Ben Hobert
Candidate for
County Commissioner District 1
Johnson County, Kansas
Why I Want to be Your County Commissioner
I have never run for public office, but it is clear to me that Johnson County is in dire need of a strong dose of common sense. The current Board has neglected to think either critically or clearly about the appropriate balance between providing public necessities and fair taxation.
Since 2021 I have attended more than 200 Johnson County Board of County Commissioner’s meetings. At each of those meetings, I have given public comments offering specific suggestions for cost savings, improved process and open, transparent debate. You may observe my comments at the Johnson County Board of Commissioners’ website (except for all of 2023 and 2024 when the Chairman and the District 1 incumbent voted to prohibit their broadcast).
I have seen Johnson County do many things well; however, using critical discernment and earnestly listening to citizens are not two of them. The Board is making many decisions that are not in the best interests of the citizens of Johnson County. I have seen costly and poorly reasoned decisions, including wasteful spending and agreements with third parties that do not protect the public’s interests. More frequently than we should observe, decisions have been indefensible.
"I have absolutely no political aspirations other than serving the citizens of Johnson County. You have my pledge that I will do so with a full appreciation of the fact that I owe you a fiduciary duty. Your placement of trust in me will be respected and foremost in my mind with every decision I make."
Ben W. Hobert
Defending Single Family Ownership
Many Northeast Johnson Countians have lived in their homes for 20, 30 or 40 years. Almost all of us would like to continue to live in our homes. The incessant valuation increases which the County then uses to impose higher property taxes on residents are neither sustainable nor fair. Many citizens fear being taxed out of their homes. There is not an easy fix; however, band-aid approaches do not offer real relief to the majority of citizens. Absent statewide relief, the foremost consideration should be to critically evaluate expenditures. I will do so. How can you trust that statement? Please review any of my public comments at the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners meetings I have attended. You will then know that I am serious about cost control. It is quite simple: Johnson County has a spending problem which requires a change in mindset of the Board. I pledge to you that I will be an advocate for that change in mindset. Citizens First. Always.
Preservation of Green Space
Development is increasingly eliminating or reducing green space for our residents. I will be an advocate for retaining green space in all of the County, whether it is County property or a city-owned park, but most importantly in close-in areas which are readily accessible to citizens.
Citizens First, Not Board Personal Agendas
This is what I have observed while attending over 200 meetings of the Johnson County Board of Commissioners:
- The Board, as currently comprised, listens only for the sake of appearing to do so. A majority of the Board rejects all comments from any citizen offering suggestions or having a different viewpoint.
- The Board’s priorities disregard the concerns of citizens. How is strategic communication a Board priority? What about reduction of the property tax burden on citizens?
Always Foster Open and Honest Debate
Chairman Kelly and Commissioner Fast, among others, censored public comments for 2 years by prohibiting broadcast of public comments. This decision demonstrates a disdain for three-way communication between and among two or more citizens and the Board. Only when the Kansas legislature was about to enact a law requiring broadcasting of public comments did the Chairman relent and restore the broadcasting of public comments.
This is what our Board’s censorship looked like:
Reduce Property Taxes by Eliminating Wasteful Spending
The Board embraces just about any analysis as if it were well reasoned. Frequently, the analysis of an issue is grossly negligent, as was the case with the staff analysis and the Board’s approval of the "Toilet Travesty. " This is a wasteful expenditure of $5.5 million of taxpayer funds in initial costs, lost investment interest and debt service over the life of the system at the new Health Services Building. The Board thought catching rainwater for toilets when Olathe only gets rainfall on 97 days a year was a good idea. I can assure you it is not – it is extremely cost inefficient and will never reach breakeven. It was an indefensible decision for citizens, but it was a personal agenda item for the Chairman.
The Board betrayed its citizens when it contractually obligated the County to give away $20 million embedded in an Early Termination Agreement related to an elderly care facility. The Board had solicited other bids to transition the approximately 60 residents to another care facility. One bid response from a qualified bidder was less than 1/3 of the cost of the $20 million giveaway. The Board abruptly terminated the RFP process after having received detailed proposals. The Board’s only explanation was that Johnson County had determined it to be in the best interest of the County to cancel the solicitation. This was a disheartening decision because the Board gave away COVID State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds ("SLFRF ") which were intended to be used to offset County budget deficits resulting from the COVID lockdown. We now face such deficits because of the Board’s bad decision. Instead of being prudent with these SLFRF funds, the Board feathered the nest of a third party.
The whole story gets even worse. There were 862 empty elderly care beds within a 10-mile radius of this facility at the time of this Early Termination Agreement. Elderly clients could have been moved to any number of reputable elderly care facilities at relatively nominal cost, certainly not at a cost of $20 million.
These are just two examples. There are many more that I will share during my campaign.
Accountability in the Property Tax Valuation and Appeals Process
In 2025, Johnson County proposed a 22.1% increase in our home’s assessed valuation in a year when we made no material improvements. I appealed and the hearing officer in Topeka accepted my valuation of a 7% increase with just a $3,000 increase in excess of my value. When Johnson County proposes an increase of this magnitude without sound justification, we citizens have a problem. I have some specific ideas to share later in the campaign which will help restore accountability in the property tax valuation process.
Get Involved!
Request A Yard Sign
If you would like a yard sign or you would like to deliver signs to others, click the button below. We will be happy to deliver signs to you.
