BY CORIE LYNN
The City of Hays is preparing for its next local election.
On Nov. 2, voters will cast their ballots for their next city commissioners. This year, they will vote in two commissioners for two-year terms and one commissioner for a one-year term.
Candidates include Dr. Reese Barrick, Samuel Allen and incumbents Sandy Jacobs and Shaun Musil.
Demetrius Chance is also listed on the ballet but has since moved out of Hays.
Samuel Allen knows that, at 20 years old, he is the youngest candidate running for the Hays City Commission. But he is campaigning because he believes it is important to have a younger, more diverse commission.
“I am adamant about protecting our community,” Allen said, “but also making sure that we are all working together to create and ensure that we realize its potential, and the best way to do that is to get involved with the governing body of the City of Hays.”
Allen admits that he does not have as much experience as other candidates, but he does share their sense of responsibility and accountability to the community he grew up in.
As a commissioner, Allen hopes to learn from the current commissioners while also bringing new and innovative ideas to the table.
“I believe that we must honor our past, but sometimes we have to be willing to make changes if we are to build a better future,” he said.
Already, Allen has a list of local issues he would like to focus on, should he be elected. These areas include addressing affordable housing by working with businesses and citizens, creating jobs, and providing adequate schools.
“I hope to serve the city as a commissioner by being able to see each opportunity from an objective, non-partisan perspective,” he said.
Besides his goals as commissioner, Allen would like voters to know that he received a heart transplant in 2017, which was his ninth open-heart surgery.
To him, this shows that he has faced challenges many people his age have not faced, but he has not let his health prevent him from making a difference.
“I have learned that we all have value, we all have a story and we all should play a significant role in our community,” he said.
One thing that Allen asks of Hays citizens is that they go out to vote. He explained that non-presidential elections historically have low turn-outs despite the change that occurs at local levels.
“I ask for your vote on or before Nov. 2 because I believe that we all must be willing to improve our community,” Allen said, “and I am ready to meet that challenge head-on as a Hays City Commissioner. I am, and always will be, committed to our community.”