Shannon Portillo adjourned her last Douglas County Commission meeting Wednesday evening.
Portillo, who is a professor and administrator at the University of Kansas, will soon be on her way to a new position in Arizona State University’s School of Public Affairs.
Commission Chair Shannon Reid joked that it was a “proud moment that we got to have a Shannon-majority county commission for a while.”
“I’ve just been really honored to serve alongside you and have learned a lot from you, and I’m excited about what’s to come for you and your family,” Reid said.
Commissioner Patrick Kelly said he appreciated Portillo’s service, dedication and her “brilliant insights” in her work on the commission and on the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.
Douglas County Administrator Sarah Plinsky said she really appreciates Portillo’s dedication to the position and her service to the county, “and wish her the best as she moves to Arizona.”
Portillo said it had been an honor to get to work with Reid and Kelly, and to get to know Plinsky.
“It’s been really eye-opening and a fantastic experience to be able to serve as an elected official in local government,” Portillo said. “I think we got a lot done in 18 months, and I’m deeply appreciative of that. So thank you, and I’m sad that it will no longer be a majority-Shannon commission, but I’m looking forward to all of the progress you continue to make as you move forward.”
Portillo was elected in November 2020. Filling the remainder of her role on the county commission will be Karen Willey, who was selected by the Democratic precinct committeepeople of the third Douglas County commission district on Aug. 28.
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Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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