Local Leadership
I am grateful to serve our community.
We are in a pivotal season for Sedgwick County. We need leadership to help improve our position economically while working to bridge the divide relationally. This community is our home. I want to do all that I can to make sure we are improving and fostering the best quality of life for everyone in Sedgwick County.
Common Sense Podcast
In this episode, host Ryan Baty sits down with Steve Dixon, a local business owner, philanthropist, and passionate community leader, to dig deep into the complexities of homelessness and housing challenges facing Wichita and Sedgwick County. From personal stories that shatter common stereotypes to the collaborative efforts now underway, Ryan and Steve explore what it means to serve the unhoused with both compassion and practical solutions.
Whether you’re interested in social impact, local business, civic solutions, or simply care about making Wichita a model city for addressing homelessness, this candid conversation pulls back the curtain on the real work, and heart, behind helping our most vulnerable neighbors.
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Change for the Better
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Issues
Staffing Stability for Sedgwick County Government
With nearly 3,000 employees across 46 departments, the work being done by our employees is vital to the quality of life we experience in the community. Upon my arrival on the Commission, we were experiencing significant staffing shortages – particularly in public safety and public health. Aggressive and strategic adjustments in compensation plans returned increased employee morale and staffing stability. Today, we have staffing levels above 90% and our performance goals are all being accomplished. Strategic workforce investments have provided more effective and efficient services to the 525k people of Sedgwick County.
Homelessness, Foster Care and Behavioral Health
Every policy decision must find a connecting link to healthier families. Our community has made significant progress in several large scale community challenges. In homelessness, we continue to develop a long-term community plan with a focus on shelter, services, and affordable housing. We have worked collaboratively to reduce the negative impacts of a foster care system that is failing our most vulnerable kids. We have also invested into a new COMCARE CRISIS center that will increase services such as mobile mental health, 988 suicide line, medical detox beds as well as other strategic initiatives to help meet the growing needs of our community.
Development of the Northwest Expressway
Connecting K-96 to Kellogg through west Sedgwick County has been a discussion for 30+ years. This would spur incredible economic development, but the conversation had stalled as had cooperation amongst key stakeholders. I have worked to re-engage the project with KDOT, Maize, Goddard and the City of Wichita as well as helping to reestablish the NW Expressway Coalition. We now have more momentum in the project than what has been seen in over a decade.
Property Tax Reform
Increasing property taxes has become a painful challenge for many families and businesses. With nearly 50% of our county revenues being generated through property taxes, we aim to reduce the county’s dependency on this revenue source and provide relief to our community. In each of my budgets, we have found ways to reduce the property tax mill levy while also stabilizing core county services. As my #1 priority in 2025 and 2026, we will continue to reduce property tax burden through a series of strategic reforms and initiatives.
Modernizing Local Government
The cost of government continues to increase, and reform is needed to counteract the increasing costs. As we look across the county and our 20 city partners, I will advance plans to eliminate redundancies via more shared services, strategic partnerships, and functional department consolidations. It is time to modernize the local government model and in doing so we will find reduced costs and improved efficiencies. I will continue leading the conversation and building collaborative relationships.
“The government closest to the people, serves its people best”
– Thomas Jefferson
Success is Local
Success requires leadership that listens to the pulse of the community. Local government needs to be shaped by civility and collaboration in order to maximize the potential of our people.
As a business owner & pastor, I am excited to communicate our vision for Sedgwick County and demonstrate a plan that enhances quality of life in our community. These conversations will be focused on our economy, quality of life investment and the appropriate function of our local government.
Work in the Community
Here are a few ways we give back to our community with links for you to join in!
Love Schools
The heart of this organization is to pair local businesses with local schools in order to meet strategic needs and supply resources.
Foster Care Advocate
I have worked with selective organizations to help raise awareness of the foster care crisis in our community.
Firm Foundation Ministries
This organization provides transitional housing and reintegration skills training for individuals leaving correctional facilities.
The Mattress hub
We have strategically partnered with local schools and organizations to donate beds to children in need.
I attended the Sedgwick County Fire advisory council this evening to provide an update and answer questions. I sincerely appreciate and value all those that serve on all our advisory boards!
I’m a Jayhawk.
Fire Chief Doug Williams is a K State Wildcat.
