The Chiefs & The Dotte

U.S. Senate candidate Erik Murray says he has reservations about the Chiefs’ stadium deal. Not about the idea of making a deal, but about the way the negotiations have left behind people in the Wyandotte County community.

“I love the Chiefs,” Murray says. “I’m happy for the parties to negotiate on this. Governor Laura Kelly has a great record on the economy, and this is kind of a crowning jewel to her achievements. We’re not opposed to that. What we are opposed to is leaving the community of Wyandotte behind.”

Murray says whether it’s a constituent in a town hall, or Mayor and CEO of the Unified Government Christal Watson, the community of Wyandotte deserves respect and a seat at the table. There are many ways to do the deal, he added, pointing to his background building communities as a real-estate developer. But the deal needs to lift up everyone, not just billionaires.

For decades, Wyandotte County has been treated as a corridor to drive through, not a community to invest in, with highways like 635 carving through neighborhoods such as Quindaro while Wall Street and Topeka looked the other way.

“I’m a builder,” Murray says. “I believe in building things, not tearing them down. Choosing between the economy and people is a false choice. I believe in elevating our communities, and I’m calling for everyone involved in this deal to come back to the table in that spirit.”