GUEST COLUMN, Todd Stanton, Seward County

Not long after a petition was filed seeking my recall, I stated that it would be answered point by point.

First, it should be known that the petition and the county attorney’s response were evaluated by one of the sharper legal minds in the State. In their opinion both the petition itself and the letter of sufficiency could be successfully challenged in District Court. However, the complainants would then simply re-file a modified petition making a successful challenge a hollow victory teeing up a new challenge.

The opening premise of the petition is false: “using confidential information acquired through public office to intentionally cause harm to another.” It’s falsehood will become readily apparent so we’ll revisit that in a bit after unpacking the rest of the claims.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Carolyn Huddleston, Liberal

I agree with Earl Watt that if the recall petition against Todd Stanton can be approved, that makes a farce of the whole recall process. If my commissioner believes the county is paying out a higher level of pension than is actually warranted, I want him to question that with the proper authorities. Stanton was doing his job, and not just ignoring the situation, which seems all too often to be the stance of our commissioners when something isn’t as it should be.

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

Emporia Citizens United weren’t getting anywhere by talking to their city commissioners. Despite concerns over a proposed data center, the City of Emporia granted a permit for the project to move forward.

That’s when the citizens gathered up signatures and presented a petition to require the City of Emporia to put the question on the November ballot.

Thousands of signatures should have been a sign that the people were not being heard.

L&T STAFF OPINION

Last year when the Seward County Commission proposed at 25.868 mill increase, it was the beginning of a community division that exists to this day, and it’s time to bring it to an end.

Some believed Seward County needed the major tax hike to deal with the Conestoga tax settlement that is still not yet decided in the Sedgwick County district court.

That was proven false when representatives from Conestoga stated they would not expect immediate payment after a decision.

Still, Seward County pushed through a 17-mill increase despite a massive outcry from the public not to put such a burden on the people.