Dear editor, Dear editor, Dear editor,
I read an article about a candidate for your local school board. It was a feature on Dan Willis. I want to comment about Dan based on experience from the past.
I am a management consultant with more than 30 years of experience working in companies all over the world. I am currently working between three countries, China, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Several years ago I worked with Dan in Iola when he was the manager of the maintenance department at Haldex. My experience with him was one where I developed a great deal of respect in the way he worked not as a manager but as a leader.
He was more than a manager of maintenance because he was involved in many areas outside his role in maintenance. The plant manager at that time was quick to utilize Dan whenever she needed something done in any area of the plant.
I reported directly to the CEO of Haldex and when I was informed of the plant closing of Iola I was vocal about his leadership skills. He immediately found a position that was to be a promotion for Dan but after he considered that promotion he soon made the decision to remain in the city he loved and grew up in, Iola, Kansas. I respected his decision then and I do today.
This may not be of interest to many but I will say this, I can think of nobody in all my experience that has more leadership skills than Dan Willis. I believe he would be outstanding as a school board member.
John Tarwater,
Mansfield, Texas
I am a lifelong Democrat. I find very interesting almost each day I read in the newspapers the Republicans are complaining about government matters in Topeka.
Let me tell you the very matters you are complaining about, Democrats have been complaining about for years. It is time everyone thinks about their vote.
Anyone who is 65 years of age with Medicare benefits, now is the time to face the fact office holders in our state government in Topeka need to be changed. Too many extremely important programs have already been cut during the Brownback administration. Voters think before you cast your vote.
Sincerely,
Clarence W. Henderson,
Neosho Falls, Kan.
Spending money to get people back to Iola does not equate. When my business fell off by 50 percent, I didn’t spend more money. I cut costs and dropped the price of doing business. Less cost, more business.
If you want to set your sights on the future of Iola in a positive way, start doing things for a population that is say 4,000 people in 30 years.
I’ll say it again and again, what you have been doing for the last 30 years is not working. It’s time for a new way of thinking.
Don Erbert,
Iola, Kan.
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