Mrs Trout,

You seem to be another candidate that people don't know much about. It is my understanding that you have never held an office before or even served on any committees. I'm curious as to whether you think it might be over reaching to go for the position of Mayor without having any experience in city government. Please understand I'm not saying it is a definite negative but that we would like your views as to whether you think there may be challenges that you are not ready to meet or that experience is over rated and doesn't always assure a good leader.

I can't really speak for Mrs. Trout, other than say I know she did serve on the Edwardsville Cemetery Board.

Councilman Danner

Thank you Councilman. I really wish Mrs Trout would come on and tell us her views of the city and what it needs.

i read the Chieftain today
http://www.bonnersprings.com/news/2009/mar/12/tour-new-library-spurs-excitement/ i look forward to seeing this! tks

"Kansas Room, which will be a highlight of the library. She said this room would contain the Kansas collection as well as resources related to genealogy and local history. Additionally, the room will feature a stained glass window with a Kansas theme donated by Friends of the Bonner Springs Library and designed by local artist and Edwardsville resident Lesli Trout."

That's cool. So we know that she served on the cemetery board and that she is an artist. Both worthy but not necessarily qualifications to be mayor.

My name, well, you already know my name, I see. I have lived in Bonner Springs and Edwardsville for most of my 43 years. I have 6 children, 5 physically(all natural), one gained by marriage. My grandparents, now deceased, and my mom lived in Edwardsville, you may have known them; Bill and Florence Richardson, and MaryAnn Bates, my father, Ronald Shultz. As a child, I participated in the local sports programs.
In high school I was co-captain of the tennis team and Photo Editor of the Totem Pole. I graduated from Bonner Springs High School. From there, I went on to Pittsburg State University and obtained an Associates Degree in Applied Science/Commercial Art with a minor in Printing. I was selected to the Epsilon Pi Tau honor Fraternity. I was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon Order of Diana, and was selected as their homecoming queen candidate. I contributed as a Photographer for the yearbook there.
I have several art awards under my belt. I was a member of the Bonner Springs Ambulance. I taught Art at Sacred Heart School in Bonner Springs for more than five years(volunteer). I coached, while none of my children were old enough for these sports, for five years also, girls basketball, girls volleyball, and the boys and girls track teams. I attended several hours, over several weekends, of coaching classes to do this. I kept the grounds for the church, rectory, and school for two years.
I organized the Bill and Florence Richardson Annual Fishing Derby for charity, which included soliciting prizes for the participants, running the entire event, designing t-shirts, and making the trophies. I organized the Costume Share at Edwardsville Elementary School(two years), to supply Halloween costumes to children without them, at no cost. I am a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. I am a member of Tri-County Rod and Gun Club. I score and record shooting tournaments at Mill Creek Gun Club during the summer. I Obtained a contract through The Kansas Department of Transportation to clean the K-32 corridor with my equipment, fuel, and volunteer time, expanding from 94th street to Edwardsville Drive. Cleaned up the Kouns home belonging to the Christian Church. Working with the Church community to get this building transformed into a museum. Was instrumental in the beginning clean-up of the African American Cemetery. Served on the Edwardsville Cemetery Board briefly. Currently working to save and preserve several historic sites in Edwardsville. Cleaned and mowed the "Indian Encampment" owned by the Methodist Church throughout the 2008 mowing season.
Wrote Legislation to Congress for the Proclamation of a nationally recognized Native American Holiday, "ALL TRIBES DAY" 2008, including continued contact with Congressional Leaders to get a Native American Holiday passed(they passed one on Feb. 10th of this year). I'm currently working to rewrite the known history of Edwardsville. I have been working to clean the area creeks, streams, and river since 2006 to present. I contributed to the National 9-11 monument. I keep the books for our family business, 7J's Mobile Repair Service. I have a not-for-profit business, Project Samaritan, Inc., that recently hosted a garage sale to help suppliment the art, music, and p.e. classes at the district 204 elementary schools, where the government has cut their funding.
I am an inventor. I write childrens books, photographer, and gardener, among several other interests.
I have worked in every aspect of home construction from roofing, concrete, painting, wallpaper, drywall, decks, landscaping, to demo...and more. I have worked in asphalt construction(I know what you're thinking, no, I raked and shoveled, and I guarantee I can work nearly anyone under the table), run heavy equipment, dirt construction, office and concrete construction. I currently work in inventory control at Fastenal in Edwardsville. I have worked as a waitress, in screen printing, prepress artist, and a mother with all the mommie duties therein. I have a son with Chronic Lung Disease since birth and have trained for care in that, having delt with hospitals and illness his nineteen years of life. I am the roomparent for Miss Folks first grade class this year. I volunteer for many events, and have for the past fifteen years, for my childrens school events, and sports events.
I'm commited to making life better, cleaner and safer for my children and future grandchildren. I am also commited to preserving the historic Edwardsville that few people know about. Whether in office or out, I will continue my commitment to service with guaranteed honesty, all backed up with a friendly smile.
I

