2.26.2007

It's Almost Time To Vote

Tomorrow is the day! Get out and vote and let your voice be heard. It is your right and your responsibility to decide who will represent your thoughts, feelings and actions on the issues that are effecting your community.

Thanks everyone for all the positive support that you have given me during all this hard work. See you at the polls tomorrow!

2.18.2007

Campaign Website Updated

I got a chance to put some more info up on my campaign webpage. I updated the Issues page so everyone can see what my stance is on things. For those of you that like one stop shopping, I have reposted them here for you. Thanks for your time, and remember to vote on Feb. 27th!


Effective Management
I can communicate with people from all backgrounds and develop a consensus that everyone can agree on. The city council needs to have a single goal that everyone is working together to achieve. My management experience in the military and in the aircraft industry has taught me to take everyone's input and develop a plan that everyone can agree on. My greatest skill that I have developed in Supply Chain Management is to learn how to talk a common language with every organization. I want to bring that skill to the city council to focus everyone on making Wichita the best city it can be.



Responsible and Focused Government
I am an advocate of civic and personal responsibility. I believe the city council needs to be accountable and transparent to the citizens through a more effective use of our tax dollars and by ensuring projects are completed on time and on budget. The city has given tax abatements to companies that have not provided a return on the tax dollars invested. Instead, we should be supporting economic development that is in line with our future goals such as revitalizing real estate in the heart of the city, businesses that offer different services than the ones we have available, and the attractions that will help retain the young talent in the city.


Developing Wichita
I support both residential and business development to draw people back to the center of Wichita and support a higher level of cooperation and communication between city, county and Wichita education leaders to better the community as a whole. Wichita is losing residents to the surrounding areas at a growing rate. The reasons given most often is because of the public school system and the availability of housing in the middle price range. This migration to the suburbs is reducing our tax revenue which continues to reduce our ability to develop. The city needs to support revitalization in the core of the city, not continuing the urbran sprawl that is bleeding off our most valuable resource... people.


Economic Diversity
I feel that the key to a strong economic future is attracting more diverse businesses to Wichita while continuing to support the strong manufacturing industry. I feel this can be done by providing a foundation for other industries in the region and supporting better education to develop the future generations into a more diverse and productive workforce. We need to attract firms that specialize in back office work, such as payroll, human resources, financing companies that are already outsourcing and keep that work here in Wichita. We also need to focus on bringing more of the technology sector to Wichita that will compliment our manufacturing industry. Bringing customer support centers, internet data centers, telemarketing, warehousing and distribution centers to Wichita can help us diversify the workforce and provide more and different opportunities to the young talent in Wichita.

2.12.2007

On The Campaign Trail

Today I attended an open forum for the Waste and Recycling Coalition with most of the other candidates that are running for the City Council positions. Counting me, there were 4 of the 6 candidates for the District 2 seat. The two that were missing was the incumbent, Sue Schlapp, and a strange fellow that does not seem to agree with most of the world, let alone the city. It was an interesting meeting and was a great way to see the views of the other candidates. One thing that really got me was something one of the candidates for District 5 said. He stated that one of his goals was to turn Wichita into a premier retirement community. Now I have talked about this jokingly before. However this guy was sincere and from his tone, it sounded like the best thing since sliced bread.

It is this mindset that I am trying to change. That is one of the main reasons why I am running for City Council. That statement discounts every person in this city that plans on remaining in the workforce for more than 10 years. I will not let the tired and complacent take over this town and let it coast away into retirement. Wichita is a vibrant and creative place; we are not ready to sit down in an easy chair and accept whatever the future may throw at us. There is an amazing amount of change looming over the horizon and we will miss the opportunity in those changes if we are sedentary. Please pay attention to those that want to take leadership and then sit down in the middle of the road. On Feb. 27th make sure you vote for someone that is looking toward the future, and not sleeping on the past.

As always, keep spreading the word and show your support by getting out to vote for me on Feb. 27th! Thanks for the support!
Vote Jason <span class=Wenke for Wichita City Council">

2.08.2007

New Website Is Up!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but campaigning is busy work! It has been great getting out and talking to all kinds of people and the excitement and opportunity that you hear from everyone is wonderful! To help get my name and message out there, I created a new website for the campaign with some help from my friends. Check out www.VoteWenke.com and get the details about me, the campaign and where I stand on the issues. Any feedback is appreciated so please feel free to drop me a line. The website is also perma-linked under the Links section on the right. Please show your support and send this on to everyone you can. The opportunity for positive change is out there for us to take advantage of! Let's not let that chance slip us by! And don't forget, GET OUT AND VOTE FEB 27th!!!

Thanks everyone!
W.