EARL WATT

   • Leader & Times

Six candidates are seeking three seats on the Seward County Commission, but what do they believe is their role as a Seward County commissioner? They were asked that question at the recent candidates forum sponsored by the Liberal Chamber of Commerce.

“I believe my role would be to listen,” Dist. 3 candidate Lizette Avalos-Morales said. “You are working with a variety of dapartments with different needs. You are also working for the community, that is the bottom line. So first and foremost is to listen to the people’s needs and kake decisions when you are informed. I am a researcher. I love learning. I would be devoted to making sure every decision I make, I make it after being informed. I have seen a lot of back-and-forth in meetings, and I want to bring the commission together and work together for the betterment of our community.”

Dist. 3 commissioner incumbent Jairo Vazquez said speaking to others was important in fulfilling the role of a commissioner.

“I see the role as understanding the needs of the community by having conversations with other leaders, people within the community, everybody I am supposed to represent,” Vazquez said. “There is a lot of responsibility that comes with this role. I think teamwork has a lot to do with it. Other people have told me I am a level-headed person. I research decisions very well. Something politicians don’t usually say is I am not afraid to be wrong. If new information arises, I can change my decision and be okay with it.”

DIst. 4 candidate Joe Lara said his experience as a city commissioner has been an example to show how he sees the role of a county commissioner.

“Teamwork — you must work together with the full commission,” Lara said. “An example is the city. Do you believe all five of us agree at all times for the last four years? We have done a good job of making our teamwork show, but we rarely agree 100 percent, but you see how we work together to get things done. The open dialogue is necessary. We must let the public know and see we disagree but that we are willing to work together. You have to work with staff, present ideas but be open about it.”

Dist. 4 candidate Fred Bloom also said commisisoners should be working together.

“We all work together and listen respectfully to other team members which are our fellow commissioners and the people in the community,” Bloom said.  “And communicate what comes out in the end so everyone knows what is going on.”

Dist. 2 candidate Kay Burtzloff said teamwork was important but so was being prepared.

“I think you need to be committed to what you are doing,” Burtzloff said. “When I served on the (Seward County Community College Board of Trustees) I never missed a meeting, a committee meeting, a graduation. You have to show up and do your home work. I think decisions have been made hastily without doing the research that needs to be done. I am a grant writer so by nature I am a researcher. We have seen decisions made and then rescinded. More analysis needs to be put into decisions before they are made. There is a lot of commitment that needs to be made — do your research, listen to the people, be open to what people tell you, and be able to work with other commissioners.”

Dist. 2 Commissioner Clay Louderback said the top role of a commissioner is the budget.

“The No. 1 thing we do that is our responsibility is to work through the budget,” Louderback said. “That is the main thing we deal with. We govern over department heads, administration, infrastructure, look at the roads, like that. Try to work on unity and to improve the county.”

After everyone had a chance to answer, Vazquez added that building relationships was important to be an effective commissioner.

“Over the past year and before, I have been able to build relationships with people, in Kismet, the city and school. At the end of the day the relationships you have with those people are important when making decisions.”

Lara added that his experience with budgeting would be beneficial to Seward County.

“The budget is the primary role,” Lara said. “If you want experience, I have been in municipal government for the past five years and watched the county for the past three years. I understand the how the city and the county work. We have gone revenue neutral  most times, so it is important to know how budgets are done.”