Doug Tate is looking to be elected for the first time to the Tonganoxie School Board.

He was appointed just more than a year ago to serve the unexpired term of Bob DeHoff, who resigned.

“I’ve enjoyed serving on the board,” Tate said. “I think it’s important and I enjoy being a part of the school district and the school system.”

He would like to continue that service.

Tate, who is a longtime Kansas Highway Patrol trooper, said the board needs to be conservative with the district’s money and continue to look for ways to “streamline things” and “cut costs where we can.”

“I don’t necessarily mean job cuts or things like that,” Tate said. “Just be real cognizant of how we spend our money and where we spend our money.”

Tate pointed to the energy conservation contract with Trane as a major way to save funds for the district.

“That was a real big plus,” he said. “I was really happy to be part of that and that’s a really good way to go, as far as I’m concerned.”

A state trooper for 27 years, Tate followed in his father’s footsteps with the KHP. His mother, Shirley Tate, is a former Leavenworth County treasurer, so he’s had some influence in serving the public.

“Yeah, I’ve been around it since I was young,” Tate said. “I’ve seen both my parents do that kind of stuff.”

Tate also has coached and been active with the Tonganoxie Recreation Commission for about the past 15 years, and is a member of several law enforcement organizations.

He and his wife, Jennifer, have six children, two of whom are in the U.S. Army. Two are seniors at Tonganoxie High School, another is a sophomore at THS and the youngest is a seventh-grader at Tonganoxie Middle School.