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Wichita city‑manager finalists outline housing‑first homelessness plans, police transparency and budget trade‑offs at public forum
Summary
Three finalists for Wichita city manager told a public forum they favor housing‑first responses to homelessness, stronger community engagement with police and clearer ties between the strategic plan and the budget; candidates gave timelines and concrete examples, including an emergency winter shelter and a navigation center project.
Three finalists for Wichita’s city‑manager position answered community questions on homelessness, police accountability, interdepartmental coordination, transportation and libraries during a public forum hosted by the city.
Mark Freytag, Dennis Marstel and Dante Martin each emphasized partnerships with nonprofits, county and regional agencies while offering different operational examples and timelines. Freytag and Marstel both described navigation centers and outreach teams used in prior cities; Martin, a 25‑year Wichita staffer, cited local efforts and implementation milestones, including an emergency winter shelter opening Dec. 1 and a planned navigation/resource site (referred to as “Second Light” in the forum) expected by spring 2026.
Why it matters: Wichita’s mayor and council will select a manager who sets day‑to‑day priorities, proposes the annual budget and coordinates city departments. The candidates’ plans indicate how the city might prioritize shelter capacity, policing reforms, capital…
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