Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for Abortion / life.
What they have done
No public action found for this issue.
NonpartisanCurrent official, not on 2026 ballot
Mason Ruder
Hays Mayor; Hays City Commissioner - current local official
This is a current-official accountability profile, not a 2026 ballot-candidate profile. The next expected election cycle for this local body is 2027, based on current local-cycle research.
Sources
21
linked public trail
Issues
9/14
with evidence
Records
3
documented items
Online
16
observations
Source mix
21 total
5 primary15 secondary1 social
Latest source access: May 20, 2026
Source TrailBackgroundWho They Are
Mason Ruder is profiled here for Hays Mayor; Hays City Commissioner as a nonpartisan incumbent/current official. The dominant theme is local growth tied to practical infrastructure. In his 2023 re-election comments, Ruder said city decisions affect residents "almost immediately" and closed with: "Let's keep growing Hays. We have a lot of work to do." At the 2023 candida... Water security is his most consistent policy lane. Ruder has described the R9 Ranch project as an everyday governing priority and later as a "multi-generational battle." In 2026, during the HB 2433 fight over county versus state water-transfer authority, he a... These biography/status records are descriptive background only; no policy position is inferred from identity, faith, family, or associations.
- Party
- Nonpartisan
- Office
- Hays Mayor; Hays City Commissioner
- Occupation
- Certified Public Manager; Hays civic and Catholic-school advancement work
- Hometown
- Hays, Kansas
- Education
- Fort Hays State University -- Political Leadership and Public Service degree (completing/completed)
- Family
- Tori Ruder (childcare provider in Hays)
Issue overviewWhere They Stand on Big Issues
Position summary
Shown first when sourced
Dated actions
3 items on file
Online signals
16 observed
Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for LGBT / gender / parental rights.
What they have done
No public action found for this issue.
Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for Education / curriculum / schools.
Social/online observations
These observations show public activity tied to this issue. They are context, not confirmed positions.
TM
2022 Hays Catholic Schools role: Ruder said joining Hays Catholic Schools was a way to help his community, school, and family, and said his…
Public activity only; not a policy position.
HA
2024 Catholic education fundraising: Ruder said TMP-Marian was blessed by alumni and community generosity, including donors who did not atte…
Public activity only; not a policy position.
HA
Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for Religious liberty / church / civic morality.
Social/online observations
These observations show public activity tied to this issue. They are context, not confirmed positions.
HA
2023 re-election: Ruder said city decisions affect residents almost immediately, interpreted his re-election as public faith that Hays was o…
Public activity only; not a policy position.
Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for Taxes / spending / debt.
Social/online observations
These observations show public activity tied to this issue. They are context, not confirmed positions.
HA
2025 airport funding: Ruder said replacing a federal Essential Air Service subsidy cut would require a mill levy increase from 25 to 44 mill…
Public activity only; not a policy position.
HA
2025 property tax discussion: Ruder said Kansas' vacant-land valuation structure incentivizes holding land rather than building, and suggest…
Public activity only; not a policy position.
HA
Hays Post - housing, property taxes, marijuana tax discussion
Public activity only; not a policy position.
Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for Economy / jobs / labor.
Social/online observations
These observations show public activity tied to this issue. They are context, not confirmed positions.
HA
2023 candidate forum: Ruder prioritized the R9 water transfer and said Hays should focus on partnerships with business leaders, Grow Hays, a…
Public activity only; not a policy position.
Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for Guns / Second Amendment.
What they have done
No public action found for this issue.
Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for Immigration / border.
What they have done
No public action found for this issue.
Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for Health care / insurance / Medicaid.
What they have done
No public action found for this issue.
Where they stand
— Tiger Media Network (entire commission voted; second mayoral term)
What they have done
— Tiger Media Network (entire commission voted; second mayoral term)
Social/online observations
These observations show public activity tied to this issue. They are context, not confirmed positions.
HA
2023 re-election: Ruder said city decisions affect residents almost immediately, interpreted his re-election as public faith that Hays was o…
Public activity only; not a policy position.
AR
2019 election night: Ruder said residents were "looking for someone who wants to listen" and that the biggest thing to ask of politicians is…
Public activity only; not a policy position.
AR
Hays Post archive - 2019 election result
Public activity only; not a policy position.
HA
Where they stand
Mason Ruder Elected Mayor -- Hays Daily News
What they have done
Mason Ruder 9/11 Speech -- Kansas Press Association
Mason Ruder Elected Mayor -- Hays Daily News
Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for Agriculture / rural economy / water.
Social/online observations
These observations show public activity tied to this issue. They are context, not confirmed positions.
HA
2023 candidate forum: Ruder prioritized the R9 water transfer and said Hays should focus on partnerships with business leaders, Grow Hays, a…
Public activity only; not a policy position.
HA
2023 R9 update: Ruder said, "Every day is now an R9 Ranch Day." Source: Hays Post, Jan. 16, 2023.
Public activity only; not a policy position.
Where they stand
— HB 2433 testimony listing showing Ruder as proponent on 2026-01-28 (primary; official testimony register)
Social/online observations
These observations show public activity tied to this issue. They are context, not confirmed positions.
HA
2023 re-election: Ruder said city decisions affect residents almost immediately, interpreted his re-election as public faith that Hays was o…
Public activity only; not a policy position.
Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for Environment / energy / land use.
Social/online observations
These observations show public activity tied to this issue. They are context, not confirmed positions.
