Milton Scott joins race for Douglas County Commission District 1 seat

Milton Scott’s entry into the Democratic primary for Douglas County Commission District 1 turns one of the county’s most visible seats into a contest over taxes, public safety and how county dollars are spent in Lawrence’s only commission district entirely within city limits.

Scott filed to challenge incumbent Patrick Kelly before the noon Monday, June 1, 2026, deadline for county offices. The primary is set for August 4, 2026, with the general election on November 3, 2026, giving voters in District 1 a choice between two candidates with long ties to Lawrence but different emphases on county finances and government oversight.

Douglas County’s district maps identify District 1 as part of the city of Lawrence, and the county also provides a Lawrence-specific commission district map for voters. That makes the race especially important for neighborhoods that sit squarely inside the city but still depend on county decisions about housing, social services, law enforcement and property taxes.

Scott is running on a message of fiscal restraint, property tax relief and greater accountability in county government. He has spent much of his career inside local public systems, working now as an adult service officer and coordinator for Douglas County Criminal Justice Services’ Community Service Work Program. County records show that program accepts referrals from the Lawrence City Prosecutor, Lawrence Municipal Court, the 7th Judicial District Court and the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office. Scott also has experience as a juvenile correctional officer, more than 20 years with the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority in programs and property management, and a stint as executive director of the Kansas City, Kansas Housing Authority.

Scott, who has lived in Lawrence since 1980 after coming to the University of Kansas, has also served with the League of Women Voters Lawrence-Douglas County, Justice Matters and the Douglas County Community Corrections Advisory Board. That mix of criminal justice, housing and civic work gives him a résumé rooted in county institutions rather than campaign talk.

Kelly is seeking reelection from a district the county lists as City of Lawrence, Central. His county bio says he has lived in Lawrence since attending KU in 1989, earned degrees in music education and educational leadership, and began teaching in Lawrence Public Schools in 1999. The contest lands at a time when the county is trying to balance services against tax pressure.

Douglas County approved a 2026 budget of about $202.6 million and set the mill levy at 40.669 mills, a 0.629-mill cut from the prior year. In 2025, commissioners approved a 41.298-mill levy after a 2.911-mill decrease from 2024, yet many property owners still saw higher bills as assessed values rose. For District 1 voters, the race will help decide who shapes that balance next.