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Mayoral Initiative: Public Safety

Spencer Duncan, candidate for Mayor, has announced initiatives he will pursue as Mayor to address Topeka’s Public Safety.

“There is nothing more important than keeping people safe. It must be the top priority of city government, and every decision we make should be viewed through how it helps our citizens and allows them live safe and healthy lives,” Duncan says.

The Initiatives include:

· Creating a Mayors Community Engagement Team
· Spending more time in our communities
· Improving Domestic Violence Victim Housing
· Developing a Firefighter Leadership Program and examining Firefighter Ambulance Services
· Anti-Bullying Programs
· Truancy Reduction Partnerships
· Solving the App Programs Problem for Police Officers
· Adequately Staffing our Police Department
· Strengthening Mental Health Programs
· Cracking down on Abandoned Properties
· Reducing Recidivism
· Better managing diversions and probations
· Community Patrol Stations
· Decriminalization

“We have to be aggressive about our crime issues and talk about our problems publicly. Elected officials need to be a strong voice in fighting criminals, supporting public safety officers and being receptive to citizens when they have concerns about our programs,” Duncan says.

Mayoral Initiative: Affordable Housing

Spencer Duncan, candidate for Mayor, has announced initiatives that he will pursue as Mayor to help address Topeka’s Affordable Housing needs.

“Taking care of people should be City Government’s number one priority,” Duncan says. “We must make sure that every Topekan has a safe and healthy place to live.”

The Initiatives include:
· Housing Trust Fund
· Community Land Trusts
· Increased support of Non-Profits
· Curb Property Tax Inflation
· Think Small!
· Tiered Code Enforcement
· Advocate for Federal Policy Changes
· Developer Incentives
· Mandatory Impact Statements for Developments
· Public Transportation Incentives for Developers/Owners

“A lack of affordable housing in our City is reaching crisis levels.” Duncan said. “Addressing the problem aggressively is best for the lives of our citizens. Working on this issue benefits us on many levels, from giving people safe places to live, to growing our workforce, to creating safer neighborhoods, to helping us educate children more effectively. This must be a top priority for our next Mayor.”

The document “Mayoral Initiative: Affordable Housing” is attached. You can also view it online at http://duncanfortopeka.com/issues

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Mayoral Initiative: #goBIGtopeka

Spencer Duncan, candidate for Mayor, has announced a campaign that reminds elected officials to put forth initiatives that Go Big and continue to untap Topeka’s unlimited potential.

“Topeka is not a second class city and we cannot allow anyone to ever suggest otherwise,” Duncan says. “We have wonderful people doing tremendous things. City government needs to better support the efforts of its citizens while putting forth Big initiatives to address our needs.”

The campaign is a way to remind other elected officials that Topeka can accomplish great things. We must #goBIGtopeka as we:

# Take care of all Citizens
# Improve roads and infrastructure
# Retain & Create Jobs
# Provide safe, healthy housing
# Protect the rights of All citizens
# Strengthen Public Safety
# Remove blight & abandoned properties
# Fight criminal activity
# Support schools and educators
# Help citizens access heath care
# Better wages
# Create new Quality of Life opportunities

“No matter how small the endeavor, we must Go Big!” Duncan says. “In everything we do, we must #goBIGtopeka with the knowledge that the only limits we have in our city are those what we place upon ourselves. City officials should not always take the easiest path and must always work toward bold solutions.”

The document “Mayoral Initiative: #goBIGtopeka” is attached. You can also view it online at http://duncanfortopeka.com/issues

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STATEMENT ON WESTAR & GREAT PLAINS MERGER

Official Statement from Spencer Duncan on Westar Energy & Great Plains Energy Merger Announcement.

Mayoral Initiative: Retaining Young Professionals

Spencer Duncan, candidate for Mayor, has announced initiatives hat provide insight into how the City can retain and recruit young professionals to Topeka.

“We have to focus on and take care of all our different populations. However, a key to job growth and expanding our tax base is having a city that young professionals want to call home,” Duncan says.

Among the initiatives:
· Young Professionals Advisory Board
· Foster Innovation and Develop Incubators
· Increased Capital Investment and Loan Programs
· Improved Childcare
· Creation of an Entertainment District
· Inclusionary Policies
· Stronger Advocacy on Behalf of Citizens
· Business Training Programs
· Better Living Initiatives

“We cannot false market to young professionals, we have to actually put in place the things that they are looking for in a community,” Duncan says. “The best way to do that is not to tell them what they want, but to engage them in the development and creation of projects that matter most to them.”