Dear Editor,
Although I don’t reside in Barton County, my late mother was born there and many of her cousins still live there. I am thankful to the League of Women Voters in producing a survey which was directed to candidates running for Barton County Commission and the Kansas State Board of Education’s District Seat. And, I am quite pleased the responses were printed in the Great Bend Tribune for scrutiny.
The survey is probably the best way (and perhaps the only way) that voters can have an unfettered view and unvarnished view of where a candidate stands on each individual issue at stake. Naturally, each candidate wants to come across “putting their best foot forward”.  Yet, the survey is answered by the candidate and not filtered by a political crony or mouth-piece. That’s what I like, direct accountability by a candidate justifying the logic of their platform.
James A Marples,
Esbon