariel Francisco says, and she wants to change that.
Francisco, a school instructor in the KU's School of Architecture and a 1973 KU graduate, said the commission should represent a variety of views.
Francisco opposes a regional shopping mall here because she said malls in other areas have contributed to downtown deterioration.
"Downtown affects all us, especially the neighborhoods, and it is important they maintain their present relationship with the downtown area.
**WE NEED to look at matters over time. "When you add a park space, you need to add staff. If we amex land, we need to have a fire station that can take care of those."
One issue that requires a set of solu
tions is transportation, she said. Street widening, cicle paths, taxis and a bus system should all be considered as parts of the transportation problem.
On the recent fluoride controversy, Francisco said she would vote against citywide fluoridation until another choice was provided.
She said the commission had not investigated ways of delivering non-food water to residents, although she commented its decision to install a tap for non-fluoridated water at the community center.
Francisco said she would spend one day a week in the city offices if she were elected and would give up one of her parttime jobs.
She has been on the Community Development Advisory Board in Lawrence for two years.
Marci Francisco