Two Democrats are running to represent Eudora, parts of eastern Lawrence, and east-central Douglas County as the commissioner for District 4.

Democrats Gene Dorsey (incumbent) and Ethan Spurling will face off in the Tuesday, Aug. 4 primary election. Barring highly unusual circumstances, the primary election will likely decide the commissioner who will be elected to the seat.

We asked candidates about the top issues driving them to run, whether the county should implement a moratorium on data centers and more.

We did not give candidates a word count limit but advised them to keep answers concise. Candidates’ answers appear below verbatim, minus minor typos edited for clarity.

Will this race be on my ballot? Check which Douglas County Commission district you’re in at myvoteinfo.voteks.org.

All registered Kansas voters are eligible to vote in the primary election because there’s a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Early voting in the primary election begins Wednesday, July 15. Voters can request a ballot to vote early by mail through Tuesday, July 28 at KSVotes.org. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, which is Tuesday, Aug. 4.

Find out more at lawrencekstimes.com/election2026. 

Jump to a topic:

• Meet the candidates
• Experience and qualifications
• Top 3 issues
• Property taxes
• Data centers
• Tenant eviction defense
• Nonprofit partners
• Commission expansion, dynamics
• Other issues
• Question for your opponent
• Free space
• Just for fun

This district

District 4, the green district on the map here, includes Eudora and much of eastern Douglas County, and it reaches west into portions of Lawrence as if it’s pointing a finger.

Its northern and eastern boundaries extend as far as the county line in some places. Its western boundary zigzags through east-central Lawrence, as far west as Iowa Street for a short stretch between West 19th and 23rd streets.

In Lawrence, its northern boundary hits around North 1550 Road/East 11th Street, running west just past Haskell Avenue and approximately to Burroughs Creek Trail before dipping south.

Its southern boundary in Lawrence runs along 23rd Street to Massachusetts Street, then heads south to East 30th Terrace and East 31st Street and includes most of Prairie Park neighborhood. At East 1800 Road, the boundary heads south to North 900 Road; at East 2000 Road, it heads further south to North 700 Road.

Click here to open a big zoomable PDF map of the district in a new tab.

Meet the candidates

About you and your positions

Q: What specific experience and qualifications do you possess that make you the best candidate for the seat you seek?

Dorsey: 35 year career as a corporate auditor, financial analyst, financial controller and most importantly 18 months as a county commissioner.

Spurling: I bring experience in both local and state government, along with a career focused on building partnerships and delivering results. I served four years on the Frontenac City Council, spent nearly four years in Governor Laura Kelly’s administration, and now lead government relations for a Lawrence based education nonprofit. Every day, I work with elected officials, community organizations, and other partners to solve complex problems, secure public funding, and improve opportunities for Kansas and Douglas County families.

My wife and I are proud to call Douglas County home, and we’re invested our collective future. I’m running to provide the kind of thoughtful, progressive leadership that reflects our community’s values; protecting our natural resources, supporting working people and families, and ensuring county government is transparent, accountable, and responsive.

I’m ready to serve on day one. I’ll bring practical experience, a fresh perspective, and a commitment to always putting the people of Douglas County first.

Q: Please list the top 3 issues motivating you to run for this office. What concrete ideas do you have to make a difference on each issue if you are elected?

Dorsey: Reduce the tax burden on the elderly living on fixed incomes, provide reasonable support for those suffering from incurable mental illness, protect and preserve our open spaces for future generations.

To reduce the tax burden the county commission needs to make hard choices on spending decisions and staffing, or expand the commercial/industrial base to move more of the tax burden away from individual homeowners. State law requires the county to provide assistance to those who are unable to care for themselves, the county provides this assistance through community partners such as Cottonwood, Bert Nash, DCCCA, and others. The balance between preserving farming and open space land and allowing further commercialization is a tough decision requiring community input.

Spurling:
1. Expanding affordable housing. Every person and family deserves the opportunity to live and thrive in Douglas County without being priced out of the community they call home. The County should work with our city governments, nonprofit organizations, and responsible developers to increase the supply of affordable housing while exploring creative solutions that help people stay housed. Programs like the Tenant Right to Counsel pilot recognize that preventing an eviction is often better, and less expensive, than responding to a housing crisis after it happens.

2. Responsible growth and development. Growth isn’t the problem. The wrong kind of development is. I’ll oppose large-scale data centers because they place enormous demands on our land, water, and energy while offering little long-term benefit to residents. Instead, we should focus on attracting businesses that create quality jobs, strengthen our local economy, broaden our tax base, and reflect our community’s values.

3. Making Douglas County more affordable. As a recent first-time homebuyer, my wife and I have felt the impact of rising property taxes and an increased cost of living ourselves. People and families deserve to know that every tax dollar is making a meaningful difference. That means taking a harder look at tax abatements, growing our tax base responsibly, and making sure every county investment is delivering the measurable results it was intended to achieve.

