If Wednesday was any indication, Dennis âÂÂBoogâ Highberger will be a different kind of city commission candidate.

Two accordion players did a rendition of âÂÂRoll Out the Barrelâ at City Hall to a crowd of about a dozen Highberger supporters before the candidate delivered his campaign documents — and a plate of cookies — to City Clerk Frank Reeb.

If the kickoff to his campaign was whimsical, Highberger suggested he would be serious about issues facing the city. Highberger said he favored a âÂÂliving wageâ requirement of companies that receive city tax abatements, dispersing tax incentives to small- and medium-sized businesses and the creation of more affordable housing opportunities.

âÂÂThe tragedy of Lawrence is that people who work here canâÂÂt afford to live here,â he said.

And he promised a close eye on planning issues.

âÂÂThe planning decisions we make now will affect us for the next 50 years,â he said. âÂÂWe need to make planning decisions based on a common vision, instead of short-term financial interests.âÂÂ

Highberger, 43, is an attorney for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. He has lived in Lawrence since 1977.

He has served 10 years on the Community MercantileâÂÂs board of directors, and he is also on boards for Housing and Credit Counseling Inc., Headquarters Inc. and Kansas University Legal Services for Students. Highberger was KU student body vice president in 1984.

âÂÂI love this town,â he said. âÂÂI love its tolerance and diversity and sense of community, and I want to make sure we preserve those values as the city grows.âÂÂ

Highberger joins Lawrence attorney Ken McRae as the only declared candidates for the commission race. Commissioner Mike Rundle said he would run for re-election, and the former city director of housing and neighborhood development, Lynn Goodell, already has filed financial information on his campaign with the Douglas County clerk.

The filing deadline is Jan. 21. A primary election will be Feb. 25 if more than six candidates file for office; the general election will be April 1.