Neighborhood associations president Klingenberg to run for City Commission

Deadline to file is Jan. 27

Lawrence residents have until Jan. 27 to file for one of three at-large seats on the commission. Commissioners Mike Amyx, Sue Hack and Boog Highberger all have terms that are expiring. Hack has announced she’s not seeking re-election. Highberger previously has said he likely will not seek re-election, but has not formally ruled it out. Amyx has not announced his plans.

In addition to James Bush and Gwen Klingenberg, two other candidates have begun campaigning for the seats. Aron Cromwell, the owner of a Lawrence environmental consulting firm, and Lance Johnson, the owner of Lawrence civil engineering firm, have filed for seats on the commission.

The general election will be April 7. A primary election, if needed, will be March 3.

The president of the Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods and a leader of the successful campaign to save the city’s public transit system is running for the City Commission.

Gwen Klingenberg announced Tuesday that she’s filing for one of three at-large seats on the commission and will run a campaign that seeks to bring more representation to residents.

“We have been so busy being business-friendly that we have basically ignored the taxpayer,” Klingenberg said.

Klingenberg, who has led the association of neighborhoods for five years and this year served as one of the organizers for the Campaign to Save the T, is a frequent participant in City Commission meetings.

Klingenberg, who currently does not have a full-time job because of back problems that have left her on disability, said she’s been disappointed with how the current commission has handled several key neighborhood issues. She said the fact that two neighborhoods — one near a proposed industrial park along the Farmers Turnpike and another near Lawrence High School — have sued the city shows that the commission is not doing enough to work with neighborhoods.

She also said her campaign would focus on the community’s economic development strategy. Klingenberg said she believes the city may be putting too much emphasis on attracting large companies instead of working with small start-up companies that want to be in Lawrence.

“Another way to get new businesses is to grow them,” Klingenberg said.

Klingenberg, 54, is married with three stepchildren.