City Commissioner David Schauner kicked off his re-election campaign Tuesday trying to make one thing clear: He is not anti-growth, nor are his fellow city commissioners.

“You know, I think we have only probably turned down about one project during my two-year term on the commission,” Schauner said. “For us to be labeled as no-growth is really a misnomer.

“The concern that I hear is that projects don’t happen as fast as quickly as some people would like, but there are a lot of stakeholders that deserve a voice in the process.”

Schauner said his campaign would focus on ways to bring economic stability to residents throughout the community.

“It is not about east versus west,” Schauner said. “We have to talk about how we develop economic se-curity for everyone in town.”

But Schaun-er said he didn’t think everything was well on the growth and development fronts. He said city officials still needed to look more closely at whether growth was paying its fair share for new infrastructure and city services.

“I said two years ago that growth doesn’t pay enough of its cost and I still believe that is true,” Schauner said.

He said he hoped a consultant who has been hired will bring forward recommendations on how the city’s growth can be paid for more fairly. Schauner, 59, said that would be important if city residents want to see stable tax bills.

“I think it is important that we find ways to do more without increasing the tax burden on the people who live in the city,” Schauner said.

6News video: Commissioner announces re-election bid (1-11-05)

Schauner — who is the general counsel for the Topeka-based Kansas National Education Assn. — listed the city’s ban on smoking in most public places as one of the more significant accomplishments during his time on the commission. He said he’d work to keep the ban in place despite opposition from some in the bar and restaurant industry.

“I really think the ban has been a very good thing for most businesses,” Schauner said.

He said he recognized some bars and restaurants had seen business decline since the ban took effect in July. He said he would support city officials “putting their heads together” to figure out ways for those businesses to better adjust to the new environment.

“But I don’t think the majority of people want smoking back in bars and restaurants,” Schauner said.

Schauner, who officially filed his paperwork for re-election on Tuesday, is the fifth person to announce an intention to run for one of three at-large seats on the commission.

Commissioner Sue Hack is the other incumbent seeking re-election. Mike Amyx, a former Lawrence mayor, and Tom Bracciano, a school district administrator, have both filed for seats on the commission. Jim Carpenter, a Kansas City attorney and neighborhood association leader, has said he intends to run.

Candidates have until noon on Jan. 25 to file for a seat. The general election will be April 5. If seven or more candidates file, a primary election will be March 1.