Jim Howell chosen chairman of Sedgwick County Commission
Jim Howell will be the Sedgwick County Commission chairman for 2016.
“I am extremely honored,” Howell said after the commission’s Wednesday meeting. “This is a big responsibility and I’m looking forward to the challenges.”
Richard Ranzau was the chairman during 2015.
Howell was a state legislator from 2011 to 2014, representing part of Derby and Wichita. He left the Legislature in 2014 to run for county commission.
He often joins commissioners Karl Peterjohn and Richard Ranzau to create a more conservative commission majority. And he has been the swing vote when commissioners are split on an issue.
Peterjohn nominated Howell, citing his legislative experience. The chairman or chairwoman runs commission meetings and also influences what gets discussed or voted on during the meetings.
“I look forward to having opportunities to steer this commission in a way that I think brings some image-building to the county and some relationship-building with our partners,” Howell said.
He said he wants the county to work together more with city of Wichita leaders. The two governments have been at odds over the distribution of money from the county-wide 1-cent-on-the-dollar sales tax.
As long as we continue to talk about that here between us locally, it continues to divide us. I don’t think that’s healthy.
Sedgwick County Chairman Jim Howell on city
county debate over sales tax revenueWichita City Council members say the city is not getting enough money under the current formula set by the state. Their lobbyists plan to lobby the Legislature in Topeka about an exemption for the formula, which all five county commissioners oppose.
“As long as we continue to talk about that here between us locally, it continues to divide us,” Howell said. “I don’t think that’s healthy.”
He said the county will soon vote on more economic development support, including for the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition, “just to show good faith to this community and to the city of Wichita that we’re partners.”
Commissioners voted for Howell 4-1, with commissioner Tim Norton nominating commissioner Dave Unruh. Commissioners also voted 4-1 to make Ranzau the chair pro tem, who runs commission meetings when the chairman is absent.
Daniel Salazar: 316-269-6791, @imdanielsalazar
This story was originally published January 13, 2016 at 12:43 PM with the headline "Jim Howell chosen chairman of Sedgwick County Commission."