You can listen to archived audio from the Seward County Commission candidate forum from Tuesday evening, July 19. The Liberal Chamber of Commerce sponsored the forum with several media outlets; B 107.5 KSCB-FM broadcast the forum audio live. Tyler Parks served as forum moderator; Parks works as communications coordinator for USD 480.
The candidates gave their opening remarks in their seating order, as assigned by drawing numbers before the event:
District 2 candidates Chris Linenbroker, Presephoni Fuller;
District 3 candidates Randy Malin, Scott Carr;
District 4 candidates Tammy Sutherland-Abbott, Nathan McCaffrey, Ken Thompson.
Each of the candidates except Ken Thompson is affiliated with a political party and will appear on the primary ballot on or before August 2. Ken Thompson is a non-affiliated independent who will not appear on the primary ballot but who will appear on the general election ballot in November.
Introduction audio by moderator Tyler Parks:
Audio, opening statements by candidates in speaking order:
Audio of first question, which we do not enumerate with the other questions because this question was directed at candidate Linenbroker, who was the only candidate to answer. The question asked, “As a maintenance employee of Southwest Medical Center, a county owned hospital, have you inquired to see if it is a conflict of interest to serve on the county commission?”
Audio of first question directed to all candidates: “What motivated you to run for a seat on the county commission?” Candidate Fuller answered first.
Question 2: “If elected, what are your top two goals you would like to accomplish as a commissioner?” Candidate Malin answered first.
Question 3: “What are your thoughts on the Seward County Economic Development Corporation, and how do you measure its success?” Candidate Carr answered first.
Question 4: “How would you react if an issue you supported did not receive a favorable majority?” Candidate Sutherland-Abbott answered first.
Question 5: “If elected, would you commit in your first year to organizing public discussions to plan for the future of Seward County and the City of Liberal?” Candidate McCaffrey answered first.
Question 6: “Housing codes only allow one house every forty acres in Seward County. Do you believe this policy restricts home growth?” Candidate Thompson answered first.
Question 7: “Inflation has caused an undue burden on the residents and business owners in Seward County. What will you do to keep tax levels from rising?” Candidate Linenbroker answered first. During rebuttal time, some candidates focused on the Seward County Landfill.
Question 8: “What are your solutions for getting more daycare centers here in Liberal?” Candidate Fuller answered first.
Question 9: “In recent years the county has purchased or built buildings for various reasons. Do you believe it is responsible to purchase buildings without the consent of taxpaying voters?” Candidate Malin answered first.
Question 10: “Where do you see the county in four years, and how would you get us there?” Candidate Carr answered first.
Questions 11 a and b: “What do you think about the Seward County Fire Department’s lack of response to the Beaver County fire? What are your thoughts on the agreement between the city and county on the fire department station expansion?” Candidate Sutherland-Abbott answered first.
Closing statements, in the following speaking order: Candidate McCaffrey, Thompson, Linenbroker, Fuller, Malin, Carr, Sutherland-Abbott.
Concluding statements by moderator Parks:
