By SALINA POST
During the month of Oct. the Salina Post will be publishing a series of profiles introducing the community to the six Salina City Commission candidates and school board member candidates for USD 306, USD 305, and USD 307.
The six candidates running for three Salina City Commission seats, which include two four-year terms and one two-year term, are Trent Davis, Jerry Ivey II, Robert Klingenberg, Haley Helzer, Chad Farber and Michael Hoppock.
The Salina Post sent questionnaires to the candidates asking for biographical information and why they chose to run for school board.
The general election will be Nov. 7. The deadline to register for the 2023 Election is Oct. 17 before 8 p.m.
If you live outside of Saline County check with your local elections officer for election deadlines.
Haley Helzer
What is your age?
41
What is your profession?
Insurance Agent
Are you an incumbent?
No
Give a brief bio on yourself in 100 words or less
I was born and raised in Salina. I’ve been involved with the community as much as possible through volunteering my time, since before I was an adult. I know the potential this community has to offer. I’ve served on the city’s Design Review Board for downtown during the revitalization projects. I was a Boy Scout leader for over 10 years. I’ve also served on a council at USD 305.
Please explain why you are running for city commission.
If I’m not attending commission meetings to be better informed, I’m watching them. I meet with citizens every day through my work and get a good sense of how the community feels about certain topics. I can relate to most people! I feel that common ground can be found even when two parties don’t generally agree on much. Salina City Commission is another community service that I feel my skills and insight would be best utilized in the future.
We need to focus on quality employers, bringing good paying jobs to Salina. We need to meet the childcare needs of our residents. Many parents are opting to stay home with their children because childcare is unavailable or unattainable.
Many childcare facilities don’t accommodate our 2nd and 3rd shift workers. I’d like to work to fix that. We need housing to accommodate the influx of new citizens we’ve seen the last year. Quality developers who will build homes to satisfy the needs of current and future residents.
Lastly, we need to put some focus on the neglected parts of town, addressing the food desert on the north side of town, and assisting homeowners to know what resources are available to them to help with repairs and other home related expenses.
Check Salina Post on Tuesday and Thursday mornings in Oct. for additional local candidate profiles.