Jim Howell
Republican · KS · Sedgwick County Commissioner, District 5
Sedgwick County Commissioner for District 5, Air Force veteran, and former two-term Kansas House member. He has pushed for taxpayer transparency, stronger ethics rules and fiscal responsibility.
Where Jim Howell stands, based on their records
Supports
Social Programs and Welfare (1 record)
Opposes
Environment and Public Health (3 records), Government Spending Reduction (2 records)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 3 oppose
Made the motion to receive, but not enact, the county health officer's order bringing back masks. It passed 3-2. He called masks a "Band-Aid."
August 20, 2021Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: kmuw.org
Voted yes to let public and private K-12 schools opt out of the county's mask order. The exemption passed 3-2.
March 16, 2021Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: kmuw.org
Voted no on a motion to strongly recommend, but not require, masks in Sedgwick County. He wanted to delay the governor's mask order a week, calling it "not ready for prime time."
July 2, 2020Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: kmuw.org
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 2 oppose
Moved to add $125,000 to the county Department on Aging budget. When the vote was put off, he cast the only no vote on the 2023 budget and on the delay.
August 31, 2022Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: theactiveage.com
Voted yes on Sedgwick County's 2016 budget, a $394 million operating budget with about 29.4 mills of property tax. It passed 3-2.
August 12, 2015Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: sedgwick.gov
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 1 support
Moved to add $125,000 to the county Department on Aging budget. When the vote was put off, he cast the only no vote on the 2023 budget and on the delay.
August 31, 2022Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: theactiveage.com
Track record — General
General · 10 records
Publicly called on fellow commissioner Michael O'Donnell and two other officials to resign after a secretly recorded plan for a false attack ad came out.
October 26, 2020
Source: kwch.com
Voted yes on a $205,420 settlement with departing County Manager Michael Scholes, which passed 3-2. He said it was the best way to protect county taxpayers.
November 30, 2018
Source: kwch.com
Voted no on hiring an outside lawyer to run a county investigation. The plan passed 3-2. He said commissioners had not been told the investigation's scope or goal.
October 10, 2018
Source: kmuw.org
Was chosen chairman of the Sedgwick County Commission for 2016 in a 4-1 vote of his fellow commissioners.
January 13, 2016
Source: kmuw.org
Won the Sedgwick County Commission 5th District seat on November 4, 2014, beating Democrat Richard Young. He left the Kansas House to join the commission.
November 4, 2014
Source: kmuw.org
Co-sponsored HB 2199, the Kansas Second Amendment Protection Act, a gun-rights bill. The House passed the final version 89-23, and the governor signed it on May 30, 2013.
May 30, 2013
Source: kslegislature.gov
Co-sponsored HB 2324 in the Kansas House, a bill banning abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be found. It was introduced February 13, 2013, and died in committee.
February 13, 2013
Source: kslegislature.gov
Co-sponsored HB 2067 in the Kansas House, a bill requiring voters to show a photo ID to vote. The governor signed it on April 18, 2011.
April 18, 2011
Source: kslegislature.gov
Co-sponsored HB 2218 in the Kansas House, a bill banning most abortions at 22 weeks and later, based on a claim that the fetus can feel pain. The governor signed it on April 8, 2011.
April 8, 2011
Source: kslegislature.gov
Co-sponsored HB 2006 in the Kansas House, a bill ending in-state college tuition for students living in the U.S. illegally. It passed the House 72-50 on February 22, 2011, then died in a Senate committee.
February 22, 2011
Source: kslegislature.gov
Past race Jim Howell ran in:
- County Commissioner 5th District · November 3, 2026 · Sedgwick County, Kansas · incumbent