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, Ryan Baty sits down for an in-depth conversation with Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter. With nearly 40 years in law enforcement, from his beginnings with the Wichita Police Department to over a decade leading the county sheriff’s office, Sheriff Easter brings a unique perspective and hard-earned wisdom to some of the most pressing issues facing our community today.
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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.
Finished the day attending the City of Wichita District 6 Candidate Forum. It was encouraging to see so many from the public show up and engage the people asking to represent them in elected office. More please!
Late nights mean late barn feeds — and this one loves the attention! 😂 … See MoreSee Less
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Policing has changed over time. From technology to case law and now mental health and substance use, our law enforcement officers have had to be very adaptive to meet community needs. I really enjoyed talking with the Sheriff and learning how his department continues to evolve. Watch the entire conversation with Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter on my website and YouTube or listen on your favoite podcast platform! … See MoreSee Less
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Election Update 🚨
The General Election is November 4th! Voters will go to the polls for City and School Districts, as well as a bond for USD 263 and a Payne Township Special Question.
The last day to register to vote or change your registration is October 14th. Check registrations at votekansas.gov
Advanced mail ballots will go out on October 15th and Early In-Person Voting will start October 20th.
Make a plan to vote! 🗳️ … See MoreSee Less
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As a reminder — the Tag Offices in all 105 counties are on ONE server hosted by the Kansas Department of Revenue. This server fails multiple times a week and causes interruptions in service.
We met with Kansas Department of Revenue last week and had a productive discussion on our needs, but they made it clear that there are no immediate plans to update their server.
And… the beat goes on for much needed government reforms.UPDATE: As of 10:33 a.m., the system is back online.
The Kansas Tag system MOVRS is currently unable to complete any transactions. The State of Kansas IT Department has been notified. We apologize for the inconvenience. … See MoreSee Less
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On Saturday, I attended the 3rd annual Deputy Sidnee Carter Memorial Fundraiser. The proceeds raised go to the Sedgwick County Sheriff K-9 Unit.
Her wonderful family and friends are keeping her legacy of caring for this community. ❤️A hero remembered, never dies.
Today, we pause to honor the life and sacrifice of Deputy Sidnee T. Carter, who gave her life in the line of duty on October 7, 2022.
Deputy Carter was tragically killed while responding to a domestic violence call when another vehicle failed to stop at an intersection and struck her patrol car at 135th Street West and 29th Street North. The impact caused fatal injuries.
Deputy Carter began her career with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office on September 8, 2020. She graduated from the Detention Academy in December 2020, served in the Detention Bureau, and was later selected to join the Law Enforcement Bureau in February 2022.
Deputy Carter is survived by her parents and siblings, who, along with her law enforcement family, will forever carry her memory. … See MoreSee Less
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The Kansas Economic Outlook Conference was held last week and the insights are always interesting for policy makers across the state and here at home.
There are positive indicators in our economy and many opportunities on the horizon, but there are also concerns — especially for kids that will soon be entering the workforce.
➡️ It’s harder for young people to get into home ownership and build equity in an asset.
➡️ The poverty rate for kids in the state’s biggest school district, USD 259, is now over 80%.
As we stack wins for local industry and small business, remember that our young people have some considerable pressures that keep them from feeling as optimistic.
Economic success in the next generation will need to look different than ever before. … See MoreSee Less
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In this episode, Ryan Baty sits down for an in-depth conversation with Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter. With nearly 40 years in law enforcement, from his beginnings with the Wichita Police Department to over a decade leading the county sheriff’s office, Sheriff Easter brings a unique perspective and hard-earned wisdom to some of the most pressing issues facing our community today.
Ryan and Sheriff Easter discuss the enormous challenges and changes in law enforcement over the years—everything from jail staffing crises, the evolution of policing technology, and the impact of national events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the George Floyd protests, to the quiet but powerful ways local sentiment shapes public safety. Sheriff Easter opens up about his family’s deep history of service, including the tragic loss of his brother in the line of duty, and reflects on what it means to serve and to lead through crisis. This episode offers an honest and insightful look from one of the region’s most respected law enforcement leaders.
You can listen to the full podcast on my website and YouTube page. … See MoreSee Less
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Law enforcement's role used to be much more direct and clear — Respond, Enforce, and Move to the next call. Today, the job of a law enforcement officer has become much more complex as they are often dealing with the effects of drug addiction and mental health crisis. Listen as Sheriff Easter discusses these new challenges and more as the latest episode of the Common Sense Podcast launches tomorrow! … See MoreSee Less
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Very kind. Thank YOU LegacyWorks for your commitment to our kids and community. I will always show up! 🙌 … See MoreSee Less
🌱☕ Huge thanks to Commissioner Ryan Baty for spending the morning with our LegacyWorks youth & staff! From digging alongside the GardenWorks crew to visiting our CoffeeWorks café at the library, he took time to listen, encourage, and connect. We’re grateful for leaders who take the time to invest in the next generation, it makes all the difference. 🧡 #LegacyWorks #GardenWorks #CoffeeWorks #YouthLeadership #Community
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