By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
Junction City businessman Todd Godfrey has filed for election to the 1st District seat on the Geary County Commission.
Godfrey has spent 31 years in Geary County, residing in both the rural areas and within Junction City limits. He has been a business owner in Junction City since 2005 and currently owns five local businesses. He is also a retired Junction City police officer, who worked for the JCPD for 17 years, and is a Veteran of the U.S. Military Police.
Godfrey said the biggest reason he decided to seek election is the burden that is put on the taxpayers in the county. "Over the years I have witnessed the small business community decline." That puts more of a tax burden on local citizens. "So I'd like to see with the cooperation of the economic development commission to work toward a common goal in this community to increase small business, which would in turn which would reduce the tax burden on our citizens, our agricultural community and see things kind of turn around and get back to the way they used to be."
Godfrey believes the process begins with communication with people. "I think there's a lot of people working on the same thing." He noted organizations such as the downtown business association and the 66441 group are all trying "to work toward a common goal to get things going in the community. I think if we all start working together and communicating with each I think it would be more effective"
Godfrey noted that there is a large population in the county wanting to see the communities in the county have more restaurant options, entertainment and activities for children. He also noted people would like once those children become adults that they would remain in the community, just like many Veterans currently do.
Godfrey will seek to fill the seat for the next two years that was formerly held by the late Commissioner R. Ben Bennett. Brad Scholz was appointed to fill the seat and has filed for election while police captain Trish Giordano has announced that she will also seek election to the commission seat.