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
On this episode of “Common Sense” host Ryan Baty sits down with youth advocate, mentor, and community leader Adan Grimaldo for an eye-opening discussion on the realities facing vulnerable youth in Sedgwick County. Drawing from Adan Grimaldo’s personal journey from gang involvement and behavioral health struggles to powerful transformation, the conversation dives deep into the root causes of youth violence, the foster care crisis, and the community’s role in reversing dangerous trends among local kids.
Watch On:
View All
Change for the Better
Your pocket change fuels community change. Donate today.
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.
Maize Eagle Athletics and Activities vs Wichita Heights High School in State Quarterfinal game — A Battle of the Birds. 🦅
And… two schools in my Commission district!
Who ya got?! … See MoreSee Less
12 CommentsComment on Facebook
Very important location change update! We want to make sure there is plenty of space for those wanting to participate in the town hall meeting — and the Extension Center is more suitable for the public.
⬇️⬇️❗LOCATION UPDATE❗
The Sedgwick County Listening Town Hall on data centers is being moved to the K-State Research and Extension-Sedgwick County at 7001 W 21st St. N. We are expecting a large turnout and this change is to comfortably accommodate all residents who are planning to attend.
As a reminder, the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners is hosting a Listening Town Hall on data centers Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 6 p.m. Residents will be able to give feedback on data centers directly to County Commissioners.
Sedgwick County adopted an interim development control resolution through June 11 to allow for drafting of regulations and continued conversations with community members. … See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Over 40 years ago, a chemical spill around 29th & Grove contaminated the groundwater — and a generation of the residents had no idea the water beneath their feet was poisoned.
Over the last few years a major effort has been underway to get FREE medical testing for those that lived in the area and have concerns about the impact on their health. I'm grateful for actions from the State, Sedgwick County, City of Wichita, community advocates and some key non profit partners that have helped us get to this point.
Please follow the Clearway Testing page for updates on testing opportunities.
Learn more => clearwaytesting.orgA Clear Way Forward: Free Health Testing for 29th & Grove
If you lived, worked, or spent time in the area commonly referred to as “29th & Grove” in northeast Wichita, or in surrounding neighborhoods impacted by groundwater contamination, free health testing is available through trusted Clearway partners. Testing is free through December 31, 2026.
For more information and to find a free testing center near you, visit clearwaytesting.org. … See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Nope. No chance. Chalk this up as a job I could never do! 🤯
My office is six floors up of a nine floor building. … See MoreSee Less
28 CommentsComment on Facebook
I was traveling yesterday and missed the State of the City address by Mayor Lily Wu — so I had to catch it online.
There are 20 cities in Sedgwick County, and 6 different cities in my County Commission district alone, but I firmly believe that as Wichita goes the entire region goes. We need a thriving, healthy Wichita that serves as the economic and innovation engine of the state of Kansas.
I deeply appreciate my partnership with all the elected representatives at the City of Wichita. We collaborate incredibly well on a number of initiatives and I think that spirit of partnership will be even more important in the future.
Reform and modernization — is it on the horizon? … See MoreSee Less
9 CommentsComment on Facebook
Sedgwick County has an 8-week paid parental leave policy for our staff. We also allow department heads to make policy allowing new moms or dads to accommodate their newborn up to 6 months in the office.
We want to maintain a pro family friendly environment.
So…. It’s not uncommon to see babies at the administrative offices of Sedgwick County Government and it’s quite apparent that this handsome fella is A LOT more popular than the politicians! 😂 … See MoreSee Less
53 CommentsComment on Facebook
I hope to be helpful in providing as much information as possible regarding property valuations that just went out across the state of Kansas. There is a lot of confusion around the differences between the valuation notices and property tax bills – so I hope to give you as much information as possible so you know where to best direct your advocacy.
Below is an exchange I had with the County Appraiser.
Appraisers are held accountable to state statute in their valuations. The driving factor is market sales data. An appraiser in Kansas must value property between 90-110% of comparable sales data – and pricing in the market has a significant influence on what you are seeing on your valuation notices.
Do I think this is the best approach? Nope.
Do I have any control or authority over your property appraisal? Nope.
Do I think there are reforms needed? Yes.
The process to establish your PROPERTY TAXES are completely different. Counties, Cities, School Districts, Townships and other taxing jurisdictions will pass budgets in August and that will determine how much of this assessed value growth they will or will not capture. Please get involved with your local taxing authorities so they hear your feedback loud and clear!
The more you know. 💡 … See MoreSee Less
60 CommentsComment on Facebook
The tragic incident involving the death of CJ Lofton has been an intensive conversation since I joined the County Commission in 2023. Below are my comments on the work of the Juvenile Corrections Taskforce and the settlement that was reached after the civil trial verdict.
A full recap of all 58 recommendations from the community taskforce =>https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/community-taskforce/ … See MoreSee Less
17 CommentsComment on Facebook
This made my night…. 😂😂 … See MoreSee Less
126 CommentsComment on Facebook