Whether Topeka is a better place because Spencer Duncan is on the City Council is a subjective question that depends on individual perspectives, priorities, and how one measures "better." As an AI, I can’t definitively judge that, but I can lay out what’s known about Duncan’s tenure, his actions, and how they’ve been received, based on available info up to March 14, 2025. You can decide for yourself based on the evidence.
Spencer Duncan has represented District 8 on the Topeka City Council since at least 2017 (he ran for mayor that year, implying prior council experience). He’s a native Topekan with a background working for the League of Kansas Municipalities, which suggests he’s steeped in local governance. His current term runs through 2025, and he’s now campaigning for mayor, having filed in February 2025 after Mayor Mike Padilla opted not to run again.
Key Contributions and Actions
- Property Tax Relief: Duncan’s pushed hard on this. He’s touted the city lowering its mill levy for 14 straight years, a streak predating but continuing through his tenure. In 2024, he introduced a property tax rebate program for elderly and low-income residents, aiming to ease their burden. With Topeka facing a $16 million budget deficit projected for 2026, he’s argued against tax hikes, calling it a “team effort” with other taxing entities like Shawnee County and the state. Property taxes affect affordability—a big deal in a city where median income ($55,900) lags the U.S. average ($74,580).
- Homelessness Strategy: In early 2025, Duncan supported exploring "camping-friendly zones" to address homelessness, a persistent Topeka issue. He’s acknowledged the current camping ordinance’s strictness but sees these zones as a stopgap—offering displaced people a legal spot while they access aid—not permanent encampments. He’s invited public feedback, signaling openness, though no final action’s been taken yet.
- Infrastructure Focus: Duncan’s backed projects like the 2025 FIRM Program, approving $2 million for public infrastructure (e.g., ADA upgrades at the Performing Arts Center, HVAC replacements). He’s also part of a council that unanimously expanded city limits in February 2025 to spur development at 5928 S.W. 53rd Street. X posts from locals praise pothole fixes, a perennial gripe, though specific credit to Duncan is unclear.
- Public Safety and Governance: He’s been vocal on hiring a new police chief in 2024, emphasizing community input. Topeka’s violent crime rate (600-700 per 100,000) remains high, but 2024 saw broader U.S. crime drops—whether Topeka followed isn’t fully reported yet. Duncan also supported a 2025 Citizen Government Review Committee, the first in a decade, to evaluate the city’s structure, pushing for bold ideas.
Reception and Impact
- Positives: Duncan’s fans—evident in X comments and news interviews—credit him with listening to residents and tackling bread-and-butter issues like taxes and roads. His rebate program directly helps vulnerable groups, and his homelessness stance shows pragmatism. The city’s cost of living remains a strength (median home value $130,000), and his policies align with maintaining that.
- Critiques: Crime and homelessness persist as sore spots. Some X users grumble that Topeka’s still “rough” or “stagnant,” with population dipping 1.27% since 2020 to 124,833. Duncan’s initiatives haven’t reversed these trends yet, though they’re long-term challenges predating him. His tax cuts haven’t fixed schools (bottom 50% statewide) or filled 83 city job vacancies, including police and fire roles.
- Context: Topeka’s a mixed bag—affordable but struggling with safety and growth. Duncan’s one of nine council members plus the mayor, so his influence is real but shared. Nonpartisan elections muddy party-line judgments, but his pragmatic bent leans toward incremental fixes over radical change.
Is Topeka "Better"?
If "better" means lower taxes and some infrastructure wins, Duncan’s contributed—property tax relief and projects like FIRM are tangible. If it’s about slashing crime or homelessness, progress is slower, and his impact’s less clear. His approach—listening, proposing actionable steps—earns him goodwill, per local news and X chatter, but Topeka’s big issues aren’t solved. Posts from 2025 show him engaging actively (e.g., open office hours as a mayoral candidate), which could sway opinions if he wins.
Ultimately, it’s your call. If you value affordability and responsiveness, you might see Duncan as a net positive. If you prioritize crime or education fixes, you might feel he’s fallen short so far. What matters most to you about Topeka? That’ll tip the scales.