By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Tricia Schlessiger will not officially be sworn into the Barton County Commission until January, but that has not stopped her from logging some hours on county-related business. Before and after the August primary, Schlessiger has attended meetings and done her research. With the win in Tuesday's general election, she's ready to get to work.
"I think the new commissioners, plus the two that are staying on, are going to make a great team," she said. "I think we have already laid some groundwork to work together for the best of the county. I think we all have the ability to see both points of view and try to make decisions that are good for the majority. I'm excited for that. I think it's going to be a great team, and I'm just excited to get started."
Schlessiger will represent District 4 on the commission. That district covers nearly the southern half of Barton County, minus Great Bend and an area north of Great Bend. Schlessiger defeated incumbent Jon Prescott in the August primary, and ran uncontested in Tuesday's general election.
Schlessiger will be joined by new commissioners Duane Reif and Donna Zimmerman in January. Along with attending commission meetings, Schlessiger and Reif also attended the Kansas Association of Counties meeting in Overland Park last month. Schlessiger is ready to set goals for the county, as well as examine its strength and weaknesses.
"Some of the goals I had set was addressing child care and housing," she said. "I think I'd like to see if we could set maybe some more goals, and maybe a vision for our county, where we want to head. I think that would be a good direction to go."
The three new commissioners will replace Prescott, Kirby Krier, and Jennifer Schartz on Jan. 11, 2023.