Jim Howell

Voters in Sedgwick County picked a political newcomer over a two-term commissioner to represent the commission’s 4th District.

Unofficial results from Tuesday’s general election show Democrat Lacey Cruse defeated Republican Richard Ranzau by 8 percent.

This was Lacey Cruse’s first political campaign, and she nailed it. She led the race as soon as early voting results were posted and never trailed. She had a similar outcome in the August primary.

The race for the Sedgwick County Commission’s 5th District is between two men who have experience being a commissioner.

Republican Jim Howell of Derby is currently representing the district, and independent candidate Jim Skelton is trying to reclaim his old job.

Three seats are up for election on the Sedgwick County Commission this year, including the 5th District, which covers the southeast portion of the county.

Commissioner Jim Howell represents that district, and wants to keep the job for a second term.

Sedgwick County Commissioners passed their 2017 legislative agenda Wednesday during their last meeting of the year.

The six-page agenda includes the commission’s support for passing state legislation that would allow for the audit of election results, and pushes to restore the 4 percent cut to the Medicaid reimbursement rate that was made earlier this year.

Sedgwick County Commissioners have called for a state of emergency after a flash flood caused severe damage in the town of Mulvane last week.

The declaration makes Mulvane eligible for state and federal disaster assistance funding. This is the first time since the Oaklawn Tornado in 2012 that the county has had to declare a state of local disaster emergency.

The Sedgwick County Commissioners will be taking their regular meeting on the road next week.

Holding meetings in their districts is part of a broader plan they have for engaging the community.

The Sedgwick County Commission has selected a new chairman, even as a movement to recall the previous chairman continues to move ahead.

Commissioner Jim Howell was named chairman in a 4-1 vote.

Richard Ranzau completed his year as chairman with a wrap-up of his accomplishments. They include a new tag office, space for the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department, as well as the Metropolitan Area Planning Department, and maintaining the mill levy rate.