Priorities & Accomplishments
I'm proud of the progress we have made over the past four years, and I’m committed to continuing to achieve our goals together.
More work must be done to help all our community members.
Lowest Tax Rate
I’m a champion of fiscal responsibility. Johnson County has the lowest tax rate in the state, but with rising prices and inflation, we all are impacted. I will work to keep our mill levy the lowest in Kansas while ensuring our quality of life remains high.
Accomplishment:
I have voted to lower the mill levy every year I’ve been in office.
I will continue to vote for the lowest sustainable tax rate.
Public Safety
Key to our quality of life is our public safety. We must provide the resources needed for our first responders across the county – the Sheriff’s Office, MED-ACT, and the Fire Districts – to keep our communities safe.
Ensuring our emergency response professionals have the funding they need goes hand-in-hand with expecting transparency from these departments.
Accomplishments:
I’ve worked with Fire District #1, which serves a large portion of District 6, to move from a three-person oversight board with little accountability or transparency to a more effective and efficient five-person board.
I supported the expansion of MED-ACT emergency services to better serve our entire county and increased staff to heighten safety.
I will continue to fight for increased raises and benefits across our public safety departments as well as building new stations to make sure our emergency services keep up with our growth.
Hose Uncoupling Ceremony (similar to a Ribbon Cutting) in 2022 celebrating the opening of Station 81 in Fire District #1
Ribbon Cutting for the newest MED-ACT station in April 2024, the county’s first purpose built MED-ACT station
Quality of Life
Our resident satisfaction numbers speak for themselves. These high marks reflect the hard work of our staff and our commission.
97% satisfaction as a place to live
96% satisfaction as a place to raise children
88% satisfaction as a place to work
We all love Johnson County because of its high quality of life – our sprawling parks and numerous recreation opportunities, our outstanding libraries, our ever-increasing access to quality mental health care, and our well-funded public safety departments. These services are key to keeping our community thriving and growing.
Accomplishments:
I am committed to improving mental health care in our community. I fully supported the creation of our future Youth Crisis Stabilization Center. I helped Johnson County secure a $1.4 million grant toward the project and continue work toward more private funding.
Residents who share their time and talent on our boards and commissions help make our quality of life possible. I have consistently appointed individuals with expertise and relevant experience to these important groups across our county.
Relationships are at the center of my work on the commission. I have collaborated with state and local officials to find solutions and supports for those experiencing homelessness.
I will continue to partner with many individuals and organizations to maintain and improve our quality of life here.
With fellow Commissioner Jeff Meyers and Johnson County Mental Health Center Director Tim DeWeese at this year’s Nehemiah Assembly in May put on by the Good Faith Network
January 2024 groundbreaking for Pathway at Heritage Park, Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City’s first land trust community
Balanced Growth & Economic Development
We must manage our growth to ensure that we maintain that hometown feel we love while keeping up with our ever-changing economy and constantly evolving technology. Because Johnson County is the economic engine that powers our state, we have a responsibility to innovate.
Accomplishments:
I was integral in the work that brought Panasonic to Johnson County and have been at the table when other investment decisions are under consideration, like Honeywell’s $84 million expansion of its Olathe aerospace manufacturing facility announced early this year.
With ongoing rapid growth in the 6th District, I have worked to prepare transit infrastructure with the Kansas Department of Transportation and impacted communities to find best practice solutions to increase lanes on K-10.
I have been a leader on bringing new investment to New Century Commerce Center. New Century Airport is now recognized as a national airport with increased air and rail access.
As a County Commissioner and a part of the Farm Bureau board for Agritourism , I am excited to announce that Purple Meadows Lavender Farm in Spring Hill received a $16,000 Attraction Development Grant from Kansas Tourism toward a gazebo on the property.
I will continue to work with those corporations looking to move or expand in Johnson County and those businesses who’ve got deep roots here to ensure we keep our sense of community and shared responsibility strong.
