Great Bend Candidate Forum

The League of Women Voters will be hosting two different Candidate Forums for the upcoming November election season. Forums are open to the public with refreshments being served. LWV Vice-President, Jan Stice, will moderate both Forums.

Contact Janice Walker if there are questions: 620-617-4568
janicew1949@gmail.com

Oct. 5, 2023 - Great Bend Candidate Forum
Great Bend Senior Center
2005 Kansas Ave.
Great Bend, KS
6-8 PM
Refreshments will be served.
Candidates running for the following offices have been invited: Mayor, USD 428 Board of Education, Great Bend City Council (Wards 1 & 4), and Barton Community College Trustees.

Oct. 12, 2023 - Hoisington / Claflin Candidate Forum
Friendship House
419 E. 3rd St.
Hoisington, KS
6-8 PM
Refreshments will be served.
Candidates running for the following offices have been invited: Mayor, USD 431 Board of Education, Hoisington City Council (Ward 1 & 3), and Claflin City Council.

Get the election information you need at vote411.org. Brought to you by the League of Women Voters Education Fund.
Current election information including filings and voting locations here.

GREAT BEND CANDIDATE FORUM

• Davis A. Jimenez
• Cody Lee Schmidt

• Aaron Emerson
• My name is Aaron Emerson, and I?m seeking a second term on the USD 428 Board of
  Education, where I currently serve as vice president.
  I?ve lived in Kansas (almost) my whole life and in Great Bend for over nine years. My
  wife, Hillary, is a special education preschool teacher, and our three kids attend
  elementary and middle school at USD 428.
  By day, I work as an advisor at a consulting company, helping financial institutions
  nationwide with information security and risk management programs. I?ve spent over
  a decade in banking doing information security and technology, internal audit, and
  compliance. Previously, I?ve been a bank vice president and a specialty regulator
  overseeing multi-billion dollar institutions.
  I am a veteran and served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army. I?ve deployed twice
  overseas with a combat support hospital (the only times I haven?t lived in Kansas). I
  also have a degree in economics and certifications in financial and economic crimes.
  Currently, I?m working on another certification in information systems auditing.
  Additionally, I serve on the boards of other area organizations, including treasurer of
  the Great Bend Noon Lion Club, president of the Great Bend Zoological Society, and
  Barton Housing Improvement Initiative, as well as being a member of ISACA,
  Infragard, and The Institute of Internal Auditors.
  My first term, which started in January 2020, has rarely been normal. While daunting
  at times, it has also been an honor and a privilege to serve during these past years.
• Randy Wetzel
• Karen E. Lindberg​

​Karen Lindberg is the proud mother of 15-year-old twins, Nash and MacKenzie, who attend Great Bend Public Schools. Her background as a parent, as well as her experience in the world of business and community service, gives her a valuable perspective as a USD 428 Board of Education member.

Karen earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Kansas State University in 2001, and she, along with her husband, Nels, are partners in Animal Medical Center and MPIRE Realty Group.  Since 2003, Karen and her family have been proud to call Great Bend home.  Beyond her career and family life, Karen is currently an active member of the Barton County Foundation and a dedicated participant at First Christian Church in Great Bend.  Her commitment to Great Bend runs deep and she considers it a privilege to serve those around her.  

Karen is passionate about providing all students with a quality education in a safe environment and believes that a solid education is important for the future of not only her children, but for all children. Karen would be honored to have the opportunity to serve the community as a member of the USD 428 Board of Education.   

• Marcus Herrera
• Hey everyone! I am Marcus Herrera, and I am excited to be considered for a position on the school board. As a Great Bend native, I’ve been around this community almost my entire life. Great Bend has been home for me, and I only left for eight years to serve in the United States Marine Corps. After three combat deployments in the infantry and many exciting adventures, my wife and I, along with our oldest son, returned home. Since this time, we have enjoyed time with our family and being in the community. We now have three sons, an 11-year-old and twins that are 8, and are proud to still call Great Bend home. 
  As a lifelong learner, I have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, master’s degree in Counseling, and I am in the last year of my doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision. With my role as a full-time graduate student, I am also a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Kansas State University supervising master students in the school counseling program and I have a small private practice in town. Before returning for my doctorate and after my time in the Marines, I was an Administrator at a psychiatric hospital, Therapist/Case Manager for a child welfare agency, and an Activity Therapist for inpatient individuals. 
  In my time away from the school environment, you can find me enjoying time with family, coaching my sons in sports, serving with our church, or attending Panther athletics. 
  I believe that the education of our children must be a priority and we need to equip our future generations with knowledge and skills to be successful. Because of my experience, focus on education, and role as a father of three boys currently in our district, I am ready and excited for this opportunity.  
• Sara Williams 
• I grew up on a rural southeast Kansas farm. At 6th grade Church camp, I met Ryan Williams, whom I married 13 years later. Ryan and I, with our children, moved to Great Bend in 2003 when Ryan joined the Children's Clinic. 

With a BS in biology and secondary education, I have been a public high school biology and middle school science teacher. I have taught 7th grade at a private Christian school and homeschooled. I loved the different teaching positions and have seen the benefits of each schooling choice. 

When Covid hit our area, I signed up to help our district as a substitute teacher and have been helping since. 

I work for Star of Hope Ministries in Ellinwood when I'm not substituting. This job also allows me to be a part of helping children in impoverished areas gain access to education.

I am a Master Gardener through the K-State extension office. Through this program, I plant the flower pots at the Great Bend Library and participate in many other volunteer opportunities. 
In my pastime, I play bridge with many of the bridge groups in town. When I married Ryan, his parents, Don and Jan Williams, immediately began to teach me the game, and I quickly fell in love with it.

I have also fallen in love with the USD428 community. I am eager to put more skin in the game as our educational systems encounter increasingly difficult situations. My experiences have prepared me for this opportunity.

• Cole Schwarz
• Dale E. Maneth
• Gary G. Burke
• Mike Johnson

I have been a Great Bend resident for 48 years (1975). Former Business owner of M&M Equipment, a very successful family owned business, with locations in 3 states. I have extensive background in sales, management, budgeting, HR, etc. Recently sold the business and now serving as GM.
Married to Wife Linda for 42 years, two sons, Chad who lives in Wichita and Kyle that lives in Casper, WY. I am a currently seeking reelection to the Barton Board of Trustees where I am currently serving as the Board Chairman.
Also a current member of GB Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, currently serve on Leadership Team of the Kansas Association of Community Colleges, recently completed serving two 3 years terms as an appointed member of the Kansas Technical Education Authority which is part of the Kansas Board of Regents. In the past I have served on the Boards of numerous local youth sports organizations as well as the GB Community Theater.