By Laura Ziegler
Kansas City – The race for Johnson County Commission chair is more contentious than ususal with the major fights centering around budget issues. Ohara says Surbaugh has let the county's 750 million dollar budget, especially it's reserves, or rainy-day fund, grow too large. Surbaugh says the funds are necessary to protect against a future economic downturn and to help absorb the costs of an expansion to the Johnson County Jail. The expansion is slated to begin in a year. Surbaugh says public safety accounts for by far the most of the new cost to the county. Ohara, an activist in the Republican Party, says her long -time experience as a general contractor and commercial real estate broker would enable her to bring fresh ideas to county governement, and help her better manage the budget.
Both candidates are luke warm on the ballot initiative for new soccer fields in Johnson County.