Kingman County GOP

06/16/2026

The City of Kingman TIF (Tax Increment Financing) board meets at 5pm this evening at city hall, and they will be discussing "the visitor information center" - ie: The gas station at the corner of Main & 54 the city bought a few years ago with plans to turn it into a "visitor information center".

Previously the plan was estimated to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to renovate the building - with some of it coming from grant money, and of course some coming from "TIF money" which IS local property tax money. Furthermore, with the city now owning that corner lot, Kingman gets NO property tax income from any of the four corners of city's main intersection (Church, School, City owned building, and Library). With no property tax coming from this prime real estate, city property tax payers have to pay more property tax for their homes.

Does Kingman need a visitor information center? Does Kingman need a visitor information center taking up the prime piece of real estate in town?

06/15/2026

Alana McWilliams, candidate for Kansas Board of Education in our 7th District, will also be joining us at our June meeting.

7pm, June 18th, Kingman Expo Center. Alana McWilliams, Ken Rahjes, and Congressman Estes.



https://www.alanamcwilliams.com/district-7?fbclid=IwY2xjawSc9XVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFldE5vY0pVaHl4cjVUMEU3c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHld26HNTqij7_0xLS4BJPKBkNNysPDGha8iNrBQYyHf7SoUzTPuh3Mq8WpwH_aem_6bMH6nD4Fu1M2ii_rEkPYg

Kansas State Board of Education District 7 serving Hutchinson, Salina, Newton, Great Bend, Pratt, and central Kansas communities.

06/14/2026

06/14/2026

Happy Flag Day!

06/14/2026

Meet your Candidates for Kingman County 1st District Commissioner: Bonnie Kopper

Commissioner forum will be held at 6:30pm, June 24th at the Norwich Dotzour Center (238 S. Main Street).

Please email questions you would like asked to [email protected]

BONNIE KOPPER

My name is Bonnie Kopper, I’m running for Kingman County Commissioner District 1 as a strong conservative who believes the citizens should have a voice in the future of Kingman County.
I’ved lived in Kingman County for almost 23 years. I’m wife and mother who has been a Girl Scout leader, school volunteer, a school fundraiser, and have managed businesses as well as owned my own. I have over 17 years as a Deputy City Clerk combined with being a Court Clerk for 9 years and a Planning and Zoning Administrator for 16 years. All of this experience equips me with valuable skills that include direct effective communication, envisionment, budgetary management, and extensive planning and zoning knowledge when combined with my core values of being fiscally conservative and a proponent of limited government and accountability, uniquely prepare me to help lead Kingman County to the future.
Kingman County for years has had limited growth. With Sedgwick County’s growth, people and businesses are looking into Kingman County for expansion. Recently, we have started growing with new developments, housing, and the solar industry wanting our farmland. In listening to the citizens, they want to protect their lifestyle, retain the rural environment, and protect our natural resources with water being a major concern.
I believe in being proactive rather than reactive on Zoning and Planning. What are the Citizens dreams on what they want Kingman County to be and look like? We have less than 7200 people in Kingman County, not a of lot tax payers which makes it vital to be financially responsible with the tax money and examine expenditures to cut spending when prudent to control property taxes. More development would bring in tax dollars but it needs to be planned and not just haphazard. To grow the County, you need jobs, housing, and services for people or they go out of county to work and spend their money. Housing and jobs allow young families to move back home. It’s a balance to retain what we have and yet grow. As this develops the County will need to look at how it will change to accommodate the growth and needed services while being fiscally conservative and cognizant of our rural culture that we embrace.
I understand the importance of Zoning and Planning, I understand the need to spend tax dollars responsibly, I understand that the Citizens of Kingman County have dreams, want to have a say in the growth, envision how it will affect them, their children, grandchildren, and future generations. We have one chance to get it right, once something is planned it is difficult to change. So many issues are happening, developers buying fertile farmland, solar industry, data centers, battery storage systems, drought causing low water table, heavy industries, housing developments, small towns struggling to survive, and prices climbing daily that affect the citizens and county that need to be dealt with. From what I heard at recent meetings, the public hearing, and with talking to people of Kingman County they do not feel that they are being heard.
I will listen. My conservative viewpoints and values represent Kingman County voters of District 1, many who are friends and neighbors. My ethical fact-based decision making, fiscal responsibility, and my experience will help move Kingman County forward, build a future together to be proud to pass down to our children and grandchildren. I would be honored to represent you. Vote for who will strengthen Kingman County and embrace your values.
I humbly ask for your vote on August 4th.

Honest—Direct --Ethical

06/14/2026

Meet your Candidates for Kingman County 1st District Commissioner: Michelle Kyle

Commissioner forum will be held at 6:30pm, June 24th at the Norwich Dotzour Center (238 S. Main Street).

Please email questions you would like asked to [email protected]

MICHELLE KYLE

I have been a part of the Norwich community since 1975. After graduating from Norwich High School, I received my undergraduate and graduate degrees from Wichita State University’s College of Business. I was blessed with a 35-year career in banking and financial services; thirty-one of those years with Fidelity Bank in Wichita. For much of my career, I was part of the bank’s executive leadership team and served as Chief Operating Officer. I was a member of the decision-making team that drove the bank’s growth; eventually becoming one of the largest family-owned institutions in the area. I am skilled at strategic planning, creating and managing multimillion-dollar budgets, negotiating detailed vendor contracts, and navigating through times of economic downturn and prosperity. My skills are aligned well with the skills needed for County Commissioner.
I retired from the bank four years ago and have joined USD 331, working full-time for Norwich Schools. I truly enjoy working in the community in which I live. My husband, Curtis, is a lifetime resident of Norwich and has rebuilt his family’s business in our community; Kyle’s Service (a retail and agricultural tire business). After receiving their college degrees, both of our children now reside and work in Kingman County.
Over the years, I have served as a city council member for Norwich, and I have been a member of our school’s Site Council and Booster Club. I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Kingman Healthcare Center.

Why I’m running for County Commission
Each year, I am burdened by our rising property taxes. This yearly tax creep is a statewide issue, driven by decisions that take place in Topeka and within our local governments. Fiscal responsibility should be the county’s primary objective, and I can provide a fresh, conservative perspective on the county’s budget. If elected, I will promote a county vision that focuses on both short and long term economic objectives. I will challenge existing budgets and routine expenditures. I will identify ways to eliminate unnecessary expenses, while preserving a solid infrastructure that allows our county to prosper. I will not work in isolation, but as a collaborate leader, seeking feedback from my peers, our city officials, members of our school board, and more importantly, our constituents. Difficult discussions don’t both me. They challenge me to ensure multiple perspectives are identified as we arrive at a final decision. Always keeping in mind, I am working on behalf of taxpayers and their tax dollars.
I know there are key issues on the table that will affect our county and its residents. We will continually be approached by outside entities, asking us to make decisions that could affect the landscape of our county. I will use the skills I have acquired to dig into the details and identify the “fine print” that typically drives the long-term impact of complex decisions. I am committed to listening to both sides of difficult discussions, and making decisions that strengthen Kingman County, while promoting fiscal conservatism and financial responsibility.

06/14/2026

Meet your Candidates for Kingman County 1st District Commissioner: Renee Elpers

Commissioner forum will be held at 6:30pm, June 24th at the Norwich Dotzour Center (238 S. Main Street).

Please email questions you would like asked to [email protected]

06/12/2026

Please join us in welcoming our US Congressman Ron Estes to Kingman, 7pm on Thursday, June 18th, at the Kingman Expo Center. Ken Rahjes, candidate for Lieutenant Governor, will also be joining us.

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