Lecompton Township race features retirees

Political novice faces GOP incumbent

Charles “Chuck” Wright has never lost an election.

Jay Robertson has never missed voting in one.

Date of birth: Feb. 27, 1933 (age: 71)Occupation: Retired transportation managerPolitical experience: NoneFamily: Wife, Connie Robertson; two grown children and two great-granddaughtersKey issues: Improve maintenance of roads to include use of upgraded materials; expand roadside mowing program to clear weeds and grass from “fence to fence.”

And come Tuesday, the two Republican candidates will put their divergent political resumes on the line as they face off in the primary for Lecompton Township trustee, a $2,740-a-year job that oversees the 52 miles of gravel roads and drainage ditches in the township northwest of Lawrence.

Robertson, a retired transportation manager who’s never before sought elective office, maintains that township roads suffer from a lack of grading while roadsides are being choked by weed problems.

“I just want to get the weeds moved so people can see around the roads and corners, and just make some improvements to the road system,” said Robertson, who’s lived and farmed for 33 years on 155 acres west of Lecompton.

Wright, seeking his third four-year term as trustee, shakes off the criticism with the confidence of a seasoned politician. In the 1960s, Wright twice won election as street commissioner in Topeka before moving on to serve two terms as the city’s mayor.

Date of birth: Aug. 17, 1919 (age: 84)Occupation: Publisher, “Christmas Trees” magazinePolitical experience: Incumbent Lecompton Township trustee since 1997; mayor of Topeka, 1965 to 1969; Topeka street commissioner, 1961 to 1965Family: Wife, Alice “Sally” Clare Wright; three grown children, six grandchildren and a great-grandson.Key issues: Replace township’s old “tin shack” maintenance building; strive to continue reductions in township’s tax rate and collection of tax revenues.

After getting out of the Christmas Tree business, Wright turned his attention to the township’s infrastructure.

“When I took office, we had canals instead of roads because of all the gravel in the ditches,” said Wright, 84. “Now the water runs down the ditches and the roads run dry. … Our roads are in fine shape. We still have some problems, and that’s why I’m running for re-election. I want to fix them.”

Among Wright’s goals: Find a site for a new maintenance shed, to replace the township’s century-old storage structure that isn’t big enough for the township’s equipment.

Robertson said he wanted to use his experience to upgrade services. He wants to upgrade materials to improve road durability, and to start trimming roadsides earlier in the year to allow for better sight lines for drivers.