31 Applicants Seek Appointment to Vacant Salina City Commission Seat

Thirty-one people are seeking appointment to the vacant Salina City Commission Seat No. 2, bringing a wide range of backgrounds in elected office, business, education, public safety, military service, local government boards and community organizations.

The appointment is for a term running from Aug. 24, 2026, through Jan. 23, 2028.

Applications submitted to the City of Salina include information about each candidate’s qualifications, professional background and reasons for seeking the position. Some applicants also submitted résumés, letters of interest or other supporting material.

Here is a rundown of the candidates based on the information they provided to the city.

Andreas Leiblein

Andreas Leiblein works for the City of Salina as a police officer and also identified himself as a business owner in Salina.

In his application, Leiblein said his career has focused on building sustainable communities and that he wants to bring his leadership experience to municipal government to help create positive, lasting local change. He reported that he is a registered Saline County voter, lives within Salina city limits and does not currently serve on a city board or commission.

April Decker

April Decker is administrative director at the Stiefel Theatre.

Decker wrote that she has worked with the public in Salina for 13 years and has lived in the city for four years. Although she has not previously held public office, she said she believes she could bring a fresh perspective to the commission.

She also pointed to division surrounding recent commission issues and said she believes she can understand both sides of those debates.

Arlander Johnson III

Arlander Johnson III is retired from the Army and submitted a résumé outlining military, business and marketing experience.

Johnson wrote that he holds degrees in business administration and marketing and founded Innovative Digital Solutions. He identified strategic planning, budgeting, marketing, economic development and organizational leadership among his areas of experience.

He said his priorities would include responsible fiscal management, attracting and retaining businesses, supporting entrepreneurs, investing in infrastructure, maintaining safe neighborhoods and improving transparency in city government.

His résumé lists service with the Kansas Army National Guard from 2008 to 2021, including work as a recruiter and staff sergeant.

Ben Windholz

Ben Windholz cited his service on the Building Advisory Board, attendance at most City Commission meetings during the past six years, taxpayer advocacy and more than 45 years as a master plumber.

Windholz said he wants to participate in what he described as common-sense spending on important issues facing the community. He reported currently serving on the Building Advisory Board.

Brian Weisel

Brian Weisel is director of the Lean Academy and quality improvement work at Salina Regional Health Center.

His application lists more than 40 years of leadership in process improvement, operations, management consulting and organizational change across several industries. Weisel is also a U.S. Air Force veteran and former combat flight instructor.

He holds graduate degrees in public administration, political science and counseling. His application also references experience with the Derby City Council, Salina Planning and Zoning Commission, Salina Airport Authority and Salina Community Economic Development Organization.

Weisel said he wants to apply his leadership and process-improvement experience to issues involving quality of life, fiscal responsibility and collaborative problem-solving.

Chad Farber

Chad Farber listed 20 years of pastoral leadership, 13 years as a Salina resident and current service on the Salina Planning Commission among his qualifications.

Farber said his reason for applying is to help city leadership through what he characterized as difficulties currently facing the community.

Dean Klenda

Dean Klenda is a business owner who cited years of filming city government and school board meetings and operating a small production company.

Klenda also previously ran for City Commission. He said he wants to be part of the solution to issues facing Salina. His application lists current service with Salina Arts and Humanities.

Diana Frobenius

Diana Frobenius is retired and described herself as a longtime Salina business owner.

She wrote that she operated a small business for 35 years and previously worked for Boeing in Wichita for 15 years. Frobenius emphasized common sense, curiosity and long-term planning and said she believes Salina needs people capable of developing a plan for the city’s future.

Gabriel Levinson

Gabriel Levinson works as a custodian for the Kansas Highway Patrol.

He cited 15 years of customer-service experience, 10 years with his current employer and his experience growing up in Salina and watching the community change.

Levinson said he wants to bring fresh ideas to city government and applied because of what he described as unsettled issues currently facing Salina.

Garry Waldren

Garry Waldren is a district administrative officer for the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Waldren cited experience in finance, accounting, management and purchasing and said he wants to help Salina grow while giving a voice to the west side of the city.

His résumé lists a Master of Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business management from Kansas Wesleyan University. His professional background includes budgeting, procurement, accounting, auditing and management work for KDOT, the Ellsworth Correctional Facility, the Kansas Department of Labor and private businesses.

Gary Norris

Gary Norris submitted an application identifying Millwood Realty as his employer and Realtor as his occupation.

His supporting materials describe a career in education administration, including service as a superintendent in multiple school districts and experience leading Salina USD 305.

Norris’ application materials also reference experience with budgeting, school construction, bond issues and community organizations. He said he wants to use his organizational and civic leadership experience to help Salina continue to grow.

