City commissioner Sue Hack was peppered with questions about her opposition to the city’s smoking ban and her position on development issues during a Journal-World online chat Tuesday.

Hack, who is one of nine candidates seeking three at-large seats on the Lawrence City Commission, was asked several times about her lone vote against the ban. She said she still was concerned about the unintended consequences the ban had created for businesses. She also disagreed with a chat participant who said her views were “directly opposite” of the mindset of the rest of Lawrence.

“As a commissioner, I study the issues and vote the way I feel is best for the community,” Hack said. “You may disagree with how I vote, but I do keep the best interests of Lawrence in mind.”

Hack, a retired junior high school teacher, also disagreed with a chat participant who said she always could be counted on to “vote squarely with the developers.”

“I am sure that there are many in what is referred to as the development community who think I am not pro-development enough,” Hack said. “I have made this analogy before and will share it with you. My husband and I have two children. We were often accused of favoring one over the other. We always felt that made us perfect parents.”

On other issues, Hack said she:

Chat transcript with Sue Hack More in Election 2005

• Was concerned by the perception that the city was unfriendly to business. She said the city needed to make its planning and permitting process more efficient and fair to help address the issue.
• Supports the current agencies that provide services to the homeless and does not want to see the community adopt a “more strict, less charitable policy toward the homeless.”

A March 1 primary will narrow the field of candidates to six. The general election will be April 5.