As a planning commissioner, Rob Sands understands that there will be disagreements at City Hall and that sometimes emotions will run high. Sands said what makes those situations easier was reminding himself what everyone agreed on. “We all love Lawrence and we want it to stay the way it ...

As a graduate of the former Lawrence Alternative High School, Paula Smith said she wants to help Lawrence students find pathways to success that best suit them. “The way the program was geared to fit me better helped me succeed to graduate on time,” she said of her time at the Lawrence ...

Thea Perry has always been interested in public service, but she was too shy to run for office. That changed, however, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2018. Perry, a candidate for the Lawrence school board election this fall, said the health issue motivated her to ...

Though Joey Hentzler has an active interest in politics, he didn’t necessarily plan to run for office. However, as he was trying to motivate others to run, many suggested that he would make a good candidate himself. “I had been searching for candidates who I thought would be committed to ...

As a community health professional, Erica Hill has focused on ways to improve the health of the Lawrence community, and she recently realized the best place to start. “What better way to make an impact on the community than investing in our youth?” said Hill, a candidate for the Lawrence ...

As a longtime volunteer with local social service organizations, Brad Finkeldei has seen the struggles of Lawrence residents firsthand, and he doesn’t think he’s alone in wanting the city to do more to help. “Certainly the city has to fund its core services, but, beyond that, where does ...