News
Latest updates from the campaign:
MAYORAL INITIATIVE: COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH
Spencer Duncan, candidate for Mayor, has announced initiatives he will pursue as Mayor to address Topeka’s Mental Health Care & Substance Abuse Treatment.
“We have a responsibility to take care of those who struggle in ways that cannot be solved without access to specialized health care services,” Duncan says. “Doing so is not only the right thing to do, but also keeps all citizens safer and reduces overall health care costs.”
The Initiatives include:
· Advocating for KanCare Expansion
· Developing incentives for mental health professionals
· More crisis-stabilization services
· Enhanced public safety training
· Strong pre-arrest and post-arrest diversion programs
· Working with schools to broaden school mental health services
· Engaging state and local officials to stabilize Medicaid billing
· Lobby for the restoration of state grants
· Reducing administrative and regulatory oversight
· Stop the taking of assets
“This issue is one that has come up in several recent studies by outside groups examining our City. Topekans support taking care of citizens and I am a strong proponent of making sure our City is a beacon of hope and support for all Kansans,” Duncan says.
Tuesday, July 25, 2017 1:32 PM
Mayoral Initiative: Public Safety
Spencer Duncan, candidate for Mayor, has announced initiatives he will pursue as Mayor to address Topeka’s Public Safety.
“There is nothing more important than keeping people safe. It must be the top priority of city government, and every decision we make should be viewed through how it helps our citizens and allows them live safe and healthy lives,” Duncan says.
The Initiatives include:
· Creating a Mayors Community Engagement Team
· Spending more time in our communities
· Improving Domestic Violence Victim Housing
· Developing a Firefighter Leadership Program and examining Firefighter Ambulance Services
· Anti-Bullying Programs
· Truancy Reduction Partnerships
· Solving the App Programs Problem for Police Officers
· Adequately Staffing our Police Department
· Strengthening Mental Health Programs
· Cracking down on Abandoned Properties
· Reducing Recidivism
· Better managing diversions and probations
· Community Patrol Stations
· Decriminalization
“We have to be aggressive about our crime issues and talk about our problems publicly. Elected officials need to be a strong voice in fighting criminals, supporting public safety officers and being receptive to citizens when they have concerns about our programs,” Duncan says.
Wednesday, July 19, 2017 2:58 PM
Mayoral Initiative: Affordable Housing
Spencer Duncan, candidate for Mayor, has announced initiatives that he will pursue as Mayor to help address Topeka’s Affordable Housing needs.
“Taking care of people should be City Government’s number one priority,” Duncan says. “We must make sure that every Topekan has a safe and healthy place to live.”
The Initiatives include:
· Housing Trust Fund
· Community Land Trusts
· Increased support of Non-Profits
· Curb Property Tax Inflation
· Think Small!
· Tiered Code Enforcement
· Advocate for Federal Policy Changes
· Developer Incentives
· Mandatory Impact Statements for Developments
· Public Transportation Incentives for Developers/Owners
“A lack of affordable housing in our City is reaching crisis levels.” Duncan said. “Addressing the problem aggressively is best for the lives of our citizens. Working on this issue benefits us on many levels, from giving people safe places to live, to growing our workforce, to creating safer neighborhoods, to helping us educate children more effectively. This must be a top priority for our next Mayor.”
The document “Mayoral Initiative: Affordable Housing” is attached. You can also view it online at http://duncanfortopeka.com/issues
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Sunday, July 16, 2017 2:52 PM
Mayoral Initiative: #goBIGtopeka
Spencer Duncan, candidate for Mayor, has announced a campaign that reminds elected officials to put forth initiatives that Go Big and continue to untap Topeka’s unlimited potential.
“Topeka is not a second class city and we cannot allow anyone to ever suggest otherwise,” Duncan says. “We have wonderful people doing tremendous things. City government needs to better support the efforts of its citizens while putting forth Big initiatives to address our needs.”