Volunteer
Helping out with the activities of the campaign is always welcomed. No one can do it alone; it is the people behind the scenes that make things happen.
Contribute
It takes money to run a campaign. I appreciate any financial support you are able and moved to give. Your support enables me to get the message out that is needed to make Johnson County even better in the future.
Meet Ben Hobert
I have made Johnson County my home for more than 30 years, building a life rooted in faith, family, service, and community involvement. My wife, Ann, and I have two children who both graduated from Shawnee Mission East. Whether supporting school activities, cheering on our kids and their teammates or classmates, or staying involved in local organizations, we have been active participants in the life of Johnson County, Kansas.
Family Life
- 30-year resident of Johnson County
- Married Ann Kirk in 1999; married 27 years this fall.
- Two children who both graduated from Shawnee Mission East: Hannah, 24 is an elementary school teacher who graduated from Kansas State University and Henry, 19, is heading into his sophomore year at the Creighton Heider College of Business.
- Our family worships regularly at Colonial Presbyterian Church’s south Kansas City sanctuary and we support and participate in outreach ministries there.
- I was part of a group of citizens, Friends of Westwood Parkland, which lobbied to preserve Joe D. Dennis Park as a public park rather than plopping a six-building office and retail development with 305 parking spaces in the middle of a residential neighborhood zoned R-1 and just one block from an elementary school. Westwood citizens ultimately voted to retain ownership of the parkland.
- Fully retired from the active practice of law in 2021.
- Served as a Cub Scout leader, Advancement Chair for Troop 98 and Camp Master at Bartle Scout Camp while Henry was active in Scouts (achieving the rank of Eagle Scout!).
- In the 1980’s and early 1990’s, I was very active at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1700 Westport Road in Kansas City. At various times I served as President of the Church Council, Finance Chairman, Property Chairman and as a Council member. I also chaired a pastoral search committee, served as Co-Chairman of the Building on a Legacy Capital Campaign and Co-Church representative overseeing the building of a major addition to the Church working with the general contractor.
- In my youth, our family also farmed on the side. In my early years in Kansas City, I earned a private pilot license (VFR) so I could fly back to Iowa to help my father with planting and other crop production tasks on our family farm. I periodically returned to work on our farm from 1982 until 2001
- God blessed me with incredible loving, supportive, frugal and common sense parents. My father was a microbiologist who was an expert in fluorescent antibody techniques used in developing vaccines for chickens and turkeys. My mother was a stay-at-home mom until my siblings and I were in junior high school. She then was employed as an executive secretary to the plant manager at the Oliver Corporation which later became White Farm Equipment.
- Growing up in Charles City, Iowa, a county seat town in northeast Iowa, I was active in debate, speech club and played on the tennis team.
Professional Experience
My professional experience enables me to critically evaluate governmental decisions and improve them. As a consequence, I will not just rubber stamp staff decisions which, in over 200 meetings, I have observed the District 1 Incumbent Commissioner routinely do.
Moving from Iowa to Kansas City, I accepted an associate attorney position with the law firm then known as Morrison, Hecker, Curtis, Kuder, and Parrish. Through all of its mergers, combinations and name changes, I continued to practice with this firm, now known as Stinson LLP, for 39 years.
For the first two years I was a general business attorney and focused on federal and state income tax matters for the remaining 37 years of my career. Voted in as a full equity partner in 1986, I served as chairman of the tax department for many years, holding licenses to practice law in Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. I currently maintain my law license in Kansas.
My law practice primarily focused on transactions such as mergers and acquisitions with me providing tax consultation to our business attorneys while also participating in the litigation of federal and state income tax issues.
Education and Licenses
- University of Iowa, College of Business, BA Accounting
- University of Iowa, College of Business, MA Accounting
- University of Iowa, College of Law, Juris Doctorate (J.D.)
- University of Missouri Kansas City, College of Law, LLM (Masters in Taxation)
- Iowa Board of Accountancy, Certified Public Accountant
- Previously a licensed member of the State Bars of Iowa (now inactive) and Missouri (now inactive)
- Currently licensed to practice law in the State of Kansas
Vote for Ben Hobert
County Commissioner District 1
I thought a long time before deciding to run for the First District seat on the Board. My wife, Ann, encouraged me to do so, pointing out that I was passionate about the issues (as shown by me going to over 200 meetings to speak in person before the Board). Moreover, Ann thought my training in accounting, law and taxation would bring insights and financial acumen to the process for the benefit of citizens. Thank you, Ann, for encouraging me to pursue this public service.
So I have filed to run for the County Commissioner District 1 seat. In doing so, I have no political aspirations other than serving the citizens of Johnson County.
The reality of a non-responsive Board of County Commissioners needs to change. We can do better, much better.
Citizens’ concerns regarding both spending and services should be the first priority, not an afterthought.
I would appreciate your vote on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026, for the position of County Commissioner District 1.
Thank you.
Ben W. Hobert
Johnson County Commissioner Districts Map
The map below shows the boundaries for the districts of each Commissioner. District 1 is in the most northeast corner.
The cities in District 1 include: Fairway, most of Leawood, Merriam, Mission, Mission Hills, Mission Woods, Prairie Village, Roeland Park, Westwood, Westwood Hills and Overland Park, mostly north of 79th Street but also including Precinct N111 in north western Overland Park which goes as far south as 83rd Street.