Mrs. Trout, thank you very much. It sounds very much like you are the type of person that this world needs more of. I deeply appreciate your commitment to your community and to those around you. Please believe that I mean no disrespect at all by this but I'm still not seeing what it is in your extensive background that would lead one to believe that you are prepared to be mayor. And, trust me, I don't completely believe that a lot of experience in politics is necessarily a positive. Could you please tell us some of the things that you would focus on should you be elected. What might your five main agendas include ?

Thank you very much for participating on our forum.

An answer to a prior question concerning consolidation...not just no, but (pardon the language) Hell no! Currently, with our police performance at a staff of 15, and our fire department at 18, we are doing an outstanding job. I particularly appreciate Chief Mathies(police for those who don't know), not only for the mess he walked into and cleaned up, but for a comment he made at a City Council meeting I attended. Someone asked him a question and he didn't know the answer, he admitted it, which doesn't happen very often at those meetings...not only did he tell the person asking the question that he would look into finding an answer, he told them when he would have it...he gave himself a deadline...I respect him for that. As for the fire department, I hold the highest respect for them in their dedication to the elementary students of Edwardsville....reading to them once a week! I would like to see our fire department also become our ambulance service...fire/ems/water rescue. I have requested a wish list from Chief Lane for supplies, etc. I have also been looking into water rescue equipment and training through my not-for-profit. I spend many days on the river with my children, and many people fish the I-435 bridge area and the boat ramp area as well, I feel it is a resource we could benefit from......more.....

....what has prepared me?....I have been attending the City Council Meetings for the past four to five months...I missed one....I left one early due to a case of pneumonia....I just couldn't stop coughing. I couldn't tell you how many hours of on-line council meetings I have viewed via-internet from all over the country. I've read Robert's Rules of Order front to back. I keep in touch with all the local news and politics through television, newspapers, radio, and internet, as well as talking with the public. Granted, these don't give me actual experience, but experience can't be had without getting in there. I'm not one to sit back and watch things happen...I can sit at home and claim woe is me, and complain, or I can get out there and do something about it. I feel I have a good relationship with all the council members, the city staff, and I respect all that they do.(Some go way over and above in service...Phylis Freeman). I understand that the role of Mayor with the Council is to mediate their thoughts and ideas, that they are the ones ultimately making the vote, but know, that I usually have a stance and idea about most subjects, and I'm not afraid to stand up and share my concerns. Most of my concerns are shared with the citizens I have visited with. I understand there are negotiations, give and take, litigation, law, balance...all aspects of goverment to deal with...one thing I vow is a transparent city goverment...I really don't like that word...transparent...I guess you could say in regards to truth and openness, my favorite color is clear.

