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Wichita Arts Council Holds Mayoral Candidate Forum

The Arts Council

    

Nine of the ten mayoral candidates for Wichita took stage at the Mary Jane Teall Theater at Century II on Thursday night to talk about their positions on the arts.

The Wichita Arts Council hosted the forum. 

With little less than three weeks until the primaries, the candidates first spoke about their own relationship with the arts. Tony Rosales, a private business owner, says he’s been involved in theatre throughout his life. He encouraged any young artist to stick with it.

“I acted all through high school and college and there’s no greater thrill than being up on stage. It’s an awesome feeling. Go for it. Do it,” Rosales said.

None of the candidates dug too deep into any plans for expanding the arts. But, current council member Levonta Williams says she’d continue to support the public institutions she’s been involved with over the years.

“The Kansas African American Museum, the Mid-America All Indian Center, Art Partners, the Arts Council, Exploration Place, the Design Council,” Lovonta said. “Those are all things that look at art and culture, and we’ve got to value and protect what we have.”

Also participating in the forum were Robert Culver, Dan Heflin, Frances Jackson, Jeff Longwell, Tracy Stewart, Sam Williams and Jennifer Winn.

Candidate Sean Hatfield did not attend the forum.

The field will be thinned to two candidates during the primary elections on March 3, and the general election will be held on April 7.