City Commission vacancy applicant David Schauner

During his former term as a commissioner and in this selection process, David Schauner said he’s been focused on the “nuts and bolts” of city government: “delivering quality, livable, cost-effective services.”

Schauner previously served as a commissioner from 2003 to 2007. Like former Commissioner Terry Riordan, Schauner said his experience could be a benefit to the current commission.

Among other things, he said, he’d offer an “analytical voice” during discussions.

“I have experience in building city budgets, in how a city functions. I think it’s a plus,” Schauner said. “I think that experience greatly outweighs any concerns there might be.”

City Commission vacancy applicant David Schauner

Schauner noted his participation in the search for a city manager in 2006 — a responsibility that now lies with the current City Commission.

He was part of the commission that hired City Manager David Corliss, who took over for Mike Wildgen.

Experience was one of three main qualities Schauner said he could bring to city governance. The other two, he said, were compassion and advocacy.

“I am compassionate about the needs of people who live in the city that go beyond the nuts and bolts of city government,” he said. “And I think I’m a responsible advocate for adding value to how taxes are spent. I think those are qualities every commissioner ought to have, or strive to have.”

After keeping track of the City Commission’s actions during the past eight years, David Schauner said he’s “concerned” about the city’s long-term plan and how it’s granting tax incentives.

Schauner pointed specifically to the commission’s decision in 2014 approving an 85 percent, 10-year tax rebate for the $75 million apartment and retail development across from KU’s Memorial Stadium.

“Why in the world did anyone give them a tax incentive to build an apartment complex?” Schauner said. “This town is full of apartments. The way the decisions were made, the amount of tax money, it’s pretty hard to understand the process and to justify the commitment.”

Schauner also wants to know in which direction the city is going to grow, something he said the City Commission should be planning.

“Are we going to grow to the west, grow to the south?” he said. “The city is largely responsible for setting a lot of long-term land plan uses and the policies that guide that land use. There’s nothing more critical to the city being able to afford quality services than having a well-planned future growth system in place.”