David Lee, who has worn a variety of hats in the public sphere, has thrown his name in the race for an Allen County Commission seat.
Lee, of LaHarpe, filed Wednesday to represent District 2, which covers much of northern Allen County, including LaHarpe and Gas and the northeastern quadrant of Iola.
Lee joins a race that already features two other Republican hopefuls, Craig Mentzer and Gene Weatherbie. Incumbent Bill King has said he will not seek re-election.
In addition to multiple stints on the LaHarpe City Council, Lee has been a USD 257 Board of Education member, Allen Community College trustee and a member of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center Commission.
He retired last June as a colonel with the U.S. Army and Army Reserves and Kansas Army National Guard, where he served more than 34 years, including serving two tours in Iraq.
Lee spent the past 3½ years working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a liaison between FEMA, the Department of Defense and the Kansas Department of Emergency Management.
But upon his retirement from those duties, “I’m at a point in my life where my obligation level is real low,” Lee said. “Things are pretty low-key.
“I have no agendas, but I do have interests,” he continued.
Topping the list is economic development for the county. He currently serves on an economic development advisory board for Thrive Allen County.
“My experiences and formal education have given me an understanding of how businesses work, and yes the county is a business,” he said. “I understand the financial aspects and logistics that it takes to run a business. I understand the human dynamics and relationships it takes to continue and move a business forward. I understand the leadership role that leaders, commissioners in this case, must undertake to help advance the county, especially in the current pandemic environment we find ourselves in.
“In today’s environment — and who knows how long this pandemic will go on — it’s important to have an emergency management background,” Lee continued. “I have experience with FEMA and KDEM, and I know and understand how they work, what they bring to the table.”
He is taking precautions while campaigning for the seat amid the coronavirus crisis, including setting up a campaign website, lee4countycommissioner.com and Facebook page.
Lee carries a master’s degree in business management, and works with his father, Harry, and brothers Kevin and Jason at LaHarpe Communications, Inc./Newwave Broadband.
VOTERS will pick from Lee, Mentzer and Weatherbie in an Aug. 4 primary vote, with the winner advancing to the November general election. Meanwhile, incumbent Bruce Symes remains the only candidate for the commission’s District 3, which covers all but the northeast quadrant of Iola, plus Bassett and South Iola Township. District 2 covers much of the northern part of Allen County, including LaHarpe, Gas and the northeastern reaches of Iola.
No Democrats have filed for either seat.
