Lawrence Journal-World 03-17-13

BIRTHDAY CAT

STRONG BUILD

Nursing home celebrates feline friend Lawrence & State 3A

Exhibit celebrates America’s workers Arts & Entertainment 1C

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CITY COMMISSION ELECTION

Candidates share their views on eco-devo issues By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com

Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo

KANSAS GUARD BEN MCLEMORE DANCES ON STAGE in front of Jayhawk fans in the stands following the Jayhawks’ 70-54 win over Kansas State in the Big 12 tournament championship game Saturday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. See a complete wrap-up of the game in Sports, page 1B, and check out a photo gallery at KUSports.com.

The road to growth in Lawrence, more often than not, runs through City Hall. Whether it’s an industrial project to add more jobs or a multistory building to add more residents to downtown or something in between, Lawrence city commissioners usually get a chance to weigh in on it at some point. In the first of a series of stories about issues in the 2013 Lawrence City Commission race, we ask the six candidates for their views on economic development and growthrelated issues. The list of possible questions with that subject is long. Here are the issues we focused on with candidates: Please see GROWTH, page 8A

Former GOP senator talks about conversion to Dems Schodorf: Conservative Republicans have become ‘party of suppression’ Douglas County Democrats on Saturday that the way to get moderate Republicans As a recent convert to the to switch parties is to talk Democratic Party, former about public school educastate Sen. Jean Schodorf told tion in the state of Kansas. By Scott Rothschild

srothschild@ljworld.com

“Moderates are very aware of that,” said Schodorf who served in the Senate for 12 years before being defeated in the Republican Party primary last August by

a candidate who was backed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and benefited from advertising by Americans for Prosperity. Schodorf, of Wichita, said

public schools have been hammered in the current legislative session with bills creating mandates without providing funding, and meaPlease see SCHODORF, page 2A Schodorf

30 years of defending, judging in Lawrence’s justice system Lawhorn’s Lawrence

Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com

A.M. rain

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here was a time when Randy McGrath could tell you to tuck in your shirt, and you had darn well better do it. Those were the days when McGrath had the best seat in the house at 1006 New Hampshire St., the city’s Municipal Court. “If you are going to be in court, the best place to be is on the bench,” McGrath said. For nearly 13 years, McGrath served as the city’s lone Municipal Court judge. From that seat at the bench, McGrath

could control the dress code for the courtroom. With a strike of a gavel he could stop a man’s speech in mid-sentence. With another strike he could tell him his fate. “You do have that element of control that you can’t really find anywhere else,” McGrath said. McGrath retired from the bench in 2011, and he’s not embarrassed to admit that he missed the loss of having complete control.

Low: 32

Today’s forecast, page 12B

Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo

Please see MCGRATH, page 8A

INSIDE Arts&Entertainment 1C-8C Events listings Books 6C Horoscope Classified 1D-8D Movies Deaths 2A Opinion

High: 43

RETIRED MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE RANDY MCGRATH has recently written a book, “Lessons Learned,” in which he recounts his days as a criminal defense attorney in Lawrence.

2B, 8C Puzzles 7D Sports 2C Television 11A

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7C, 7D 1C-11B 2B, 8C, 7D

Bargaining issue creates rift

Two pieces of legislation are being viewed by teachers as a direct assault on collective bargaining rights. Page 3A

Vol.155/No.76 40 pages