He is no stranger to Barton County nor the Barton County Courthouse. However, he entered the building in a new capacity Monday morning.
Former Sheriff Jim Daily was sworn in as the new Fourth District county Commissioner by 20th Judicial District Chief Judge Mike Keeley in the commission chambers.
The ceremony took place before a pack house filled with law enforcement officers, retired law enforcement officers, family and friends. There were plenty of hugs and hand shakes as Daily was congratulated by those present.
“I am so appreciative of those who supported me in getting this position,” Daily said. “I am looking forward to doing this. It is going to be fun.”
After Daily took the oath and was officially seated at the commission table, the newly constituted commission elected Jennifer Schartz as commission chairwoman and Kenny Schremmer as chairman pro tem. They will serve in these posts for the balance of 2019.
Daily, now 66, was elected to three terms as Barton County Sheriff, serving from 1989-2001. He went on to be the Newton Chief of Police until he retired four years ago.
He moved back to Barton County last September and now lives between Great Bend and Ellinwood. Although he’s been gone for a while, Daily said Barton County became his home in 1973. According to the Barton County website. District Four covers the far southeast corner of Great Bend, and Clarence, Pawnee Rock, Liberty, South Bend, Comanche and Lakin townships in the southern half of the county. That includes the cities of Ellinwood, Dundee and Pawnee Rock.
He replaces Alicia Straub of Ellinwood who resigned to fill a vacancy for the 113th Kansas House district seat. He was selected by the Barton County Republican Central Committee on the evening of April 1 in a convention at the courthouse.
Straub was appointed to the state position following the resignation of Greg Lewis of Stafford who left due to his on-going battle with brain cancer. The 113th encompasses all of Pratt and Stafford counties, and parts of Barton, Pawnee and Rice counties.
