Former Wichita City Council member Sharon Fearey has filed for Kelly Parks’ seat on the Sedgwick County commission. The Eagle earlier had reported that Fearey, a Democrat, was weighing a run for the District 4 seat. “The time that I have spent meeting and visiting with people during this period has been very helpful,” Fearey said in a news release. “As I continued to hear from people in the district, my commitment to them and my desire to tackle the issues they are concerned about became even stronger.”
Fearey was twice elected to the city council.
Lucy Burtnett, a Republican whom Parks defeated in 2006, also has filed for Parks’ seat.
Parks, a Republican, has not yet announced if he is running again.
In other commission races, Democrat Betty Arnold has filed for Dave Unruh’s District 1 seat. Unruh, a Republican, has filed to retain his seat.
Derby Mayor Dion Avello, a Republican, has filed for Gwen Welshimer’s District 5 seat. Welshimer, a Democrat, has filed to retain her spot on the board.
City Council member Jim Skelton also has told The Eagle he is considering running for Welshimer’s seat.
Derby City Council member Chuck Warren also has said he plans to run for that district.