By Steve Bell
Kansas City, MO – Neil Sader and Carl Gerlach agree on many issues. Both have been members of the Overland Park city council, and Gerlach says he is running on his record and that of the council. He says this includes improvement in residential streets and on Metcalf Ave., development of the Metcalf corridor, resistance of "big box" stores too close to residential property, and the passage of an indoor clean air ordinance.
Sader has a program that includes three main points. He would continue development of residential streets and storm drainage through the continuation of a 1/8-cent tax enacted for the purpose. He wants to strengthen the indoor clean air ordinance to require separate ventillation systems for smoking areas. And he would give city code inspectors the power to issue warnings and citations without basing them on any citizen complaint.
Gerlach responds that the street tax is no longer necessary, the no-smoking ordinance is the strongest he and the council could pass, and that code violations and deteriorating property are best addressed by the property owners and their neighbors, not more government power.
Gerlach is endorsed by retiring mayor Eilert and two council members.
Sader is endorsed by The Kansas City Star.