With no opponent currently challenging him for the District 1 Allen County Commission seat, incumbent Commissioner Jerry Daniels, a Republican, is seeking another four-year term after serving on the commission since 2015.
Daniels cites economic development, healthcare, infrastructure improvements and support for county employees among the accomplishments he is most proud of during his tenure, while identifying emergency medical services funding and housing as priorities for the future.
As he reflects on his tenure, Daniels highlights a series of projects and decisions that he believes have helped strengthen Allen County’s quality of life and long-term stability.
Among them is the effort to improve grocery store access throughout the county.
Daniels recalled conversations years ago during efforts to recruit physicians to Allen County before Allen County Regional Hospital transitioned to Saint Luke’s Health System. During one recruitment visit, a prospective physician noted the lack of a traditional grocery store in Iola outside of Walmart.
“That really set me back,” Daniels said. “He was right.” The comment helped spark discussions that eventually led to the development of G&W Foods in Iola and support for grocery stores in other communities.
Daniels said the grocery store effort was part of a broader strategy to improve quality of life in Allen County and make the area more attractive to both residents and professionals considering a move to the community. He credits numerous community partners for helping make the project possible, including Lieutenant Governor David Toland when he formerly served as CEO of Thrive Allen County.
Daniels views grocery stores as more than retail businesses. In his view, they are part of the basic infrastructure communities need to remain attractive to residents, employers and healthcare professionals. “We all gotta eat,” he said.
He said access to grocery stores affects everything from daily convenience to economic development and workforce recruitment. While one of the county’s grocery initiatives ultimately did not succeed, Daniels said he still considers the effort worthwhile because it provided options for residents and demonstrated a willingness to invest in community needs.
The Marmaton Market in Moran closed in September 2025, pushing the small community closer to what experts call a food desert.
The Mildred Store, about eight miles north of Moran, is now Moran’s closest source of fresh food and the owners have recently put it on the market.
Daniels said county officials continue discussing options for bringing another grocery option to the community. “We’re going to keep trying to find something,” he said. “There’s a lot of discussions going on for something for Moran.”
Healthcare is another area Daniels considers a significant accomplishment. He was closely involved in discussions surrounding the transition of Allen County Regional Hospital to Saint Luke’s and believes the move helped ensure the community would continue to have local healthcare services.
“I sincerely believe if we hadn’t transitioned to a large hospital network like Saint Luke’s, our hospital may have been closed,” Daniels said. “And we never wanted to take the chance to find that out. I was very involved with the hospital board helping with that process. I’m happy about that.”
While acknowledging that no healthcare system is perfect, Daniels said he believes the partnership with Saint Luke’s provides stability at a time when many rural hospitals across Kansas and the region are facing significant financial and operational challenges.
Support for county employees is another priority Daniels emphasizes from his time in office. Drawing on his own experience in public service, he said he understands the challenges many working families face. “I know what it’s like to raise a family on a cop salary,” Daniels said.
