John Brocker is in line to take a seat as the next Allen County Commissioner.
Brocker was nominated Thursday evening to represent the Third District, vacated last month by Jim Talkington’s resignation.
Committee members came to their decision in only 21 minutes, limiting discussion by the seven hopefuls to the three who secured nominations from among committee members.
A crowd of about 35 attended the meeting. They, too, were advised they could have no impact on the meeting’s proceedings and could not offer comments.
Brocker’s nomination will now go before Gov. Jeff Colyer for his official stamp of approval.
In addition to Brocker, six threw their hats into the ring: Fred Apt, Steve French, Bo Garrett, Karen Gilpin, Scott Stewart and Bruce Symes.
Gilpin received a nomination, but failed to have the motion seconded.
Apt, Brocker and Symes each had their nominations seconded, after which they were invited to give brief synopses of their qualifications.
In secret balloting, Brocker received five votes, Symes three, and Apt none.
Those voting were eight precinct representatives of the Third District, from the First, Third and Fourth wards of Iola and South Iola Township.
Brocker will be seated as soon as he is appointed, and will serve through the end of the year.
The remaining two years of Talkington’s four-year term will be filled by election in November. Brocker, 67, told the Register “I think I might file.” He and others have until June 1 to file for the November election.
Jerry Daniels, who represents the south and east parts of the county and whose term expires this year, has announced he will seek re-election for second four-year term. Tom Williams, who represents Iola’s Second Ward and rural areas east, west and north of Iola, has two years remaining in his term.
IN A SHORT presentation before the voting, Brocker said his extensive experience with Kansas and National Realtor organizations would serve him well as a commissioner. Brocker, in the real estate business for 43 years, was president of the Kansas Association of Realtors in 2012.
He will have an inclusive approach to the position, Brocker said: “We have to understand that all in the county are involved” in whatever decisions commissioners make, and he intends to be “fiscally responsible” and “do due diligence” in all considerations.