Q: Many Douglas County residents have voiced concerns about property taxes increasing over the last several years.

Do you believe that property taxes can be reduced from current rates? If yes, how would you reduce them, and if no, why not?

Dorsey: Yes, take a hard look at staffing decisions. One example, we paid 750 thousand in legal fees to the county attorney at a rate of about 225 an hour, hiring a staff attorney at say 80 an hour would save 300 thousand a year. But these decisions require at least three votes one commissioner cannot dictate. The county may need to fund only core departments, i.e. meaning services that all citizens use such as sheriff, fire and medical, the court system, road and bridges, and social services legally required.

Spurling: As a recent first-time homebuyer, my wife and I have experienced the impact of rising property taxes firsthand. We’ve been hit by the same increases that so many Douglas County people and families are facing, and I understand why residents are frustrated. I’m frustrated, too.

I believe Douglas County should do everything it can to reduce the property tax burden on residents, but we also have to be honest about what drives those costs. County government is only one part of a property tax bill, and simply cutting services isn’t the answer.

We also need to take a harder look at our tax policies. Too often, local governments offer generous tax abatements and incentives without asking whether they’re truly necessary or whether taxpayers are getting a fair return. When large corporations receive significant tax breaks, that tax burden doesn’t disappear. It often gets shifted onto homeowners and small businesses instead.

I believe in responsible economic growth that broadens our tax base, supports local businesses, and creates lasting value for Douglas County. We should reward projects that genuinely benefit our community, not simply subsidize growth for its own sake. My goal is to ease the burden on homeowners while continuing to provide the high-quality services our residents expect and deserve.

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Q: An issue that has gained a lot of attention recently is the potential for large-scale data centers to be developed in Lawrence and/or Douglas County.

Do you believe the county should establish a firm moratorium on data centers? What should voters know about your stance on data centers?

Dorsey: Yes. There are currently 4-5 data centers in Lawrence, there may be some in the county at the base of cell towers that I am not aware of. Most people think of data centers as multi-acre buildings. We all need to educate ourselves and make good decisions when those decisions affect natural resources such as water, land use, and power use. This needs to be a community discussion and not left up to 5 people. An official moratorium should be voted on as soon as I can get two other commissioners along with me to get it on the agenda.

Spurling: Yes. My position is simple: I do not support the construction of large-scale data centers in Douglas County. These projects consume enormous amounts of land, water, and energy while providing relatively few permanent jobs. I believe Douglas County can grow our economy without sacrificing our natural resources or quality of life. If elected, I will support an immediate three-year moratorium on new data center proposals while the County develops permanent, comprehensive, and strict regulations. Douglas County deserves economic development that reflects our values and puts residents first, not corporate interests.

Q: The commission in May approved a pilot program for two nonprofits to provide tenant eviction defense services at a cost of $40,000. Housing advocates had pushed for a larger tenant right to counsel program.

Note: It is too early to have data about the program’s performance — this question is only asking about the pilot program as approved.

• Incumbents, what was your vote on this program, and why? Newcomers, how would you have voted, and why?

• All candidates, please explain your view of the program as approved. Do you feel that it is doing enough? Doing too much?

Dorsey: I voted no. Of the approximately 1,000 eviction notices a year about 95% are for non payment of rent, under state law that is a civil issue for which there is no defense. Are there extenuating circumstances in a few cases? Yes and Holistic Defenders has been providing legal services for over two years under a private grant more than double the county pilot program sum. Paying an attorney will not keep someone in housing who has no money. My position is to use that money for rent subsidies not legal fees. Why have a pilot program on something that has been going on for two years?

Spurling: I would have voted in favor of the Tenant Right to Counsel pilot program, and I want to thank Lawrence Tenants for their leadership and advocacy in bringing this issue forward.

Affordable housing is one of the most complex challenges facing Douglas County, and we should be willing to explore creative solutions. This pilot program gives us the opportunity to evaluate whether helping renters navigate a complicated eviction process and connect with available resources can keep more people housed and reduce unnecessary displacement.

This is the kind of strategic, progressive investment I believe county government should make. By helping people before they reach a crisis, we can keep more families housed, reduce long-term public costs, and build a healthier, more stable Douglas County.

Q: The county provides funds for many nonprofit partners that aim to address certain issues across the community. Please explain whether you believe the commission currently has enough oversight and accountability for how those funds are spent, and whether you would like to see any changes made to the way things have been done in the past.

Dorsey: Pick community partners you trust and let them run their businesses. The county is not equipped with the expertise and passion that these professionals bring to their business. Set clear objectives for what you want them to accomplished up front and have them report periodically on progress.

