Kanyon Gingher with KACY has asked city commission candidates about whether they think there's a high rate of cancer in Ark City? I've heard this rumor before but never seen any evidence. I think it arose after a few publicized cases of cancer in children occurred in a short amount of time. If anybody knows where she's coming from and what might be driving this rumor, let us know....
Also, her questions about whether Ark City should have a strong mayor and rotating city attorney are interesting, although don't think those changes are under any serious consideration. Strong mayor would be like New York city, where a Mayor sets the agenda and has control over administration. I guess you could elect a Mayor without those powers, but then it would be similar to mayor now. I'm guessing Mell already thinks he's a strong mayor :)
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7 comments:
David Allen my name is Kanyon Gingher unless you were being mean.
The questions were submitted and the canidates were given some ahead of time and some were drawn from a hat still overs came from live blog. trying to be fair the questions were the same that were pre given, and the drawn questions are the same just the luck of the draw there.
The one question about the city attorney was submitted first at your forum but didn't get asked. So they sent it to me.
As for the cancer one, it came from a person who said they were part of a committee a few years ago checking to the number of cancer cases. She said she just wanted to hear their answers because she beleives that it is a very real issue. She wanted to know what the commissioners would or could do.
Thanks Kanyon
David Allen,
The questions asked came about the same way that it was done with the forum questions. The questions were submitted to her from the citizens of Arkansas City. From what I have been told, some questions she received had also been sent to the Traveler for use in its forum, but were not asked.
With the extremely limited powers vested to our mayor, I do not believe it is possible for our council to have a strong mayor. The personality, character and fortitide of the commissioner holding the position of mayor can affect the direction of the commission and in such a way create the personification of a strong mayor. If this is what you mean by Mell being a strong mayor, I would agree with you on that point.
Sorry Kanyon. Meant to double check you last name but forgot when I posted this late Friday. It's fixed.
Thanks for the comment and thanks for help with our forum and for working with James on the interviews. Didn't mean to suggest those questions aren't important, but just wanted to point out for our readers that they have not been topics under discussion by elected officials
A fact for sure Cancer in this part of kansas and this county were reported higher in years past because of all the refinaries the were in this area and dumpimg into rivers upstream of AC. Don't know if still a problem since most of refinaries shut down over a decade and a half ago. But it was considered part of a study.
Didn't mean to suggest those questions aren't important, but just wanted to point out for our readers that they have not been topics under discussion by elected officials
April 4, 2009 7:52 AM
Does not really matter if they were topics of the elected officials as much as topic of the citizens they serve!.
Once the topic is known I think it should be of some conversational point of discussion to the ELECTED OFFICIALS, but thats the problem they DO NOT much care about the people of AC
THANKS KANYON
CALLUS
All the canidates that came in answered each question that they were asked.
The cancer question was mostly responded to with I'm not a doctor. But that was not the question. It was what as a commissioner could/would you do. Jay Warren was the only one that really talked about what as a commissioner he would do.
It was I think a great opportunity for the public to learn about their canidates. We are looking forward to expanding coverage to other offices and a wider area.
One minute answers or responses have a place but allowing the canidate to freely talk gives you more insight into the ideas they have and vision for the future.
It was a lot of fun doing the interviews on Real Talk at KACY 102.5 (shamless plug) having James live blogging at the same time. Then the article that followed the next day. No matter what your form of information came from you got the full effect. Many people said that even though they listened and or live blogged, they also read the Traveler (another shamless plug) the next day, I know that it was a success.
Many people have thanked me and asked me to pass that on to KACY, James and David Allen that it really was the best coverage the citizens have ever had.
And to you I think I can speak for all of us when I say; 'No Thank you for wanting to be informed.'
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