HA
Actions and source trailActions and Decisions
This profile links 3 public items across 2 of the 14 issue areas. Examples include: Election integrity / voting / courts: https://tigermedianet.com/?p=93385 — Tiger Media Network (entire commission voted; second mayoral term). Public safety / law enforcement / criminal justice: Mason Ruder Elected Mayor -- Hays Daily News. Public safety / law enforcement / criminal justice: Mason Ruder 9/11 Speech -- Kansas Press Association. Public online activity is listed separately as context.
How to read this section
Dated actions appear here when a linked source supports them. Candidate statements, reporting, and public online activity are labeled where they appear.
- Abortion / life0 documented items
- LGBT / gender / parental rights0 documented items
- Education / curriculum / schools0 documented items, 3 online observations
- Religious liberty / church / civic morality0 documented items, 1 online observation
- Taxes / spending / debt0 documented items, 3 online observations
- Economy / jobs / labor0 documented items, 1 online observation
- Guns / Second Amendment0 documented items
- Immigration / border0 documented items
- Health care / insurance / Medicaid0 documented items
- Election integrity / voting / courts1 documented item, 4 online observations
- Public safety / law enforcement / criminal justice2 documented items
- Agriculture / rural economy / water0 documented items, 2 online observations
- Local governance / transparency / ethics0 documented items, 1 online observation
- Environment / energy / land use0 documented items, 1 online observation
Faith affiliationWhere They Worship
Ruder's Catholic affiliation is publicly documented in the existing record. Hays Catholic Schools identified him with Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, and his biography is tied to TMP-Marian and Hays Catholic Schools. This is descriptive background only, not a grading category.
Campaign financeDonor/Funding Information
Finance snapshot
Not itemized in public web records
Reporting period
Most recent local cycle reviewed
Source: Reviewed public records
No clean online campaign-finance total was verified for Ruder's city races. That absence does not establish hidden donors; a local records request would be needed for a full city-campaign filing record.
No donor-by-donor public web ledger was found in the reviewed local records.
Research trailSources
21 linked public sources
Open the complete source trail with every public URL used for this profile.
Is Something Wrong or Missing?
If you are Mason Ruder or represent their campaign, or if you have a correction or additional information, let us know. We want to get this right.
Social/online observationsPublic Online Activity
The public-facing social record is limited. Prior harvests found a LinkedIn public preview and local institutional coverage, but no reliable candidate-controlled campaign website, campaign Facebook page, public X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Substack, or comparable campaign account. Login-gated or ambiguous social material was not used as issue evidence.
2022 Hays Catholic Schools role: Ruder said joining Hays Catholic Schools was a way to help his community, school, and family, and said his Catholic-community relationships would be an asset. Source: TMP-Marian, Nov. 30, 2022.
Public activity only; not a policy position.
2024 Catholic education fundraising: Ruder said TMP-Marian was blessed by alumni and community generosity, including donors who did not attend the school, and described carrying forward earlier generations' work as a privilege. Source: Hays Post, May 5, 2024.
Public activity only; not a policy position.
Hays Post - Catholic education/ACE auction
Public activity only; not a policy position.
2023 re-election: Ruder said city decisions affect residents almost immediately, interpreted his re-election as public faith that Hays was on the right track, and said, "Let's keep growing Hays. We have a lot of work to do." Source: Hays Post, Nov. 8, 2023.
Public activity only; not a policy position.
2025 airport funding: Ruder said replacing a federal Essential Air Service subsidy cut would require a mill levy increase from 25 to 44 mills. Source: Hays Post, May 24, 2025.
Public activity only; not a policy position.
2025 property tax discussion: Ruder said Kansas' vacant-land valuation structure incentivizes holding land rather than building, and suggested marijuana tax revenue could offset property taxes and help sales-tax-reliant communities. Source: Hays Post, Dec. 20, 2025.
Public activity only; not a policy position.
Hays Post - housing, property taxes, marijuana tax discussion
Public activity only; not a policy position.
2023 candidate forum: Ruder prioritized the R9 water transfer and said Hays should focus on partnerships with business leaders, Grow Hays, and others to grow the workforce and develop housing. Source: Hays Post, Oct. 18, 2023.
Public activity only; not a policy position.
2023 re-election: Ruder said city decisions affect residents almost immediately, interpreted his re-election as public faith that Hays was on the right track, and said, "Let's keep growing Hays. We have a lot of work to do." Source: Hays Post, Nov. 8, 2023.
Public activity only; not a policy position.
2019 election night: Ruder said residents were "looking for someone who wants to listen" and that the biggest thing to ask of politicians is that they listen and want to get things done. Source: Hays Post archive, Nov. 2019.
Public activity only; not a policy position.
Hays Post archive - 2019 election result
Public activity only; not a policy position.
Hays Post - 2023 re-election
Public activity only; not a policy position.
2023 candidate forum: Ruder prioritized the R9 water transfer and said Hays should focus on partnerships with business leaders, Grow Hays, and others to grow the workforce and develop housing. Source: Hays Post, Oct. 18, 2023.
Public activity only; not a policy position.
2023 R9 update: Ruder said, "Every day is now an R9 Ranch Day." Source: Hays Post, Jan. 16, 2023.
Public activity only; not a policy position.
2023 re-election: Ruder said city decisions affect residents almost immediately, interpreted his re-election as public faith that Hays was on the right track, and said, "Let's keep growing Hays. We have a lot of work to do." Source: Hays Post, Nov. 8, 2023.
Public activity only; not a policy position.
Hays Post - R9 pipeline update
Public activity only; not a policy position.