The Aug. 4 primary election slate is set, and Johnson County voters will have choices for federal, state and county-level offices on their ballots. As the Post has done for nearly 15 years, they’ll be asking candidates about the issues voters want to hear them discuss as they compete for votes.

Local Angle

From Congress to the county commission, these candidates are seeking positions where they will be making decisions about how tax dollars are used, what powers governments can exercise and where the Johnson County community heads in the coming years.

With one exception — a three-person contest for county chair — these primary races are partisan, meaning voters will have to be registered as either a Democrat or a Republican in order to vote on these races.

The Post plans to publish a scannable list of the questions or input they get from readers before candidates’ answers are published so anyone can see what is truly on readers’ minds.

Citizens Agenda

This “Citizens Agenda” philosophy, used by other local newsrooms across the U.S., seeks to center the interests of everyday voters — not political parties, power brokers or journalists.

“When we ask people about what they want to hear candidates talking about, we find it’s almost never the kinds of things that dominate discussion on cable news or talk radio,” said Post Publisher Jay Senter.

“These candidates want the job of representing voters, of being their voice in the rooms where big decisions get made about where the state and county are heading. We think it’s our job to get the candidates talking about the things people say matter most to them,” Senter said.

Voters can email their questions and concerns to the Post at [email protected] or send a message on Facebook or Instagram.

Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.