Candidate questionnaire: Chris McCord
Board of Public Utilities, Member At-Large District, Position 3
Age: 58
Occupation: Real Estate Appraiser
Owner: McCord Appraisal
Education: Washington High School
Kansas State University – Bachelor of Science
Organizations, clubs, groups to which you belong:
Hillcrest Transitional Housing of Kansas, Current Board Chairman
Kansas City, Kansas Downtown Rotary, Past President
Piper Optimist, Past President
Hands to Hearts – Volunteer
Reasons for running:
The primary reason that I have chosen to seek the position of Board of Public Utilities Member-at-large, Position 3, is that I feel it is very important that we keep local control of OUR public utility. The primary mission of the BPU should be to provide reliable and affordable utility services to its customers while improving the overall quality of life in our community. I believe that we need to make customer service our number one priority, increase our reliance on renewable energy, work to maintain the long term needs of our growing community and to keep our good jobs in Kansas City, Kan.
What is your top campaign issue?
Improving customer service and keeping OUR good jobs in Kansas City, Kan.
There may be budget constraints facing local governments and schools. If you had to make cuts, what would be at the top of the list to cut?
The amount of outside contractors performing duties that can be completed by employees.
If you are an incumbent, list your top accomplishments in office. If you are not an incumbent, what would you change?
Improve customer service and increase our reliance on Renewable Energy
What is the difference, on the issues, between you and the other candidates running for this office?
I do not believe that the Public Utility should be sold or privatized.
Have you run for elected office previously? When, results?
Piper School District 2001-2003
Norm Scott said he was in favor of keeping the BPU as a public utility.
“We definitely do not want to sell this facility, this is a great facility,” he said at the Armourdale candidate forum.
Scott is a lifelong union member and retired as a business agent for the operating engineers, Local 101, union, and has been endorsed by an electricians union, including electrician workers that represent the BPU, and the Heavy Constructors Association.
Scott is the chairman of the Wyandotte County Democratic Party.
Scott graduated from Wyandotte High School and attended Kansas City Kansas Community College. Since retirement, he has been a volunteer in his neighborhood association, his church and at Cross-Lines.
“I’m a strong supporter of labor and I know they have contributed to BPU’s success,” he said at the Democratic breakfast.
Keeping rates as low as possible and delivering customer service as best as possible are two of his goals, he said at the meeting.
He said he is interested in representing the citizens and he has asked some questions of the board. “I need to know why our rates are high,” Scott said at the Armourdale forum.
“I need to know why we can’t address some (more) alternative energies,” he said. He said he knows that some business facilities today are totally self-sufficient, with a zero environmental footprint.
On the topic of customer service, “When you call and all you can get is a machine, that tells me we need to get a little closer to the table,” Scott said at the Armourdale forum. He said he wanted to understand the reasoning behind all the decisions made at the BPU.
Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools
Monday, March 2
Chicken drumstick, roll, jelly (9-12), baked beans, tater tots, diced peaches.
Tuesday, March 3
Enchiladas, romaine and tomato, refried beans, tropical fruit.
Wednesday, March 4
Hamburger on a bun, romaine lettuce, tomato slices, tri-tater, sliced apples.
Thursday, March 5
Chicken parmesan with rotini, cucumber slices, banana.
Friday, March 6
General Tso’s chicken fried rice, baby carrots, peas, fruit cocktail.
All Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools lunches come with milk. Entrée alternatives offered include chef’s salad, fruit salad and yogurt muffin basket. Vegetarian options, including veggie burger or bean and cheese burrito, are available everyday upon request.
Turner Public Schools
Monday, March 2
Hamburger-cheeseburger, macaroni and cheese.
Tuesday, March 3
Tacos.
Wednesday, March 4
Bosco cheesy bread, dip.
Thursday, March 5
Chicken nuggets or drummies, bread sticks.
Friday, March 6
Cheese or pepperoni pizza, cookie.
Additional lunch entrée choices: Yogurt platter, peanut butter and jelly platter. Milk offered with all meals. Fruits and vegetables bar offered with all lunches.
Piper Public Schools
Monday, March 2
Cheeseburger; chicken Oparrito, tater tots, tomato slices, apple, peaches; turkey chef salad, peas, apple, peaches, blueberry fruit muffin.
Tuesday, March 3
Chicken nachos with white queso; chicken strips, salad, Texas pintos, banana, mandarin oranges; taco salad, Texas pintos, mandarin oranges, banana, cornbread.
Wednesday, March 4
Chicken patty – grilled chicken; homestyle meatloaf, mashed potatoes with gravy, roasted vegetables, tropical fruit, applesauce, roll; chicken Caesar salad, baby carrots with dip, tropical fruit, applesauce, roll and crackers.
Thursday, March 5
Spaghetti and meatballs with Italian bread; French dip, corn, carrot coins, salad, orange smiles, pineapple; Italian chef salad, corn, orange smiles, pineapple, Italian bread.
Friday, March 6
Cheese pizza; peanut butter and jelly with yogurt, red peppers with dip, Caesar side salad, broccoli with dip, banana orange mix, cinnamon apple slices, Rice Krispie treat; popcorn chicken salad, red peppers with dip, fruit streusel muffin, banana orange mix, cinnamon apple slices, Rice Krispie treat.
Bonner Springs Public Schools
Monday, March 2
Chicken nuggets with Italian bread; spaghetti and meatballs with Italian bread, salad, cheesy cauliflower popcorn, fruit and peaches; Italian chef salad, cheesy cauliflower popcorn, fruit, peaches, Italian bread.
Tuesday, March 3
Chicken strips; barbecued rib on bun, salad, cowboy beans, fruit, rosy applesauce; taco salad, cowboy beans, fruit, rosy applesauce, cornbread.
Wednesday, March 4
Chicken patty – grilled chicken; roast turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn, fruit, pears, roll; chicken Caesar salad, corn, fruit, pears and roll.
Thursday, March 5
Opaarito; three-cheese grilled cheese, salad, fries, fruit, orange pineapple mix; Cobb salad, fruit, orange pineapple mix, fruit streusel muffin.
Friday, March 6
Pizza; popcorn chicken wrap, salad, baby carrots with dip, fruit strawberry banana mix, brownie bite; popcorn chicken salad, baby carrots with dip, fruit streusel muffin, fruit, strawberry banana mix, brownie bite.
All menus from all districts subject to change.
