Making Lenexa’s future a little brighter is the top priority for all three candidates running to represent Ward 3 on the City Council.

Incumbent Lou Serrone is facing Jennifer Lindsey and Joshua Johnston in Tuesday’s primary election. The top two finishers will compete in the April 2 general election.

Serrone, who has 12 years of City Council experience, hopes to be re-elected because he thinks there are many issues facing Lenexa that he would like to help address.

One of those issues, he pointed out, is the loss of the machinery and equipment tax revenue that was part of the city budget until the Kansas Legislature phased it out a few years ago.

“Given the current recession and being part of a city that is still growing and projected to grow, replacing several million dollars of lost revenue, maintaining the level of services to our citizens, maintaining the great city employees that we have without any substantial tax increases has been our biggest challenge,” said Serrone. “The governing body, along with a competent city manager and a great staff, who are working diligently and sacrificing a lot for the citizens of Lenexa, have been able to lead Lenexa through this very dire financial crisis while being able to maintain the level of city services without burdening the citizens with tremendous additional taxes.”

If he’s re-elected, Serrone also hopes his commercial real estate experience will aid the city in creating the 60-acre City Center development.

Lindsey, a longtime Lenexa resident, is eager to bring her organizational management skills, real estate knowledge and leadership qualities to the governing body.

“Grinders rezoning, City Center and other road construction are issues presently concerning our city, and addressing these issues requires fact-finding, presenting them to the public and working together towards the best resolution for our city,” she said.

Lindsey thinks her fresh perspective could help the council on resolving those issues.

Johnston, a restaurant manager at Oklahoma Joe’s Barbecue, would like to use his business skills to keep Lenexa a good role model for other communities.

If elected, his main goals would be to promote fiscally sound development, maintain existing neighborhoods and encourage citizen involvement in the community.

“Lenexa needs to continue to grow and develop responsibly for the future,” said Johnston. “The city has to make smart decisions regarding City Center and infrastructure as growth continues to the west. Decisions cannot be made hastily when it comes to a project that is seen as a multiple-decade plan.”