The 2nd District Neosho County Commissioner plans to resign at the end of January, the commission heard Friday morning.
County Counselor Seth Jones said during Friday’s meeting that Commissioner Jennifer Orr intends to resign. Orr has not notified County Clerk Randal Neely or the Kansas Governor, Jones said.
“Her job apparently won’t allow her to continue to come,” he said.
Orr has not attended commission meetings since Nov. 30, when she read a statement expressing frustration with a scheduling change of a previous meeting. She said at that time she did not intend to seek re-election.
Orr was elected in 2016 as a non-affiliated candidate and later affiliated with the Democratic Party. Jones said he does not think the party affiliation will matter, and mentioned a Topeka case where an official switched parties before resigning.
Under normal circumstances, the local party would nominate a replacement who would be appointed by the governor. Jones said that even if a notice went to the governor’s office today, Republican Governor Jeff Colyer would not have time to do anything in the few days before Democratic Governor Laura Kelly takes office.
“It’s possible but unlikely,” Jones said.
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)