McMillen defeats Meitzner in Sedgwick County District 1

Sarah McMillen flipped the Sedgwick County Commission's District 1 seat on Tuesday, Nov. 3, defeating incumbent Pete Meitzner by about 2,000 votes.

McMillen, a Democrat and Kechi resident, collected 21,127 votes to Meitzner's 19,124 with all 98 of 98 precincts reporting, according to Wichita Eagle election results. She captured 52.5% of the vote, according to the Eagle's post-election summary. The Eagle's results page was originally published at 7:41 p.m. Nov. 3.

98 of 98 precincts reporting.

That result will make McMillen the commission’s sole Democrat when she takes office in January.

Meitzner, a Republican, was seeking a third term. His defeat ends approximately 15 consecutive years in local elected office when his term expires, KWCH reported. Before his eight years on the county commission, Meitzner served seven years on the Wichita City Council representing District 2.

McMillen owns a psychotherapy clinic and has worked as a licensed therapist for more than 25 years, according to her candidate questionnaire responses. She told the Eagle she is looking forward to putting residents first, naming budget issues and data center regulations as top priorities.

During the campaign, McMillen called for an extended moratorium on data centers and said tax abatements should not be freely given to large corporations, according to her questionnaire responses. She also said she was against commissioner pay raises while programs and jobs were being cut.

Other commission races

In District 5, Republican incumbent Jim Howell won re-election over Libertarian challenger Olivia Hayse. Howell finished with 15,635 votes to Hayse's 11,394, taking 57.6% of the vote with all 116 precincts reporting.

In District 4, Republican incumbent Ryan Baty ran unopposed.

McMillen, Howell and Baty will all be sworn in when their new terms begin in January, according to KWCH.