Four candidates are vying for three open seats on the Allen Community College Board of Trustees. Spencer Ambler and Ken McGuffin are not seeking re-election.
Incumbent Mary Kay Heard is running for a second four-year term. Also on the ballot are Gena Clounch, Vicki Curry and Lonnie Larson.
Gena Clounch reflects back on her life and is thankful for a scholarship she received to Allen Community College in dance and cheer, where she got her associates degree before going to Emporia State University.
She believes her way of giving back would be by serving on ACCs Board of Trustees.
Clounch hopes the community and the college can come together in building a new activity center.
It would definitely help with the recruitment of athletes. Just the work that has been done in the student center, helps with recruiting. Growth is always a good thing and they have pretty much outgrown the activity center. But I hope the community can come together with the school on this project, because they are both in need of a new activity center, Clounch said. Having community partners is a positive.
Clounch likes the fact the school was able to complete the student center project without having to increase taxes. She has questions about whether the new center needs a pool.
Ten million dollars is a lot of money. I am sure it would benefit some rehabilitation patients from the hospital, but looking down the road at maintenance costs it could be quite expensive. And you really have to think about whether it will be fully utilized or not, she said. You cant go back and redo it.
Clounch, who has a background in health care, said she does a lot of volunteer work in the community. Shes served on Iola Public Library Board and the Healthcare Foundation of Greater Kansas City, which is now called Health Forward Foundation.
Clounch said she likes being involved in the community and helps out when she is able.
