photo by: Contributed

Patrick Kelly

Incumbent Patrick Kelly has entered the race for the District 1 seat on the Douglas County Commission.

Kelly has lived in Douglas County since 1989 when he came to attend the University of Kansas. He worked at Lawrence Public Schools for 31 years as a teacher and building and district administrator before retiring in 2024. Before serving on the Douglas County Commission, he served on the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission and the Lawrence Douglas County Planning Commission.

Kelly told the Journal-World that while the county has made progress in areas such as criminal justice, mental health, land use and senior services, with all progress, challenges remain.

“We need to make it easier to live in Douglas County,” Kelly said via email. “I appreciate the trust that our community has put in me to understand our challenges, seek multiple perspectives, and work together to strengthen Douglas County. I am running again because I can build on that experience and help carry the responsibility to provide services and a quality of life that define our community, while ensuring that Douglas County is a place where people can afford to live and thrive.”

However, Kelly said any solution has its trade-offs, and as a commissioner, it’s his job to listen and understand them.

“My approach is to elevate these tensions with curiosity, have robust conversations that challenge our assumptions, and then make decisions that balance affordability with long-term sustainability,” Kelly said.

Districts 1, 4 and 5 all have seats open on the County Commission. Gene Dorsey, representing District 4, filed for reelection in March. Erica Anderson, representing District 5, has not filed for reelection yet. The commissioners elected in 2026 will serve four-year terms.

The deadline to file for candidacy is noon on June 1. The deadline to register to vote or update voter registration information for the 2026 Primary Election is July 14. The primary election is on Aug. 4 and the general election is on Nov. 3.