2025 Candidate Survey

This year, Say YES Shawnee conducted our first candidate survey. We prepared three questions centered around our values and offered each city council candidate in Shawnee the opportunity to answer these questions for publication on our website and Facebook page. We emailed the survey to candidates' official campaign email addresses as listed on the county elections site and received two responses. The responses are included below, unedited and in their entirety.

Eric Persson - Ward 2

What steps should the city take, if any, to increase the supply of housing in Shawnee and ensure that residents of all income levels are able to find a home here? What changes, if any, should the city make to the application or review process for housing developments?

Persson: The City should expand zoning for diverse housing types—like duplexes, townhomes, and senior living—and offer incentives for attainable housing near transit and jobs. Partnering with developers and nonprofits can help ensure families, seniors, and first-time buyers all have a place in Shawnee.

 Where should the city look to expand multi-use paths and other facilities for walking and biking throughout Shawnee?

Person: Shawnee should prioritize expanding multi-use paths that connect neighborhoods to parks, schools, and commercial hubs—especially along Nieman, Johnson Drive, and the Clear Creek and Mill Creek corridors. As a resident near Pflumm and Johnson Drive, I’ve experienced firsthand how unsafe and uncomfortable it can be to walk or bike to Downtown. Sidewalks often sit directly against traffic with no buffer, posing real risks—especially for kids heading to Ray Marsh or St. Joseph. I’ve raised this concern with our Public Works Director because walkability near downtown shouldn’t be a hazard—it should be a highlight. Let’s invest in safe, connected infrastructure that makes active transportation a real option for all residents.

What steps would you like to see the city of Shawnee take to promote environmental sustainability and prepare for extreme weather events?

I’d support green infrastructure, tree canopy expansion, and energy-efficient building incentives. We also need to strengthen stormwater systems and emergency preparedness to protect residents from flooding and extreme heat. We saw a lot of costly damage from intense storms this past July, and we need to be more prepared for these types of weather events as they become more frequent.  Sustainability is smart planning.

Erin Aldridge - Ward 4

What steps should the city take, if any, to increase the supply of housing in Shawnee and ensure that residents of all income levels are able to find a home here? What changes, if any, should the city make to the application or review process for housing developments?

Aldridge: Shawnee should take proactive steps to diversify its housing options while maintaining the character of our neighborhoods. That means encouraging a mix of attainable and market-rate housing, from townhomes and small single-family lots to senior-friendly and accessible units, so residents at all life stages and income levels can call Shawnee home. To help make that possible, the city can continue refining its development review process to ensure it is transparent, predictable, and efficient. Streamlining approvals for projects that align with community goals like affordability, walkability, and sustainability will help bring quality housing to market more quickly. At the same time, we should strengthen early community engagement and provide better online tools for tracking applications to increase trust and understanding among residents, developers, and staff. With a clear process and shared goals, we can ensure new housing supports Shawnee’s long-term vision and values.

Where should the city look to expand multi-use paths and other facilities for walking and biking throughout Shawnee?

Aldridge: Expanding Shawnee’s network of multi-use paths and trails offers benefits well beyond recreation, it connects neighborhoods, supports local businesses, and provides safe, sustainable mobility. We should prioritize completing east-west connections to bridge our community and ensure every resident has safe, convenient access to schools, parks, and commercial areas. Partnering with the county and neighboring cities can also help fill regional trail gaps. Investments in bike and pedestrian infrastructure make Shawnee healthier, safer, and more unified.

What steps would you like to see the city of Shawnee take to promote environmental sustainability and prepare for extreme weather events?

Aldridge: Sustainability and resilience go hand in hand. Shawnee can take practical, forward-thinking steps like expanding green infrastructure, such as rain gardens, tree canopy, and permeable pavement, encouraging energy-efficient building practices, and strengthening our stormwater systems to handle more frequent extreme weather events. Promoting native landscaping and expanding shade and green space also improves livability and long-term environmental health. As a city, we have a responsibility to plan for the future by protecting both residents and resources through thoughtful action.