Governor Appoints Two New County Commissioners

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback Thursday named two individuals to seats on the Saline County Commission effective Jan. 12, 2015.

Luci Larson will fill the District 4 seat and David Smith is appointed to District 5.

Larson is a small business owner who has previously served on the Salina City Commission and as Mayor from 2009-2010. She is active in numerous volunteer organizations.

Smith has been active in Salina business since 1972, as a banker and real estate appraiser. He is active in the community and serves on several boards.

Voters in Saline County approved expansion of the county commission from three seats to five in the Nov. 4 election. This  triggered a statute that requires the Governor to appoint individuals to these newly created seats within 30 days of certification of the new districts. The commissioners will then stand for election in two years.

Separate from these appointments, the Governor expressed concern about whether the  statutory appointments process is truly appropriate in these circumstances.

“The people of Saline County voted for this expansion of the County Commission and they should have had the right to select its new members through the electoral process,” said Governor Brownback. “I believe this statute should be changed to allow the local community to choose its representatives.”