Former Shawnee Mayor Jeff Meyers announced today that he will run for the District 2 seat on the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners being vacated by Jim Allen, who announced last week he would not seek election to a fourth term in the position.

Meyers, who was recently appointed by Allen to serve on the Johnson County Park and Recreation District Board, said in his announcement that he was grateful to Allen for his service on the county’s governing body, and that he wanted to continue on his tradition of service.

“First, I want to thank Commissioner Jim Allen for a lifetime of commitment to public service and for the incredible work he has done for our community for decades,” Meyers wrote. “I would be honored to have the opportunity to carry on his legacy at the county level, with the same pride, purpose and passion that I believe I did at the city level.”

Meyers has previously followed in Allen’s footsteps in public service. He succeeded Allen as mayor of Shawnee in 2004.

Meyers, who is 61, has lived in Shawnee for 38 years. He and his wife Susie are parents to two adult daughters and grandparents to four boys. He is a graduate of Kansas State University, and has been in the education field for nearly 37 years, and is currently with the Independence School District. For 23 years, he served as the head football coach at Olathe East High School. He will be retiring from the education field at effective this May “in order to run and serve full-time on the county commission.”

“We need to continue to keep our eye on the ball and ensure that our community remains the great place it is to live, to work, to play,” Meyers said. “I have the experience, the energy and the enthusiasm to continue to build on the solid foundation that we have created together. I intend to work very hard to earn and to keep the confidence of the good people of Lake Quivira, Lenexa and Shawnee, as their voice on the Board of County Commissioners.”

Meyers is the first candidate to announce plans to run for the seat.

The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners is unique among public service opportunities in Johnson County in that it pays officials elected to the body a living wage. County commissioners make around $55,000 per year.

Correction: When initially published, this piece indicated that Meyers was on staff at Olathe East High School. The copy has been update to reflect that he is currently employed with the Independence School District.