Donna Zimmerman has announced her filing for Barton County Commission, District 5, the seat currently held by Commissioner Jennifer Schartz. Zimmerman began county service in December 1981 and was appointed County Clerk/Election Officer in 1995. Outside of her duties as county clerk and election officer, Zimmerman has been involved annually in the development of the county operational budget.
She understands the need to monitor spending closely in order to plan for future projects. During her tenure as county clerk, Zimmerman remained consistently under her operating budget maintaining fiscal responsibility for the citizens of Barton County. In addition, she has worked closely with the commission and other county departments to include the County Treasurer, Sheriff, County Appraiser and the Health Department to name a few.
Zimmerman supports growth of the tax base through increased valuation in order to reduce the reliance on individual property taxes.
While county clerk, Zimmerman attended Wichita State University, Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs and completed the seven-year certification training, graduating with the designation of Master Certified County Clerk. Zimmerman is a past president of the Kansas County Clerks’ and Election Officials’ Association and past president of the South-Central Kansas County Clerks Association.
Zimmerman served on the Executive Board of KAC (Kansas Association of Counties) as well as on the Executive Board of the KCOA (Kansas County Officials Association). Locally, she has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors of the Great Bend Rotary Club, a member of the Great Bend Pilot Club, Progress Club and Habitat for Humanity. Zimmerman is also a graduate of Leadership Great Bend.
Zimmerman is married to her husband, Ray of 40 years. They have two children, a daughter, Sara Winegarner, and husband Larry and family, and a son, Cory Zimmerman and wife Katie and family.
Being a longtime public servant Donna still has the desire to serve the citizens of Barton County.
“I am proud of my record. I am proud of my relationships with other municipalities in Barton County and throughout the State of Kansas,” she said. Zimmerman said she would like nothing more than to see the county prosper and grow.
“My experience in county government along with my interest in the community through having served on the Chamber and other local organizations position me well to contribute to the continued success of Barton County,” she said. “I will call upon the relationships I have cultivated with community leaders and governmental agencies to be better informed when looking at issues facing the Commission.
“I have seen what works and often times what doesn’t,” she said. “I pledge to be a good steward of county resources and will work diligently to balance the services provided against the tax burden.
“I will have the time to listen, to ask the important questions and do the research necessary to make informed decisions,” she said. “If elected, I will be able to hit the ground running.” During these troubling and uncertain times, experienced leadership is what counts.
“It has been a privilege and an honor to have served the voters of Barton County and said she is excited about the possibility to continue to serve,” she said.
Zimmerman asks for your continued support and vote on Aug. 2.
