Commission candidates sound off on library, Wal-Mart

Maybe on Wal-Mart. Yes to the library.

That’s where candidates for the Lawrence City Commission came down Thursday during a forum sponsored by the Jayhawk Audubon Society, League of Women Voters and Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods.

Candidates were asked whether they would approve a Wal-Mart Supercenter proposal for the northwest corner of Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive that by the end of the month will go before the City Commission.

Four candidates — Greg DiVilbiss, Lee Gerhard, Lynn Goodell and Dennis “Boog” Highberger — said Wal-Mart could not be stopped if it met existing zoning requirements for the site.

Highberger added that he didn’t believe the zoning should have been granted in the first place.

“I would not support a larger store than that,” Gerhard said.

The remaining candidates, incumbent Mike Rundle and David Schauner, took a harder line. Schauner called the proposal a “poster child” for the city’s bad planning.

“I am dubious that our community can support two Wal-Marts,” Rundle said.

All the candidates said they would favor bulking up funding to the Lawrence Public Library.

The library faces the loss of a $59,000 grant from the Northeast Kansas Library Service if it doesn’t increase spending on books and other materials.

The candidates said it would be hard to increase that spending, however, in tight budget times.

The election is April 1. The top three vote-getters will receive terms on the commission.