Gene Dorsey, left, and Mike Kelso, right

In District 4, one of the newly created Douglas County Commission districts, a Democrat from Lawrence and another from the Eudora area are vying for a spot on the November general election ballot.

Gene Dorsey, who serves on the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center board of directors, and Mike Kelso, a member of the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission, are the two Democrats in the District 4 primary. Whoever wins will face two other candidates in November: Libertarian Steve Jacob and Republican Timothy Bruce.

District 4 includes a small portion of southeastern Lawrence, Eudora and Eudora Township, and the small portion of Wakarusa Township located between Grant Township and the eastern edge of Lawrence.

Gene Dorsey

Dorsey, a retired financial controller and third-generation Kansan, was raised in Gardner and has been a resident of Lawrence since 2005. He co-founded the Schwegler Neighborhood Association, served as its secretary for six years, and is currently the secretary and treasurer on the Bert Nash board.

Dorsey said his experience of taking care of his son, who died of heart failure in 2022, has given him insight into mental health issues and would help him be a better public servant.

“I know from experience how important it is to have a compassionate county,” Dorsey told the Journal-World. “But it’s also important to constantly evaluate the county’s investments in new programs for social services to see whether they’re actually making a difference in the lives of our most vulnerable populations.”

In a response to a Journal-World questionnaire, Dorsey mentioned two issues Douglas County needed to focus on: being transparent about pay for elected officials in accordance with state law, and spending more time on making budget decisions.

“Expanding to five commissioners will allow each to have more time to focus on details,” Dorsey said. “As a full-time commissioner, I will bring my expertise to the table.”

Mike Kelso

Kelso resides south of Eudora in rural Douglas County. He is a senior IT systems manager at Epiq and also serves on the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission. Beyond his planning experience, Kelso has served in multiple other leadership roles in local governments and organizations over the years, including a 12-year term on the Eudora school board, 10 years with the East Central Kansas Cooperative for Education, and six years of representing Eudora Township on the Douglas County Fair Board.

He said he wants to ensure that the county’s rural communities have a presence on the County Commission. As a member of the Planning Commission, he said, he has contributed to rewriting wind energy regulations in Douglas County and is familiar with the issues surrounding energy projects. In regards to solar energy, he said he believes location is everything. Kelso said he voted against the solar project being developed by Savion because of concerns about its proposed location.

“Factors such as potential impact on prime agricultural land, wildlife habitats, and the risk of water contamination were pivotal in my decision,” Kelso said. “Additionally, the unresolved issue of potential flooding in Northern Lawrence during storms underscores the need for meticulous planning and proactive solutions.”

In response to a Journal-World questionnaire, Kelso said an issue the Douglas County Commission needs to focus on is actively listening to every voice the body represents, regardless of which district each commissioner is from.

“Each citizen’s viewpoint and concerns deserve genuine attention, whether they cast a vote or not,” Kelso said. “Our decisions impact the entire county, transcending district lines, making it essential to grasp and respect what matters to everyone.”