photo by: Contributed

Gary Rexroad

A member of the Lawrence Douglas County Planning Commission announced Tuesday that he has filed for election to the City Commission.

Gary Rexroad is the latest to announce his candidacy for a city seat. Rexroad, who said in a press release that he been retired for three years retired after working for Microsoft, was appointed in 2021 to the Planning Commission, where he helped develop the city’s new Land Development Code, which the City Commission approved in November of last year.

Rexroad, a Kansas native who moved to Lawrence 25 years ago, said in the release that he has been active in the community, serving with local groups like the United Way and the Lawrence chamber of commerce, among others.

Rexroad said his platform includes three key priorities: affordable and accessible housing; fiscal responsibility and smart budgets; and job creation and economic prosperity.

Rexroad is the seventh person to seek election for one of two at-large seats on the five-member commission. Eric Hyde, Alex Kerr, Steve Jacob, Ruby Mae Johnson and Bob Schumm are also running, as well as Commissioner Bart Littlejohn, as the Journal-World reported. Commissioner Lisa Larsen, whose term is expiring, has not yet announced whether she plans to run.

The deadline to file for a seat on the Lawrence City Commission is June. 2. If necessary, a primary will be held on Aug. 5. The general election will be on Nov. 4.