Candidates for Great Bend Mayor, Great Bend City Council, and USD 428 were invited to participate in a candidates forum Tuesday, Oct. 17, at the Crest Theater in Great Bend. The forum was sponsored by The Great Bend Tribune and the Great Bend chapter of the League of Women Voters. Today, the Tribune reports on the portion of the event that focused on Great Bend City Council candidates. Here, the biographies provided by Rachel Mawhirter, Dan Heath, Stacy Dougherty, Cory Urban, Mike Boys, Matt Suchy, Andrew Erb and Jolene Biggs.
Rachel Mawhirter
Rachel Mawhirter is a lifelong resident of Great Bend. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational
Leadership from FHSU, along with other certificates in Leadership and Human Resource Management. She is an active volunteer with Barton County Young Professionals, 100 People Who Care, The Prairie Godmother Funds, Elder Care, First Assembly and more. She and her husband Justin are both entrepreneurs and have two sons, Jace, age 6, and Emmett, 3. Learn
more: https://goo.gl/d9N9Rd
Dan Heath
Dan Heath, his wife Kim and their four children have made Great Bend their home for more than 15 years. Dan and Kim teach at GBHS. In 2011 Dan and Sheriff Brian Bellendir opened A440 Musical Instruments. Dan is also a professional magician and enjoys touring libraries throughout Kansas each summer sharing his love of reading. Dan serves on the Crest Theater Board and is a member of the Prince of Peace Parish liturgical council.
Stacy Dougherty
Stacy is a Great Bend business owner and entrepreneur. He has worked and supported local businesses in Great Bend all his life. He graduated from Great Bend High School in 1999. Stacy is a Master Mason and a member of the Great Bend Masonic Lodge. He resides in Great Bend with his wife Taree and daughter Harley. Stacy and his family have been dedicated to the prosperity of the Great Bend community, demonstrating the devotion and dependability that Great Bend community, demonstrating the devotion and dependability that Great Bend needs and deserves.
Cory Urban
I was born and raised in Great Bend, graduating GBHS in the class of 2001. I attended the University of Kansas and JCCC in Overland Park studying history and electronics. I am employed in the local oil industry. My wife Alison works for American State Bank. My sons Cade and Reid attend Holy Family School. I enjoy volunteer coaching for GBRC. A registered Republican, I have always taken an active interest in local politics.
Mike Boys
In February 2017 I was appointed by the city council to replace Ward 1 Councilman Mike Zinn, who moved to Manhattan. I also served from 1993-1999 (during the Seaboard Farms issue). I have no axes to grind or special interest. The council’s goal is working for the betterment of the city with an open mind. We should listen to all sides of any subject and be willing to do what is best for the city. Council members serve those in their respective wards, but should be willing to listen to every person’s view on each subject, regardless of where they reside.
Matt Suchy
Matt Suchy is a lifetime resident of Great Bend. Matt has more than a decade of experience in construction. He started at a young age working alongside family that taught him the value of hard work. Matt now works in the oil and gas industry and has advanced his professional management skills of small and large businesses there. He looks forward to serving his community and in ways that will benefit Great Bend.
Andrew Erb
Hello, I’m Andrew Erb and I am running for the Ward 4 city council position. I am a lifelong Great Bend resident that graduated from GBHS, and am attending Barton Community College. Great Bend is the community I care deeply about and I would like to see it prosper and grow. I see this office as a way to help it do so.
Jolene Biggs
As a lifelong resident, professional and community volunteer, I am running for the Ward 2 councilperson position. I earned an AD from BCC and a bachelor’s degree in organizational management and leadership from Friends University. I have been an account executive with Insurance Planning Inc. the past 24 years. I take seriously my responsibility to give back to a community I am proud to call home and would serve the city council with this same commitment.
Thomas Boor
I was born and raised in Great Bend. I am a 1983 GBHS graduate as well as a graduate from the Devry Kansas City Electronics Technician program. I served in the Navy from 1984 to 1986. I’ve been employed for the past 19 years in the health care field with Steris Corporation. I volunteer with Racers for Christ International Motorsports Ministry. My wife Linda and I have five children and six grandchildren. My goal is to promote community involvement with local government and set Great Bend on path for growth.
This story was updated on Oct. 21, 2017, to include Boor's bio.