1. To save our historic sites in Edwardsville--The Great Edwardsville Mounds, Native American Indian burial mounds that were used for some two thousand years--after negotiations with the Christian church, have them registered at the state level, possibly nationally.--The Kouns House--the house built by the founder, the man who platted Edwardsville--the house was built, beginning in 1873 and finished in 1875...built from the clay out of the adjoining creekbed and kilned on site...Ora K. Williamson once lived in the house, the first captain of the first KU football team...Charles Goslin, former owner, Artist and Historian--I'd like to see this become an historic site and a museum.--Groves Center--Revitalize the homes in this area, first on the exterior, the yards, and have the area marked historically...this was the area used by Junius Groves, "The Potato King of the World", an Exoduster who was named that by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Possibly a statue in that area commemorating him--The Oldest Standing Building in the State of Kansas(no longer standing)--A Delaware Indian log cabin that once stood at K-32 and Steele Road...to have it restored either in it's original spot or at the Kouns house.--The Old Council Elm--This was a tree that burnt in 1921, but the spot remains and possibly a decendent tree--this was where all the Native American Chiefs met to discuss treaties, meetings of importance led by the area Chiefs at the time, including Chief William Anderson.--The gravesite of the Great Delaware Chief William Anderson--a monument worthy of this ruling chief.--The Williamson House--already on the Kansas Historical Registry of Historic Places--make a sign marking this site.--The Indian Encampment and Spring--finish the clean-up on these and mark with historic signs..granted permission is obtained through the Methodist Church.--The Delaware Indian Trails--preserve these trails along the creeks that run throughout the city, and mark accordingly.

2. To Clean up the city visually. When industry, home buyers, and businesses shop around, we have the location hands down, but visually...we have trash, unmowed yards, weeds, and basic filth...we kept our Welcome to Edwardsville signs unmowed, and it is an embarrassment. I've had several citizens offer help to take a Saturday to start on one yard, street, neighborhood at a time to clean this place up...I have an extension with K.D.O.T. to finish the K-32 north side, with plans to jump over to the south side afterward along Betts Creek. Once this place is spic and span, the appeal will jump ten-fold--a chain reaction would produce home buyers, and enhance the retail market, more home buyers, growth, the rooftops that are needed for a grocery store. I agree with continued support of The Wyandotte Economic Development Council, Brent Miles, to help shop for growth.
3. Growth of Parks and Trails for the kids. This town has one park...all the other small parks are private. The older kids go to "the 105", the Kouns house, and vandalize it. I've heard that a bunch of 10 year old girls spent the night in the house during the summer(where were these parents?). Many of the kids go under the train bridge to the west of the trailer park homes...a not-so-safe trek, I'm telling you, where they sit and paint graffiti, and who knows what else. We have to give our youth more options...the adage holds true...idle hands....for their well being, self esteem....they have been forgotten for too long. I like the idea of changing the existing ball field near the fire station into much more.
4. A Community Resource Program. There are several folks out there without vehicles. I gave an elderly man a ride from my property at Kaw Drive, where he had walked to from the far north end of 94th street. He had to be in his late 70's or older. He was going all the way to the bank. His car was broke down. I talked with a lady who had lost her husband and her daughter recently, all she wants is for some company...we talked for over an hour. She is interested in the Bible, I just happened to talk to a woman across town that gives free Bible study.....well, it's a match....I know I would be willing to take people to the store, and I'm not the only one. We can hook these people up with volunteers, babysitters....this community can bond together to help it's own, they just need a program to get it all together.

5. Turn our Community Center into a COMMUNITY Center. This building is a rental hall. The Community has requested to use it and been turned away, "unless they want to pay the $250 rental fee". If the building is opened up to say, Bingo, art classes, after school programs, community bonding could take place...give something to the tax payers, we should let this building be a resource to knowledge, health and community....Ok, that was part A....I have to squeeze this in....part B...There has been talk about a passenger railroad coming through from Texas to Kansas City....it should be explored if this track will be the one used, and if so, a whole new avenue could open if Edwardsville was made a stopping point. The first house at the crossing of the railroad on the southeast side of the road, a former boarding house for the railroad would make a fine bed and breakfast or restaurant, or gift shop.....all the historic sites listed in 1. are near this spot also....the small wooden bridge off K-32 could be turned into a nice wooden covered bridge...a point of interest...the large concrete wall at K-32 and 102nd Street can be repaired and a fine art mural painted there....We are a straight shot through to the Legends....we could reap the benefits of commuters passing through......doggoneit....part C...a big giant push for our sewer system...we have to work on our structure to draw good development with a purpose...form follows function, and we have neglected that..we must include sidewalks in any new development for the safety of our kids (and those who exercise)...we need to consider lighting for our streets for safety...(stepping down from my soapbox)...P.S. I like the idea of a Taco Bell near the I-435 and Woodend exit, or McDonalds perhaps.zzzzz....

Now that's what I'm talking about. I feel like I know you much better. Thank you so much for your contribution.