Some final thoughts before Tuesday’s Wichita elections | Letters to the editor
Melody’s best
Meet Melody McCray-Miller who is running to win the USD 259 at-large open seat.
Melody knows education. She is a product of the Wichita Public Schools and a former WPS school teacher. She is currently an adjunct professor at Wichita State University.
Melody has already proven that she is a serious candidate to represent USD 259 on the school board.
Upon announcing her candidacy on March 23, Melody set a goal to visit as many school sites as she could before the school year ended on May 24.
Within that two-month timeframe, she visited 61 schools.
This statistic alone convinces us that she is a candidate who is going to take this volunteer opportunity and responsibility seriously.
During her school visits, Melody obtained a comprehensive portrait of what the most pressing needs of USD 259 are.
Her platform of accountability — funding, academic achievement, and consistent disciplinary action; Advocacy — for students, families, teachers and staff; and Action — safety and success, address those needs.
Melody is doing her homework to be the best possible board representative for USD 259.
Please vote for Melody McCray-Miller!
Jan Davis, Judy Frick, Dana Hensley, Bunny Hill, Carol Rupe, retired educators and community volunteers
Wu, Koch bashing
Why is Lily Wu being bashed for being supported by successful people?
Since when did it become so evil to be successful? Those are the people who have made Wichita a great place to live.
They create services and products and provide employment which benefits the city. I guess to liberals when you mention Koch, that makes somebody a bad person.
I am very grateful to Koch for what they do for Wichita and the thousands of jobs they provide. We should celebrate success not scorn it.
Ross Alexander, Wichita
Mayor money
Lily Wu — wallowing in campaign cash from big business — has done nothing for Wichita. She’s just the”pretty face” Trojan horse for Charles Koch and his millionaires, who think they own Wichita. Her Political Action Committee support raises suspicions.
Bryan Frye’s big donations from development industry cronies — land developers, realtors, landlords, their vendors — dominate his donations. He’ll empower reckless developments like recent corrupt insider deals — the water treatment plant, ball park, etc.
Wu and Frye get cash from dozens of out-of-town, even out-of-state, donors, undermining their loyalty to Wichita.
Bankers give them thousands, fearing former bank-examiner Celeste Racette, who’d closely scrutinize city finance deals. Racette is an honest broker to stop sloppy “investments,” dirty deals, and money games of prior City Councils.
Frye has worked up through various civic roles, including on the City Council, becoming competent — if biased towards developers.
Brandon Whipple rose from neighborhood leader to state legislator to mayor. He’s insensitive and immature in office, not transformative as promised. But he’s no billionaire’s flunky.
Jared Cerullo and Racette have been in civic service — Cerullo on the City Council, after years of reporting on city affairs; Racette in other roles. Her PAC involvement raises doubts. Cerullo resists outside donations — refusing any donations, from anybody. Refreshing.
None of the “also-rans” — Julie Stroud, Sheila Davis, Anthony Gallardo, Tom Kane — are fit to lead Wichita.
None paid solid dues in public service, nor proved themselves in lesser office. Wu, likewise.
Money-washed candidates of the wealthy cannot be trusted. But Racette, Cerullo, and even Whipple merit serious consideration.
Richard Harris, Wichita
