Sedgwick County commissioner Kelly Parks has given the official announcement that he will not run for a second term. An informal announcement was made a week ago, but Parks met with reporters in Valley Center Friday to talk about his reasons for not seeking re-election in district 4.
Parks said it's time to look at a different career path for now. He says he may try to revive a program that may be dropped by the state of Kansas. He would not say what that program is, but he believes there's a good prospect to privatize that program.
Parks said he may consider running for sheriff or a state office in 2012. He says in the meantime, he will work hard over the next 10 months as he completes his term in district four. He says drawing new boundaries for commission districts will be one priority, after the 2010 census. He also wants to make changes in the county court system.
Parks says he has heard that fiscal conservative candidates from the Democratic and Republican parties will be looking at running in district four, and there may be more information coming out in the next few weeks. Two candidates have already filed for the office. Former Wichita city council member Sharon Fearey has filed as a Democrat, and former county commissioner Lucy Burtnett will be a Republican candidate.
George Lawson
Posted: March 19, 2010 17:54