Welcome to our online chat with Lawrence city commission candidate Lee Gerhard.The chat took place on Wednesday, March 26, at 2:00 PM and is now closed, but you can read the full transcript on this page.

Moderator: Welcome to this afternoon’s chat with Lawrence City Commission candidate Lee Gerhard. We have several questions already, so we’ll get started.

Melissa: Would you have approved the second proposal for a Wal-Mart store on 6th and Wakarusa?

Lee Gerhard: I do not support bending or altering any rules to accommodate a new Wal-Mart at 6th and Wakarusa. If they can meet the existing zoning and development rules, they can legally build a smaller store at that location.

Curious: Hi Lee. What are your thoughts on the expansion of North Lawrence?

Lee Gerhard: I was amazed to see the amount of development going on in North Lawrence right now. I have concern that we don’t have an overall storm water management system in place that accommodates that growth. The growth may result in getting a new grocery store in that area.

I hope we can develop a well-engineered plan to handle storm waters that accommodates all the potential growth, consequent loss of infiltration surface, and associated problems.

I will work on that one for sure – as a geologist, I have strong interest in solving that problem.

inner city: I see campaign contributions for you from Douglas County Fireworks (the vendor’s association) as well as at least two or three vendors. It sounds like these folks think you will reopen this debate or they wouldn’t be giving you money. Just how informed are you on BOTH sides of this issue? Did you ever attend a City Commission meeting on this issue or read any of the position papers from fireworks opponents?

¢ 6News video: Candidates Sue Morgan and Lee Gerhard participate in online chats

Lee Gerhard: I haven’t analyzed my list of contributors, so I assume you are correct that I have contributors from fireworks vendors. My position is public – I think we can have both public safety and fireworks, and if there is an effort brought to the city commission to revisit that issue, I would want to do that. I think the issue should have been taken to a public vote originally, as there have few items more people have been adamant about, on both sides, than this one. If we have such an ordinance, we must be ready to enforce it. We certainly didn’t enforce the past ones.

Mary: You have suggested improving and enhancing housing in the downtown area. Many other communities have done this successfully. Could you explain how this might be accomplished in Lawrence?

Lee Gerhard: In order to maintain the downtown that makes Lawrence unique, we need more people living downtown. Numerous people have told me they would like to live downtown, if they could find adequate housing. My thoughts are to encourage construction of condominium and other high density housing in walking distance of downtown, and to help the neighborhoods around downtown to help themselves become more attractive to young families as well as older citizens. My first suggestion is to find a way to use tax policy to assist owner-occupied homes be remodeled and updated. This, i understand, would require a change in state law. But i’m pretty experienced in working with the Legislature, I think we can find a way to do that. There may be other federal programs and private foundation programs that might help us as well. If downtown is designated a historic district, then that might be really helpful in finding the money to help neighborhoods.

Other cities have found ways to do this, we can too. Thanks for asking this one!!!

I think that the downtown neighborhoods hold the key to the survival and enhancement of downtown, and hope very much that they will want to participate in the future of downtown.

Martha: What are the most important economic development activities you would pursue?

Lee Gerhard: For background, 70% of the jobs in Lawrence, in organizations of ten or more employees, are in the public sector. That means that our property taxes are higher than we want, we have fewer opportunities for employment for ourselves and our kids, and it is much harder to raise charitable donations for our community.

My vision for Lawrence is that of working with the University of Kansas to move the research and development out of the science and engineering labs into commercial production. I was very disappointed when I moved back here in 1987 to find that KU had not developed a high-tech industrial base around itself, like has happened at the University of Texas, Research Triangle of North Carolina, and in Boulder at the University of Colorado.

I continue to work with KU management to try to get this going. Having Serologicals agree to come to Lawrence is one big step towards my goal. There are many other things we need to do, but that is my first and biggest goal. I forsee a “Platinum Square ” around 15th and Wakarusa!

Judy: How can you assure me that tax abatements won’t cause my property tax dollars to rise?

Lee Gerhard: Tax abatements are only granted to new investments, so that no revenue is lost, only the amount that might be gained is reduced. For instance, Serologicals is getting a 80% abatement, but that means it will add $1.4 million to our tax collections during its abatement period – it will reduce your taxes, not raise them!

inner city: Isn’t what you are talking about downtown called gentrification which results in increased taxes and longtime residents being forced out? Wint Winters/Bo Harris are in the process of doing this on NH and in East Law. Why can’t the city help this neighborhood without replacing it with shops and condos and lofts?

Lee Gerhard: Making existing homes more liveable and more attractive is good for all. If I am successful, those people upgrading their homes will not be paying higher taxes, at least not right away. My proposal is to gradually phase in any increased valuation resulting from remodeling or upgrading of OWNER-OCCUPIED homes.

My original talking proposal was to give a ten-year reduction in tax load, giving several years of no increase in valuation followed by gradual phase in of the increased valuation. This is still a suggestion and is subject to lots of discussion and deliberation, but I’m more comfortable with a suggestion on the table than just wishing.

This only works if the neighborhoods want to do this – we can only make the option available, the neighborhoods will have to decide if they want to accept. A side benefit is that if more young families move in, there will be less pressure to close schools.

Global Warming closer to home?: Lee, I want to bring one of your more controversial positions closer to home.

You have written a book, published by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, that goes against the vast preponderance of the scientific community in holding that global climate change is not a problem.

A review of the book stated: “To me the book has a major and serious flaw-it too often seems to be something of an apologia for the oil industry.”

So, to bring it back home…

1) What do you think this says of your ability to be fair and balanced to all sides (not just those who are buttering your bread)?

Given your contribution history, can we expect you to provide similar cover for development interests in Lawrence?

2) How will your out-of-step opinions affect your decision-making on, say, whether to keep the city’s fleet of hybrid and alt-fuel vehicles in service?

Lee Gerhard: First, I haven’t written that book, I edited it, and have two papers in it. It is about science, not politics or social agendas. And if you actually read the science, you find that there is little question that natural climate change so overwhelms whatever human contribution there is that the human contribution may ever be measurable.

I am not afraid to take positions based on fact and science that may not be popular – I make my decisions based on facts, not theory.

I work in the public sector, and as such, i am objective and fairly consider everyone’s opinion. I would be glad to debate science and data of climate change with you.

I find the rest of your question pejorative and not useful. Next question, please.

Moderator: Thanks for all the questions everyone has been sending in. But we’re running overtime, so the next question will be the last one.

Colleen H.: As the wife of a small business owner, I am concerned that virtually ALL of the candidates for the city commission are, or were, dependent upon the government for their livelihood.

What experience do you have to reassure small business owners that you understand their particular situation and will be responsive?

Lee Gerhard: Good point. I can only tell you that my background is a mixture, as I have been offered tenure in four academic institutions, been state geologist of two states, been director of regulation of natural resource industries, worked for two major companies, a small company, and had a successful small business of my own. I am now restarting that small business as i start retirement from KU. I think I am well versed enough in the business world, both as a worker and a manager, to help small business and to interface well with the business community. After all, the LJW keeps telling me I’m a “Business” candidate!

Everybody, thanks for participating in this chat! This is the first time I’ve tried to do this, and while I prefer face-to-face talks, this way we get more folks into the conversation.

Be sure to vote!!!!!

Lee