Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab has tapped a former Johnson County Election Commissioner to take over the post for a short term appointment until current Westwood Chief Administrative Officer and City Clerk Fred Sherman steps into the role by January 2021.
Connie Schmidt, who was the Johnson County Election Commissioner from 1995 to 2004, will succeed Ronnie Metsker in the role to oversee the office during the 2020 elections. Sherman has been named Deputy Election Security Commissioner for 2020, and will become the Johnson County Election Commissioner no later than Jan. 5, 2021, according to Schwab’s office.
“We are pleased Ms. Schmidt will be returning as Johnson County Election Commissioner to oversee the 2020 elections,” Schwab said in a release. “Her knowledge and expertise in election administration will be invaluable to the county for the upcoming election cycle.”
Schmidt has more than three decades in local government administration, including time as city clerk of Merriam. Since leaving the Johnson County Election Office 15 years ago, she has managed her own election consulting business, which has local, state and federal entities as clients.
Schwab said Schmidt will work during this coming year to train Sherman for assumption of the role after the 2020 cycle.
“Mr. Sherman has an impressive background in management, finance and government,” Schwab said. “His experience, combined with Ms. Schmidt’s tutelage, will ensure a quality election experience for residents of Johnson County.”
Sherman, a resident of Olathe, has more than 25 years in municipal and county government administration. He holds a degree from KU and a master’s from Georgia Tech.
Representatives of Johnson County government as well as Schwab’s office conducted interviews with applicants for the position last week.
Metsker resigned in early December, opening up the job overseeing elections in the state’s largest county as the 2020 cycle got set to begin. Johnson County is one of just four counties in the state to have its top elections official appointed by the secretary of state instead of elected by residents.
