Here’s a look at candidates who have filed for Lawrence City Commission and school board elections so far

Eric B. Hyde filed on March 15, 2024. In a news release announcing his filing, Hyde said the most pressing issue Lawrence is facing is immorality. He said his campaign is based on integrity, unity and vision and that he will use direct community engagement instead of any campaign financing and social media.

“Truth is at the heart of integrity,” Hyde said in the release. “We must honor the public above the public servant, ensure fairness in all we do, and avoid confusing fact with opinion. Only through virtue can we unite as the future greatest city on earth.”

Steve Jacob filed on Jan. 10. Jacob ran as Libertarian for Douglas County Commission twice before: in 2022 when he lost to Patrick Kelly (incumbent Democrat) and in 2024 when he and Timothy Bruce (Republican) lost to Gene Dorsey (Democrat). He now hopes to fill a city commission seat.

“I’m running to stop the run away spending, to try to keep the lower and middle class here,” Jacob said via email. 

He said he welcomes voters to email him at [email protected] or text him at 785-691-8400.

Alex Kerr filed on Feb. 14. The youngest candidate so far, Kerr is an incoming senior at Free State High School. His school’s student newspaper, The Free Press, ran a profile on him this year.

Kerr said via email that he is “looking forward to this upcoming election cycle and is committed to give a bold, accountable and community-based approach to problems facing our community.”

Ruby Mae Johnson filed on Feb. 17. In a news release announcing her campaign, Johnson said her key priorities as a commissioner would be equity and justice, community engagement, small business support, sustainable growth and affordable housing. Johnson is a transgender resident who has led LGBTQ+ and behavioral health advocacy in Lawrence.

“As a woman and a parent, I know firsthand the challenges faced by many of our friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens,” Johnson said in the release. “Lawrence is a place where all voices should be celebrated. We tell ourselves a story of Lawrence as a uniquely loving and open place to live, work, and be a part of something beautiful. I can say without exaggeration that living in Lawrence has saved my life. I have also seen and been a part of the struggle to stay true to our deeply held values of community, togetherness, and the affirmation of life, freedom, and human connection even in very complex times. I am running to help ensure Lawrence lives up to these values.”

Bob Schumm filed on Feb. 26. Schumm, a former commissioner, said he’s running because “we are committing too big a slice of the budget to capital improvements.” He would like to advance affordable housing, create more units of temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness, make improvements to downtown infrastructure and complete the Lawrence Loop.

“Electing me gets you a person with 50 years of business experience and 12 years of City Commission experience as well as three terms as mayor,” Schumm said via email. “I will use my high level of experience to find the best path forward for our city.”

Bart Littlejohn filed on March 7. A current commissioner, he said he hopes to gain support for reelection.

Littlejohn said he’s proud of he and his colleague’s work thus far on infrastructure using the asset management program, the new land development code, affordable housing and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. He said the commission needs to continue work to build accessible housing for all income levels and break barriers to starting and growing small businesses as well as encourage more commercial development.

“I think that we’ve done a lot of good things while I’ve been on the commission,” Littlejohn said via email. “I want us to be resilient while also being flexible by continuing to work on: housing, infrastructure, and economic development.”

Paul Buskirk filed on April 16. Burskirk in 2024 ran as a Democrat to represent Kansas’ First Congressional District, which includes most of Lawrence, and lost to Rep. Tracey Mann (Republican) in the Nov. 5 general election. He is a longtime University of Kansas educator who previously worked with student-athletes and then worked as a special adviser. He is retiring from KU Friday. 

He said his priorities are to ensure fixed-income and working families are included in budget and tax discussions, develop the Lawrence-KU relationship, and improve communication between the city and county. 

“In my previous campaigns I have had the opportunity to see Lawrence from many perspectives,” Buskirk said via email. “We have a unique community with tremendous diversity and so many voices. We need to continue to work together to ensure that Lawrence is the legacy we want to leave for our children.”