The campaign is a way to remind other elected officials that Topeka can accomplish great things. We must #goBIGtopeka as we:
# Take care of all Citizens
# Improve roads and infrastructure
# Retain & Create Jobs
# Provide safe, healthy housing
# Protect the rights of All citizens
# Strengthen Public Safety
# Remove blight & abandoned properties
# Fight criminal activity
# Support schools and educators
# Help citizens access heath care
# Better wages
# Create new Quality of Life opportunities
“No matter how small the endeavor, we must Go Big!” Duncan says. “In everything we do, we must #goBIGtopeka with the knowledge that the only limits we have in our city are those what we place upon ourselves. City officials should not always take the easiest path and must always work toward bold solutions.”
The document “Mayoral Initiative: #goBIGtopeka” is attached. You can also view it online at http://duncanfortopeka.com/issues
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Monday, July 10, 2017 5:07 PM
STATEMENT ON WESTAR & GREAT PLAINS MERGER
Official Statement from Spencer Duncan on Westar Energy & Great Plains Energy Merger Announcement.
Monday, July 10, 2017 5:03 PM
Mayoral Initiative: Retaining Young Professionals
Spencer Duncan, candidate for Mayor, has announced initiatives hat provide insight into how the City can retain and recruit young professionals to Topeka.
“We have to focus on and take care of all our different populations. However, a key to job growth and expanding our tax base is having a city that young professionals want to call home,” Duncan says.
Among the initiatives:
· Young Professionals Advisory Board
· Foster Innovation and Develop Incubators
· Increased Capital Investment and Loan Programs
· Improved Childcare
· Creation of an Entertainment District
· Inclusionary Policies
· Stronger Advocacy on Behalf of Citizens
· Business Training Programs
· Better Living Initiatives
“We cannot false market to young professionals, we have to actually put in place the things that they are looking for in a community,” Duncan says. “The best way to do that is not to tell them what they want, but to engage them in the development and creation of projects that matter most to them.”
Thursday, July 6, 2017 3:12 PM
Mayoral Initiative: Improving Roads
Improving our roads must go beyond taxing citizens higher. We have to look at other alternatives to improve our efforts.
Tuesday, June 27, 2017 3:56 PM
Mayoral Initiative: Transparency
Spencer Duncan, candidate for Mayor, has announced various initiatives to ensure that the City of Topeka government is open and transparent. These initiatives are one of many Duncan is releasing between now and the August 1 primary.
“There is not a more important principle in government than being open and transparent,” Duncan says. “Engaging citizens, being honest, providing easy access to information and making decisions in public must happen. The Mayor must lead the charge to keep City Hall open and transparent.”
Among the initiatives:
· More communication between citizens and city agencies
· Information sessions on economic development and the budget
· Transparency Training for city employees and elected officials
· Improved and less costly electronic disclosure
· An Open Door Policy
· Monthly Mayoral Forums
· Regular Press Conferences
· Engaging student journalists
· Streaming Advisory Board meetings
· A 2-week Moratorium on voting on City ordinances
· Social Media engagement
· Regular meetings with media outlets to review government transparency
“An elected official cannot earn the trust of citizens if that official refuses to be open and grant access to those citizens,” Duncan says. “The public has a right to know how and why decisions are being made and a have role in those decisions.”
Monday, June 26, 2017 2:51 PM
STATEMENT ON TOPEKA CRIME
Read Spencer's Statement on Recent Homicides and Crime in Topeka.
Monday, June 12, 2017 10:23 AM
Meet Spencer
Spencer announces multiple opportunities to meet with him, ask questions, find out how he will get things done and tell him the issue important to you. This includes in-person and online. More than a dozen opportunities!
Tuesday, May 16, 2017 3:09 PM
Full Text of Announcement
Spencer announced that he has filed to represent the people of Topeka as Mayor. Click below to read the full text of his announcement.
Tuesday, May 16, 2017 8:36 AM
Watch Spencer's Announcement Live
Spencer will make his official announcement that he is running for Mayor at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday May 16 in front of City Hall.
He will stream the announcement on Facebook Live at www.Facebook.com/duncanfortopeka
Can't make it in person, just log on and watch.
Monday, May 15, 2017 6:00 PM
Duncan To Make Election Announcement
TOPEKAN SPENCER DUNCAN TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT ELECTION ANNOUNCEMENT