Spurling: Douglas County’s nonprofit partners do incredible work, and I support continuing to invest in the services they provide. From affordable housing and behavioral health to youth programs and food assistance, these organizations help meet needs that county government cannot address alone.

At the same time, taxpayers deserve to know their dollars are being spent wisely. The County Commission has a responsibility to ask tough questions, set clear expectations, and measure whether programs are delivering the outcomes they were funded to achieve. That’s not a sign of distrust. It’s good stewardship of public resources. Supporting nonprofits and expecting accountability are not mutually exclusive, and while on the County Commission, I will do both.

Q: Since the commission expanded to five seats and two additional perspectives joined the mix, regular meeting attendees have observed changes in the dynamic of meetings. What thoughts do you have about how the commission and its meetings have changed?

Dorsey: I have only been on a commission with 5 seats so what is normal to me may not seem normal to legacy commissioners. Like any change, people take time to adjust and the legacy commissioners and county administrator are in that period of adjustment.

Spurling: I supported expanding the County Commission from three members to five because I believe broader representation makes for better government. Adding two new districts brought new perspectives to the table, and I think that’s healthy.

As for the meetings themselves, it’s natural for five commissioners to have more discussion and a wider range of opinions than three. I don’t see that as a negative, so long as commissioners remain respectful, listen to one another, and stay focused on serving the people of Douglas County.

Optional questions

Q: What county issue or issues that we have not asked about here do you believe voters should pay close attention to during this election, and why? Explain your stance on the issue(s)?

Dorsey: (no response)

Spurling: One thing I’d encourage voters to pay attention to is how well we work together across Douglas County. Some of our biggest challenges, like affordable housing, transportation, behavioral health, and economic development, can’t be solved by one city or one organization acting alone.

Throughout my career, I’ve worked to bring people together around common goals. I’ve seen firsthand that the best solutions come from partnerships, not silos. I want the County to be a leader in bringing cities, schools, nonprofits, businesses, and residents to the same table to solve problems together.

At the end of the day, we’re all working toward the same goal: making Douglas County a place where every person and family has the opportunity to thrive.

Q: Please share a question we didn’t ask that you’d like your fellow candidates to answer. How would you respond?

Dorsey: (no response)

Spurling: Where do you want Douglas County to be 10 years from now, and what should we start doing today to get there?

Ten years from now, I want Douglas County to be a place where every person and family can afford to live, where we protect our natural resources, and where economic growth reflects our community’s values. I want us to be a welcoming county where every person is valued and has the opportunity to thrive.

Getting there means making smart and bold decisions today. We need to expand affordable housing, support local businesses, protect the places that make Douglas County special, and make strategic investments that produce measurable results. If we stay focused on people instead of special interests, I believe we can build a county that is more affordable, more sustainable, and full of opportunity for everyone.

Q: Free space: Please share anything you’d like voters to know about you and your stances that we haven’t asked here.

Dorsey: (no response)

Spurling: If there’s one thing I’d like voters to know, it’s that I’m the pragmatic progressive in this race. I believe government should tackle our biggest challenges with practical solutions and a commitment to improving people’s lives. We can expand affordable housing, protect our natural resources, support working people and families, and grow our economy without compromising the values that make Douglas County such a special place to call home.

I’m proud to have earned the support of Representative Brooklynne Mosley, Teamsters Local 696, Douglas County Young Democrats, the Kansas Young Democrats, and Eudora City Commissioner Jason Musick. Those endorsements reflect the kind of leadership I’ll bring to the County Commission: collaborative, forward-looking, and grounded in the belief that county government should work for the people it serves.

I’m ready to bring a fresh perspective to the County Commission and I am asking for your vote in the Democratic Primary for Douglas County Commission, District 4, on or before August 4.

Just for fun

Candidates were not required to answer any of these questions, but we wanted to give our readers a chance to get to know them a little better and have some fun with this.

Dorsey:

Favorite color? Blue

Zodiac sign? Libra

Do you have any pets, and/or what’s your favorite animal? I have a 78 pound, 4 year old sheepadoodle named Bodhi.

Favorite book, TV show and/or movie? The Count of Monte Cristo

What’s a fun fact our readers may not know about you? (Have a hidden talent? Interesting hobby?) I have visited over 40 countries.

Spurling:

Favorite color? Blue

Zodiac sign? Scorpio

Do you have any pets, and/or what’s your favorite animal? We have one rescue dog named Teddy, after Theodore Roosevelt. We also have two birds named Winnie and Daisy.

Favorite book, TV show and/or movie? I’m watching Dark Winds right now and highly recommend it!

What’s a fun fact our readers may not know about you? (Have a hidden talent? Interesting hobby?) I’m a bit of a vinyl record enthusiast. I enjoy hunting for records at local shops and listening to everything from classic rock to jazz. There’s just something about putting on a record that streaming can’t quite replace.

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