Peter Victor Shenouda filed on April 29. Shenouda shared on his Facebook page that he never thought of himself as a politician but that he feels the city has declined in recent years, and he wants to make change. He pointed to rising homeowner and renter costs and city spending as major problems and said he plans to address homelessness, land development planning and other issues.

“I want to bring my experience and ideas from successfully running a business to improve our community,” Shenouda said in his post. “Thank you to all of my friends and family who have contacted me and offered their encouragement and support. I deeply care about our city and want to make a positive impact. As I begin this new journey, I ask you for your continued prayers, support and votes.”

Michael (Mike) K. Courtney filed on May 7. Courtney is a small business owner and parent who has lived in Lawrence for 15 years with his family. In a news release announcing his filing, he said as a commissioner, he would focus primarily on affordable housing and zoning, relief for municipal utility bills, and free-of-charge parks and green spaces. (The city is currently considering charging fees to use recreation centers but does not have plans to charge fees for parks.)

“In 25 years, I want to look back and say that we did everything we could so our children can live here, work here, and put down their own roots, without having to leave,” Courtney said in the release. “We are at an inflection point. We need to address the financial difficulties and affordability of our community. If we do not, then we will not only price out the current generation of young Lawrencians, but our children, as well. I will fight every day to make Lawrence more affordable for you and your family.”

His website is mikeforlawrence.com. 

Courtney Shipley, a former city commissioner, filed on May 9. Shipley was elected to a four-year term in 2019 and served as vice mayor in 2021 and mayor in 2022. Shipley came in fourth place in the 2023 general election, when there were three seats on the ballot. 

At her final commission meeting in December 2023, she warned her colleagues not to act individually to direct city staff: “Neither the mayor nor individual commissioners are empowered to instruct, direct, coerce, intimidate or bully individual employees,” she said.

Shipley could not be reached for a statement by the time of publication.

Kristine Polian filed on May 14. Polian worked as the chief financial officer for the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority through December 2024 and now works in local government consulting. In a news release announcing her filing, Polian said she believes public service is a culture, not an action. She said her extensive background in public service, finance and local government management sets her apart from other candidates.

“I’ve spent my career building strong, transparent, and responsive local government systems,” Polian said in the release. “Now, I want to bring that same commitment to accountability, service, and smart growth to the Lawrence City Commission.”

Her platform is on fiscal transparency, affordable housing, infrastructure planning and strong community services. Stay up to date on her campaign Facebook page.

ChrisTopher Niles Enneking filed on Feb. 21. Enneking attended the Lawrence Public Schools beginning in first grade and graduated high school 1995. He has prior experience coaching football and assisting students with behavioral concerns in public schools. He works for a few small cleaning companies and owns a sports technology company.

A parent of students in the district, he said he sees a lack of accountability from the current board.

“I’m running because our children and teachers no longer feel safe in our schools because of the admin’s policies of permissiveness,” Enneking said via email. “I’m running because I know the spirit of Lawrence has always been full of compassion and caring and I no longer see those values reflected in our districts decisions.”

Bob Byers filed on March 11.

Byers has served on the board since July 2023 after the board appointed him to fill a vacancy. He was previously on the board from 2009 to 2013 and then again by appointment from 2014 to 2015, and he’s a retired developer of child welfare programs for Kansas.

He could not be reached for a statement by the time of publication.

Matt Lancaster filed on March 19. On his campaign Facebook page, he wrote that he has a decade of experience in middle school, high school and higher education as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and director.

He says he’s an “educator for educators” who believes his “experience, skillset, and ability to have the tough conversations will serve our students and our schools through difficult times.” 

Molly Starr filed on May 23. She has a background in health care architecture and works part-time as an architectural consultant and document designer.

Her campaign website, mollystarrlawrence.com, has FAQs, including information such as her goal to improve communication between the school board and citizens. She wrote that she’s grateful for her family’s experience here in Lawrence, and she “would like to give back to the community in an active way by listening to and advocating for Lawrence families, teachers, and educators at the school-board level.”