Shawnee County Commissioner Kevin Cook is seeking reelection. Here are his reasons why.

Shawnee County Commissioner Kevin Cook is running for the District 2 seat he has held since January 2013.

Cook, a Democrat, said there are many ongoing projects that he wants to see be completed.

"When we look at some of the road projects that are going on, some of the construction projects that are going on, changing how we operate and do some of our businesses in business operations in Shawnee County, there's a lot of really exciting things that have been undergoing in the last year," Cook told The Capital-Journal.

"And again, with the COVID pandemic that really sidetracked or put some things on hold that otherwise we would be able or could have been able to have accomplished."

Community problems push Kevin Cook to remain in District 2 seat

Despite having the District 2 seat for 11 years, Cook said he remains motivated as a commissioner because of the community problems that need to be addressed.

"One of the largest challenges that we have been working on addressing and really making a priority is persistent mental health and homelessness," he said, "And how do you make that impact in Shawnee County? I think that we really need to look at how do we get mental health addressed before a crime is committed, how do we get mental health addressed before a person winds up in the Shawnee County Jail?

"Because mental health and homelessness, those do go hand in hand. Those are not separate issues."

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Such new projects as recreational facilities, amenities added to current buildings, road projects and more are also what Cook looks forward to if reelected.

"We're going to be looking at some real endeavors, road construction projects, looking at the road construction on Rochester Road that extends from the Walmart almost all the way up to Seaman High School," he said. "That is going to be a monumental road construction project for north Shawnee County.

"If we look at the recent possible acquisition of the Florence Construction Co. site on Kansas Avenue and looking at the ability to move the mowing crews off of the lake and the opportunities to look at new projects for Lake Shawnee right at 29th and Roco, it has the best, most beautiful view of the lake."

Deadline to file is June 3

Commissioners serve four-year terms. This year's deadline to file to run for office will be at noon June 3. Primary elections will be Aug. 6, with general elections Nov. 5.

One other candidate, local developer Henry McClure has filed to run, for the commission's District 2 seat, which covers the north-central and northeast parts of the county.

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Cook graduated from Washburn in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and speech communications. He and his wife, Julie, have three children.

He also attended Washburn Law School, receiving a law degree in 1999 and is a member of the Kansas Bar Association, Topeka Bar Association, the Optimist Club and First Baptist Church.

Cook owns Cook Law Office, a law firm in Topeka.

Keishera Lately is the business reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. She can be reached at klately@cjonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @Lately_KT.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kevin Cook files for reelection to Shawnee County Commission