Elmore Joins City Council
During the February 3, 2026 meeting of the Wellington City Council, members selected Jerry Elmore Jr. to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of Michael Soetaert.
A recent Wellington resident, Elmore said his family returned to the area intentionally.
“We moved back to this area so that our kids could grow up and experience life in a more close-knit and rural setting,” he wrote in his application.
Since returning, Elmore has become involved in the community by volunteering as a 10U baseball coach and serving on the Wellington Library Board. In that role, he helped lead efforts to secure funding through the Community Development Block Grant program to update the library building. The proposal was successful, bringing in a $425,000 grant.
“Like many residents, I want to ensure that Wellington is a place my kids will want to raise their own families in the future,” Elmore said. “I want to help drive partnerships that attract new businesses, talent and opportunities to the city.”
Elmore holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Wichita State University and works as a senior IT platform engineer for Koch Ag & Energy Solutions, LLC. His background includes managing complex, multimillion-dollar military and aerospace contracts, as well as technical sales.
“My work experience has taught me to focus on the details while managing sometimes conflicting priorities from stakeholders,” he said. “I believe this experience will help me as I serve on the City Council.”
Elmore said his top priorities include being a “competent and deliberate steward” of city funds, supporting economic development, increasing responsiveness and transparency in code enforcement, and continuing downtown revitalization and beautification efforts..
He acknowledged the city faces financial headwinds.
“City revenues have declined approximately 8 percent from 2024 to 2026, so we have to ask ourselves, ‘How do we do more with less while costs keep rising?’” Elmore said. “I anticipate some in-depth, potentially painful discussions as we navigate our current economic realities over the next few years.”
He is also watching proposed state legislation closely, including Senate Bill 488, known as the Kansas Property Tax Freedom Act of 2026. Property taxes currently fund roughly 25 percent of Wellington’s local city services, compared to about 13 percent generated through local sales taxes.
“Property taxes are a more dependable form of revenue and spread the ‘pain’ to both commercial and residential interests,” Elmore said, noting that a full repeal could shift the burden primarily to consumers.
When it comes to business recruitment, Elmore said he would like to see Wellington rebuild its industrial base, particularly by attracting aircraft parts manufacturers and other production-based businesses. At the same time, he sees potential in recruiting tech and service-based businesses to occupy downtown buildings, citing the community’s high-speed internet options and strong schools.
He also expressed interest in reopening the full square footage of Sumner Regional Medical Center, saying expanded medical services could incentivize both businesses and families to relocate.
Elmore believes incentives can play a role in attracting development, but with guardrails.
“Incentives aren’t a panacea,” he said. “They should be tied to demonstrable and achievable milestones on a timeline that makes sense.” He added that supporting locally owned businesses remains important to preserving Wellington’s entrepreneurial spirit.
As for infrastructure, Elmore said modernization of the city’s power generation plant and road resurfacing should be top priorities, with bridge improvements close behind.
He also encouraged residents to attend council meetings, serve on municipal boards and share their perspectives.
“The mayor, council members and city employees are your neighbors and friends,” Elmore said. “Though sometimes we disagree on the particulars of how to best address a community need, we all want to see Wellington thrive.”