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00000179-cdc6-d978-adfd-cfc6d7d40002Coverage of the issues, races and people shaping Kansas elections in 2016, including statewide coverage in partnership with KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, and High Plains Public Radio.

Incumbent Easter Faces Law Enforcement Veteran In Race For Sedgwick County Sheriff

Carla Eckels
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KMUW/File Photo
Sheriff Jeff Easter, left, attends the First Step Cookout earlier this year.

Two native Wichitans are running for Sedgwick County sheriff.

Jefrey Weinman is a retired Wichita police officer who served 19-and-a-half years on the force. He has been volunteering with outreach agencies and helping former inmates in recent years.

Weinman says his plan includes bringing in a faith-based panel to assist the sheriff's office and "show the community when they stand with us that everything is being done to bring accountability, to bring truthfulness, fairness and justice to everything that goes on in the sheriff’s office."

Incumbent Jeff Easter moved up the ranks as police officer before serving as sheriff for the last four years.

"When I came into the sheriff’s office there was a lot of issues within the jail, there was a lot of issues with accountability and there was a lot of issues with transparency," he says. "I’ve addressed all three of those issues since I’ve been there. We hold individuals accountable for their actions."

Both candidates say they would like to work to see more programs develop to help decrease recidivism in the jail system.

Carla Eckels is Director of Organizational Culture at KMUW. She produces and hosts the R&B and gospel show Soulsations and brings stories of race and culture to The Range with the monthly segment In the Mix. Carla was inducted into The Kansas African American Museum's Trailblazers Hall of Fame in 2020 for her work in broadcast/journalism.