Haley Helzer

Haley Helzer is a self-employed insurance agent who previously served on the Business Improvement District Design Review Board.

Helzer said she regularly follows City Commission meetings, reads agenda packets and asks questions about local government issues. She also described community involvement that includes volunteering, operating a free food pantry, coordinating food drives and helping residents with grant and insurance issues.

Helzer said one of her strengths is explaining complicated local-government topics in understandable language. She also wrote that her own experience with financial hardship gives her a perspective she believes is underrepresented on the commission.Her letter of interest places additional emphasis on restoring public trust, improving transparency and ensuring residents from all neighborhoods feel heard.

James Lewis

James Lewis lists L&S Auto Sales as his employer and described himself as a Salina native.

Lewis emphasized honesty and his personal values among his qualifications. He said he believes the city needs someone who cares about Salina and its residents and referenced the customer-service philosophy associated with his business.

Jen Moran

Jen Moran is a student success coach at Kansas Wesleyan University.

She cited experience on committees and boards, public speaking, listening, problem-solving and de-escalating emotionally charged situations. Moran said she has considered running for City Commission for approximately two years and enjoys participating in decision-making and brainstorming.

Her résumé lists degrees in psychology and English and professional experience in human services, aging services, senior living and higher education.

John Magee

John Magee is retired and said he has lived in Salina for 49 years.

Magee cited many years of management experience at Schwan’s and USD 305. He said his reason for applying is to help improve the city and its relationship with the City Commission.

John Price

John Price is a retired farmer and former Saline County commissioner.

Price listed four years on the County Commission as his primary qualification. He said he worked with city officials while serving at the county level, including on bridge-related projects, and also cited his relationship with the Salina Airport Authority.

Price said he believes his previous governmental experience qualifies him to help the city and specifically expressed support for the city’s water department and animal shelter.

Kala Tague-Hurde

Kala Tague-Hurde is retired and described herself as born and raised in Salina.

Her background includes health-care work, six years as a supervisor at Salina Grace and six years as a school bus driver.

Tague-Hurde said she is interested in city issues and believes controversial matters currently facing Salina could benefit from another perspective.

Karl Ryan

Karl Ryan is a former Salina city commissioner and former mayor.

Ryan also served six years on the Planning Commission, including twice as chairman. He said that experience gave him familiarity with city code, budgeting, meeting procedures and the city’s code of ethics.

A lifelong Salina resident, Ryan described himself as generally conservative and libertarian but said no single issue drives his interest in the appointment. He wrote that he supports continued work on services, infrastructure and efforts to make Salina attractive to workers and families while maintaining what he considers a sensible balance of taxes and fees.

Kevin Korb

Kevin Korb is an IT manager with Blue Beacon and a lifelong Salina resident.

Korb cited professional experience in leadership, budgeting, technology, project management, risk management and long-term planning. He said he helps lead an 18-person department responsible for business-critical systems and infrastructure.

Korb said he has spent considerable time studying local issues including water quality, aging infrastructure, utility financing, public contracting, economic development and government transparency.

His stated priorities include essential services, responsible financial planning, infrastructure and transparency. Korb also said he has considered running for the commission and would use the appointment period to better understand the position before deciding whether to seek a full elected term.

Kimberly Klucas

Kimberly Klucas is retired and described her background as hands-on or “blue collar.”

She cited experience in business ownership, management, office administration and budgeting. Klucas said commissioners should remain open to differing opinions, treat people respectfully and focus on finding solutions instead of assigning blame.

Her attached résumé lists experience involving office management, accounts payable and receivable, inventory control, payroll, customer service and transportation.

Mark Bandré

Mark Bandré is a recently retired higher-education administrator with three degrees, including a doctorate in educational leadership.

Bandré described more than 37 years in administrative positions at private universities, including Kansas Wesleyan University and Bethany College. He said his approach to public service centers on listening, studying data, asking questions and making informed decisions.

His civic experience includes the Salina Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, an elected term on the USD 305 Board of Education, the Salina Education Foundation and the Smoky Hill Education Service Center board.Bandré said his recent retirement gives him additional time to study issues and participate in public service.

Mark Haase

Mark Haase works as a material handler at Salina Regional Health Center.

Haase emphasized listening, critical thinking, fairness, transparency and maintaining professionalism during disagreements. He said public officials should consider perspectives from residents, businesses and city staff before making decisions.

Haase said he wants to give back to Salina and participate in decisions that strengthen the community for current and future generations.

Marty Weaver

Martin “Marty” Weaver is retired and said he has lived in Salina since 1968.

His professional background includes management in the equipment-rental industry, ownership of a light construction and remodeling business and involvement in his family’s Putt-Putt Golf Course operation.