Funny guy. 😂 … See MoreSee Less
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Primary Election Day 🚨
Poll sites are open 7am – 7pm.
Please confirm your polling site location at www.sedgwickcounty.org/elections/
There are only Primary races in Wichita City Council District 1, USD 259 Districts 1 and 5, as well as a local sales tax initiative for the City of Maize.
Questions? Always happy to help! … See MoreSee Less
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For many individuals, the most practical way to create generational equity and wealth is through homeownership — and that is more difficult today than in previous generations. The median age of first-time homebuyers is now 38 years old, up from 35 in 2023 and 29 in the late 1990’s.
I met a young man last week that talked about how high his earnings are compared to what individuals made in his vocation just a short time ago, but how little he was able to take to savings due to high costs of rent, insurances, and basic needs.
Young people are frustrated and looking for answers. … See MoreSee Less
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Exciting announcement at INTRUST Bank Arena yesterday! ⬇️
JUST ANNOUNCED >>> 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐍𝐨 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞: Joe Walsh and Friends Present VetsAid, The Concert For Our Veterans on Nov. 15! Featuring full sets from Joe Walsh, Vince Gill, Ryan Bingham & The Texas Gentlemen and Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks and Nathaniel Rateliff for the 9th Annual Benefit show.
Tickets go on sale Friday, August 8 at 10:00 AM through Select-A-Seat! … See MoreSee Less
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Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend the swearing in of our Election Commissioner, Laura Rainwater, to another four year term.
Secretary of State Scott Schwab came down to administer the oath — and Laura asked if I would be willing to hold her late father’s Bible for her to take the oath on.
In just 2.5 years, Laura and her team have done a lot for local elections!
➡️ We went from 82 to 107 polling sites.
➡️ Added 3 additional early voting locations.
➡️ Expanded early voting hours and days.
➡️ Created the “I Voted” sticker contest to engage and educate future voters… Counties all across the state are now having sticker contests!
Her leadership has increased voter access and engagement — and our elections in Sedgwick County are incredibly secure and efficient.
Thank you, Laura, and all the Elections Staff for your willingness to serve our community! … See MoreSee Less
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This is a topic that’s unpleasant to talk about, but it’s a reality that we simply can’t ignore. Many people experiencing chronic homelessness have a mental health condition or an intellectual disability — and predators hover around these places of shelter and services trying to sell dope or to traffic the women. I’ve heard stories of horrific acts on vulnerable, desperate women.
It’s one of the many reasons I’m motivated to clean up these areas and get vulnerable people into safer shelter options. … See MoreSee Less
Is homelessness a crisis worthy of intervention? I believe so — and have spent the last 2.5 years trying to create more awareness of these issues. Listen to Steve Dixon and I discuss how we can continue community progress around homelessness in my latest podcast.
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Is homelessness a crisis worthy of intervention? I believe so — and have spent the last 2.5 years trying to create more awareness of these issues. Listen to Steve Dixon and I discuss how we can continue community progress around homelessness in my latest podcast. … See MoreSee Less
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The National Baseball Congress World Series is going on right now in Wichita — a tradition since 1935!
Baseball and the NBC Tournament shaped me in many ways. As a player, in college and then professionally, I remember what it was like to come back and play in the NBC Tournament – The 7pm showcase games with a packed house; the energy in the city; and baseball around the clock. Players from other colleges that I competed against being reunited here for one last showdown before summer ball ended and we all went back to school.
Throughout the college season and summer ball, there was always talk amongst the players, “We will see you in Wichita!” We looked forward to it. We knew how big of a deal it was for players and fans, and that the people of Wichita would always show up and support our teams.
Take your family and friends out to a ballgame and support this great event. The final week is always great baseball!
nbcbaseball.com … See MoreSee Less
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I hate seeing this for my friends at La Familia Senior/Community Center. They provide Medicare education and enrollment, food services, and make space for all types of programming and fellowship. This senior center is VERY important to the folks that routinely attend.La Familia Senior Center in west Wichita was forced to temporarily close after its air conditioning units were stolen in June and stripped for copper, leaving indoor temperatures soaring to 91°.
Kate Devine KAKE tells us the nonprofit serves over 700 seniors each year with meals, games, and daily activities. They also have over 300 active members. But now, many families are left scrambling. … See MoreSee Less
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