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.
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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 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
36 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
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This made my night…. 😂😂 … See MoreSee Less
119 CommentsComment on Facebook
Property Valuation Notices have landed in mailboxes. Based on dozens of messages — I think it’s most appropriate to re-share the below post with added comments!
Yes ➡️ property valuations are up AGAIN. Median increase countywide is +9.3%
Yes ➡️ I was surprised by that number. The state requires county appraisers to stay within 90-110% of market sales data and while sales transactions have cooled, pricing remains high. Over 85% of sales transactions in 2025 resulted in a sales price above the county valuation. The market continues to drive higher valuations on our assets.
No ➡️ I don’t have control over the appraisal process and methodology. That is all governed by the Property Valuation Division at the Kansas Department of Revenue. Local county commissions appoint the local appraiser and fund the operational budget.
No ➡️ a property valuation is NOT the same as a property tax bill. Property taxes are results of budgets that are passed by your local governments in August.
No ➡️ an increase in your valuation does NOT have to result in a property tax increase.
Local governments need to listen very closely to their citizens in this upcoming budget process. Build budgets based on what you need to run efficient services, not what is available in assessed value growth.
People are stretched. I’m pleading with other elected’s in cities, school districts, townships and others — be responsible with your budgets and DO NOT CAPTURE all this assessed value growth available! Reduce your mill levies and provide property tax relief.
I know what Sedgwick County Government will do, but we are only 20% of your property tax bill. Reach out to your elected representatives across all the taxing jurisdictions and make sure they hear you clearly as they build their budgets for August adoption!I’m going to say something that might upset some of my elected peers across cities and school districts… but it needs to be said.
There is no reason why a taxing jurisdiction needs to take all of the projected 9.3% assessed property value growth available. Keeping a mill levy rate the same means they are capturing ALL the available growth and that is a significant property tax increase being passed through.
If any of these taxing authorities need MORE property tax revenue than their last budget, then every elected on that board should be able to make a case for WHY?!
Some of these reasons are justified.
Others are a result of lazy budgeting.
Taxpayers should demand these types of answers from the people elected to build these budgets every August. … See MoreSee Less
38 CommentsComment on Facebook
We had a wonderful time celebrating the Grand Opening of the NEW Park City Senior Center!
Sedgwick County Aging Department supports 18 different senior centers with funding to perform vital services for our aging adults. An excerpt from my comments during the ribbon cutting event ⬇️
“The service work is certainly critical, but it’s also deeply personal for many of us here today. We must acknowledge that our seniors have spent decades building our communities – raising their families, starting businesses, teaching, volunteering, and leading. They have invested their lives into shaping what we all enjoy today, so it’s only right and only just that we now work to honor their investments and that we continue to develop opportunities that best support our aging population.”
Grateful for Park City’s investment into senior services and an impressive new facility! … See MoreSee Less
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Always one of my favorite events of the year! … See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Data Centers 🚨
Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi and I have a very good working relationship and have talked multiple times over the last few months regarding the prospect of data centers in Sedgwick County. He is aware of the research we are doing as a county and our aim to establish an appropriate policy that will govern land use and zoning regulations.
The County has always signaled that we are open to extending our interim development control beyond the initial 90-days if we feel it’s needed. We have our Planning Department and contracted consultant gathering information to report back to the County on April 17th. At that time we will be able to make appropriate determinations on next steps. Personally, I have no issues with an extension and feel it is likely going to be needed, but I also value the need to provide a timely response to the public so that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of what we will and won’t allow in Sedgwick County.
As a reminder, I have significant concerns surrounding water use, utility rate impact, and environmental disruptions. I will not bend on a vote that permits this type of use — now or in 3 years — until I’m fully confident and satisfied that these risks can be contractually mitigated.
We plan to promote town halls in March to allow more community engagement and education in the process — and I’m still eager for that to occur. I think there are a lot of questions surrounding data centers and we all need more clarity.
Citizens deserve that opportunity. … See MoreSee Less
‘No transparency’: Kansas senator pushes pause on rural data centers
www.ksn.com
Sen. Chase Blasi is raising concerns about companies seeking to build data centers in rural Kansas communities.11 CommentsComment on Facebook
Melody was incredibly smart and kind. She previously sat in my seat on the County Commission and was a fierce advocate for the people and issues she cared about.
A significant loss for this community — Praying for God’s peace and strength over her family and friends. … See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
USA GOLD! 🇺🇸🥇
Jack Hughes after scoring the game winning goal ➡️ “This is all about our country. I love the USA. I love my teammates. I'm so proud to be an American today!” … See MoreSee Less
14 CommentsComment on Facebook