Poll: Overland Park is heading in the right direction. DC-style brawls would spoil it
On Tuesday, Overland Park will elect a new mayor for the first time in 16 years. Voters will choose at least two new City Council members, and new members for school boards, the Johnson County Community College Board of Trustees and Water One’s board. These bodies make decisions that impact us daily, so they shouldn’t be selected by a small minority of people. Just under 14% of registered voters turned out in the August primary. That’s more than voted in 2019, but we can do so much better.
This election is a critical juncture for Overland Park. The national political divides are manifesting locally in our nonpartisan elections. The divisive style that paralyzes progress in Washington, D.C., will similarly be unsuccessful here. Mischaracterizations about issues proliferate in elections. It’s easy to fall prey to what “everyone” says (or posts in social media), so do your homework.
Recently, the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City released results of a community poll indicating community priorities are largely consistent with those of the last poll conducted in 2012. The motivation for this poll was to determine if the growth in Overland Park, combined with changing demographics and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, had altered opinions about quality of life and taxation issues. Largely, the answer was no.
Pollster Neil Newhouse of Alexandria, Virginia-based Public Opinion Strategies said one of the poll’s key messages is, “Don’t screw it up.” In a time when approval ratings are hard to come by across the country, retiring Mayor Carl Gerlach earned a 6-to-1 approval margin, with 75% of respondents saying the city is heading in the right direction. While acknowledging growth is an issue, 74% judged Overland Park to be growing at the right speed.
Not surprisingly, pre-K to 12th grade education and public safety topped the list of quality of life priorities voters rate as critical to Overland Park’s success (as they did in 2012), followed by access to mental health care, economic development and job growth, and access to quality health care. Providing mental health education and services topped the list of priorities for which voters would pay higher taxes, along with pre-K through 12th grade schools, higher education and infrastructure, to name a few.
Seventy-two percent of voters agreed that for the services received, the level of city taxes paid are “about right.” Voters nixed paying higher taxes to replace the much-discussed chip-seal method of resurfacing streets, as well as paying more for a new City Hall. They also favored — by 64% — policies to ensure smaller, lower-cost homes such as duplexes, townhouses and garden apartments can be built throughout the city.
What do these results mean? The results highlight the statistically valid opinions of real voters who say they like their community, believe it’s governed well and are even willing to pay more for certain quality-of-life amenities to make it better. Some new priority issues including mental health and housing variety were also identified. Oh, and they love JCCC, which earned a 94% favorable image.
The Overland Park Chamber Foundation and Home Builders Association sponsored this poll because where you work and live matter. View results at opchamber.org. Haven’t voted yet? Match your issues with candidates who will prioritize your issues, your quality of life and a climate that creates jobs. Check out candidates at votejoco.com, a nonpartisan partnership of the Johnson County chambers of commerce.
This poll indicates voters are happy — content with their quality of life, the taxes they pay and the direction of their city. Taking it for granted could change that positive trajectory. Opinion polls are just that, opinions. The true measure of a community comes at the ballot box. Please vote.