Board of County Commissioners

Biography

Dave Unruh was first elected to the Board of County Commissioners in 2002 and began his first term as the First District Commissioner in January 2003.  Mr. Unruh was elected by the BOCC to serve as the Chairman of the Board for 2005 and 2007.

Mr. Unruh is a lifelong resident of Wichita and Sedgwick County and a graduate of East High. He is a graduate of Kansas State University, with a degree in Business Administration. Mr. Unruh has 40 years of business experience, working in and managing the family automotive repair business.

Prior to his election as a County Commissioner, Mr. Unruh was actively involved in the Wichita Independent Business Association (WIBA), and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2001. Mr. Unruh currently serves on the Envision Foundation Board of Directors, the Board of Trustees of the Sedgwick County Zoological Society, the Wichita Art Museum Board of Directors, and the WATC Foundation Board of Directors. In addition, Commissioner Unruh has also been involved with the Leadership Council of Kansas NFIB.

Some of the issues that Commissioner Unruh is focusing on as Commissioner include redirecting the community's solid waste plan, solutions to overcrowding in the Sedgwick County Jail, the improvement of inter-municipal communications in our county, the development of the Sedgwick County Health Department, and solution for technical education and training.

Mr. Unruh and his wife Karen have two sons, six grandsons, and one granddaughter. He has spent a number of years positively influencing youth in our community through wrestling programs, with over 10 years in coaching and 10 years as a referee for high school events. The Unruh's have been members of the Eastminster Presbyterian Church since 1981.  Mr. Unruh has served on the Session of Eastminster and has taught a variety of adult Sunday school classes.