Without much fanfare, the Sedgwick County commission voted in a new chairman and vice chairwoman Wednesday morning. But the vote signaled a big change on the board.
Commissioner Gwen Welshimer made the recommendation for Kelly Parks to serve as chairman of the board for the next year, and the board voted 5-0 to do so. New commissioner Karl Peterjohn called for Welshimer to be vice chairwoman of the board. That vote also was unanimous.
The shift signals a new majority on the board. Former chairman Tom Winters and commissioners Tim Norton and Dave Unruh typically voted together when voters were split, and Parks and Welshimer voted together. Observers say that Parks, Welshimer and Peterjohn likely will be the new majority when voters are split, though the commission typically voters unanimously.
One Comment
Good change – it’s also time for Tim Norton to go – he costs the tax payers too much money with his studies. It wil be a good change for Kelly Parks to be the chair. He might be able to get something done now that Karl Peterjohn is a county commissioner.