Ken Grotewiel, former assistant director of the Kansas Water Office, is running for Douglas County commissioner in the 3rd District.
Grotewiel, 58, filed Thursday as a Democrat.
"Lawrence and Douglas County is a wonderful place to live, and it's worth our efforts to continue its improvement," Grotewiel said. "The community is at a crossroads as development pressures increase and the population grows."
Grotewiel said he wants to preserve what makes the area special through growth that enhances the history and cultural advantages the county enjoys.
"These challenges are countywide, both in the city and the rural areas," he said. "In the end, we are all in this together."
Grotewiel served from 1983 to 1994 as state representative from Wichita in the Kansas Legislature. He served in a leadership capacity on utility and tax issues along with environmental and water issues.
Grotewiel has experience as a facilitator who has worked primarily to resolve water and natural resource disputes. He is a Kansas Supreme Court-approved mediator. He also worked as the director of the Consumer Assistance Division for the Kansas Insurance Department where he helped settle insurance complaints filed by consumers.
Grotewiel and his wife, Jennifer, moved this year to west Lawrence from Topeka.
"I've always been involved in the communities I've lived in," he said. "Serving as county commissioner would give me an opportunity to make a difference right away."
The 3rd District commissioner is Jere McElhaney. He is not seeking re-election.
The other Democrat to file in the district is Clenece Hills. Republicans John Tacha and Jim Flory also have filed.
Comments
max1 5 years, 9 months ago
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/jun/17/report_forecasts_boomer_demand_homes_resort_clinto/Topeka - A 150-room hotel, resort spa and 18-hole golf course at Clinton Lake, along with private lakeshore homes and recreation facilities, make good money sense, according to a state report.August 16, 2006http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/aug/16/first_meeting_lakedevelopment_study_leaves_some_di/Grotewiel said the study was meant only to aid local governments and groups as they plan and seek development."You can either have haphazard developments, or you can shape it," he said.The study found that Clinton Lake could support a 150-room hotel, a 40-room spa, more marina slips and an 18-hole golf course along with residential and second homes.17 August 2006http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/620187/clinton_lake_plan_meets_disapproval/index.htmlHaving spent $100,000 on a consultant's report touting the development potential of Clinton and other Kansas lakes, state officials came to Lawrence on Wednesday to talk about their study.The state agencies commissioned the study, which concluded that Clinton Lake could potentially also support homes, a 40-room spa resort, more marina slips and a possible 18-hole golf course. The retiring baby-boom generation could be counted on to make use of the new development, the consultants found.Ken Grotewiel, assistant director for the Kansas Water Office, also outlined the state Water Authority's recommendations for the lakes. In addition to encouraging development, the authority's recommendations call for reducing sedimentation at the reservoirs and ensuring that development doesn't degrade the lakes while preserving public access.
justthefacts 5 years, 10 months ago
I have nothing good or bad to say about him. However, it strikes me that he may want to live in Lawrence and/or Douglas county for a little while, before presuming to help run it....? Or is having lived in a place for awhile not the best way to get a flavor of what the people in it need/want most?
jhawknibod 5 years, 10 months ago
Ken is as good a guy as there is. His election would be a benefit to Douglas County and the citizens of Lawrence. Best of luck.
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