Weaver also cited 20 years of service with The Compassionate Friends, a bereaved-parent support group, and holds a bachelor’s degree in business management.

He said retirement gives him more time to devote to his family and community and described himself as fair and impartial when making decisions.

Michel Curtiss

Michel Curtiss is a maintenance supervisor at Schwan’s and serves on the city’s BID Design Review Board.

Curtiss said his professional role involves supervising employees and coordinating equipment, contractors, projects, safety requirements, budgets and production priorities.

He also cited involvement with Russell’s Auto Restoration, car shows, charitable fundraisers and other local events.

Curtiss said he would bring a practical, working-class perspective to the commission and emphasized fiscal responsibility, transparency, respectful discussion and decisions based on facts.

His résumé lists more than 13 years of manufacturing maintenance experience, supervision of maintenance technicians and training in safety and emergency response.

Mike Robben

Mike Robben is a veteran service representative with the Kansas Office of Veterans Services.

Robben said his current work requires interpreting regulations and policies, attention to detail and communicating complicated information. He moved to Salina in 1991 after serving in Operation Desert Storm and said he has held leadership positions in three industries locally.

His résumé includes supervisory and management experience in manufacturing, automotive service, insurance and auto parts, as well as service on the Salina Area United Way board.

Robben said he is concerned about partisanship in government and wants decisions to be based on information he considers real and verifiable rather than ideology or emotion.

Randall Hardy

Randall Hardy previously served on the Salina City Commission from 2013 through 2016 and in the Kansas Senate from 2017 through 2020.

Hardy said he has lived in Salina for 46 years and has served on a number of city boards and commissions. He also noted that he finished fourth in the 2025 City Commission election.

His résumé lists a Master of Business Administration from the University of Kansas and a career in construction-related businesses. It also lists service with United Way, Salina Community Theatre, Salina Education Foundation, the Board of Zoning Appeals, Salina Housing Authority and other organizations.

Scott McCready

Scott McCready is a retired 24-year veteran of the Salina Fire Department who ended his career as a medical officer.

His responsibilities included daily operations, supervising and mentoring paramedics, EMS supply management and fire suppression. McCready also owns a home-inspection business and has served on the Animal Services Advisory Board.

He said his public-service, emergency-management and business background could help the city address challenges while encouraging collaboration, innovation and sustainable growth.

Shalonda Smith

Shalonda Smith is director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Child and Adult Care Food Program and holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Southern University in Baton Rouge.

Smith said she has led the food program for 23 years. She also listed involvement with the Salina Public Library Community Advisory Committee, Greater Salina Community Foundation grant work and Girl Scouts.

In her letter of interest, Smith emphasized financial responsibility, open communication, equitable representation and making sure every Salina neighborhood feels heard and valued.

Teresa Goering

Teresa Goering is retired and cited past work in law enforcement, with USD 305 and as an administrative assistant for McPherson Head Start.

She also referenced experience working with multiple agencies through foster and adoption programs and partnerships.

Goering said she is capable of researching questions, concerns and complaints brought before the commission and believes residents want fresh ideas and viewpoints. She said she would like to help turn negativity surrounding city issues into a more positive direction.

Terry Hill

Terry Hill is warehouse coordinator at the Salina Emergency Aid Food Bank.

Hill cited management experience, nine years as a Scoutmaster and experience working with the food bank’s board of directors. He also acknowledged that he has never held government office.

Hill said he wants to better understand how commissioners make decisions and believes having an average resident on the commission could help people feel their concerns are represented.

Toni Keller

Toni Keller is director of human resources at Bethany Village.

Keller described more than a decade of higher-level leadership experience in human resources, organizational development, compliance and operations. Her application lists experience with strategic planning, organizational change, contracts, procurement, employee relations, workforce development and emergency planning.

Her background includes service in the U.S. Air Force and work in health care, higher education and aerospace manufacturing. Keller holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration and a bachelor’s degree in human resources management.Keller said she has lived in Salina for two years and believes she could provide a fresh perspective while respecting the history and experience of longtime residents. She emphasized listening, integrity, accountability and collaborative leadership.

Applicant Pool Includes Former Officeholders and First-Time Candidates

The field includes candidates with previous elected-government experience as well as applicants who have never held public office.

Former officeholders in the group include Karl Ryan, who previously served as a Salina mayor and city commissioner; Randall Hardy, who served on the City Commission and in the Kansas Senate; John Price, a former Saline County commissioner; and Mark Bandré, a former elected USD 305 school board member.Other applicants cited experience on city advisory boards and commissions, while several emphasized management, budgeting, infrastructure, public safety, transparency, neighborhood representation or rebuilding trust in local government.

The City Commission will ultimately select the person who will fill Seat No. 2 through Jan. 23, 2028.