Mike Iuen

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Mike Iuen

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

University of Missouri, Columbia, 1976

Personal

Birthplace

Jefferson City, Mo.

Profession

Broadcast news journalist

Contact

Campaign website

Mike Iuen (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Sedgwick County Commission to represent District 3 in Kansas. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Iuen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Mike Iuen was born in Jefferson City, Missouri. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia in 1976. Iuen’s career experience includes working as a broadcast news journalist. He has volunteered for the March of Dimes, the American Diabetes Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Crop Walk.

Elections

2020

See also: Municipal elections in Sedgwick County, Kansas (2020)

General election

General election for Sedgwick County Commission District 3

Incumbent David Dennis defeated Mike Iuen in the general election for Sedgwick County Commission District 3 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	David Dennis (R)	65.1	33,183
		Mike Iuen (D)	34.5	17,563
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	230

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 50,976
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Sedgwick County Commission District 3

Mike Iuen advanced from the Democratic primary for Sedgwick County Commission District 3 on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Iuen	100.0	4,749

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,749
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Sedgwick County Commission District 3

Incumbent David Dennis defeated Hunter Larkin in the Republican primary for Sedgwick County Commission District 3 on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	David Dennis	54.4	8,735
	Submit photo	Hunter Larkin	45.6	7,319

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 16,054
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Iuen's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2020

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released June 5, 2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Mike Iuen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Iuen's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I spent by career as a journalist, the last 35 years of that career at KAKE TV. I anchored the morning news broadcast for 22 years. Besides anchoring I spent years reporting on various issues dealing with state and local government, some of that time covering the Sedgwick County Commission. I wanted to make sure the public was engaged with decisions made by our local government, helping ensure our community's leaders were accountable to those they are supposed to serve.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I believe I'm the best candidate to lead our county in a time of economic uncertainty due to the Covid 19 crisis.
• We must strengthen our mental health agencies to help those who would otherwise be handled by our jail and judicial system.
• We must make sure we don't forget our senior citizens by under funding our senior centers, meals on wheels, etc.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Rebuilding our economy post pandemic. It will be challenging but the devastation and loss of additional lives has the potential to be much worse if we don't use caution, learn from history and listen to our public health officials. We must get a handle on this Covid crisis. We also must work to diversify our economy. Because we were hit with an aviation crisis (737 Max) and a pandemic at the same time we have been hit hard with job furloughs and job losses. We need to attract new industries including manufacturing that can make use of our highly skilled labor force. We must also try to attract high tech, medical research and other industries that can broaden our tax base.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

This body is responsible for funding our sheriff's department and the county jail. While the county sheriff is elected and not under the control of the county commission, his budget is. The county also maintains the building in which our district courts are housed.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I looked up to my brother Frank. He died some years ago but growing up he was a great role model for me. My father died when I was a senior in college and Frank looked after and checked up on me to make sure I followed the right path in life. He was a lawyer with integrity and honor. He also had a great sense of humor and a strong work ethic.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An elected official must make important decisions based on the merits of the issue and not based on outside pressure from special interest groups or donors. You must avoid making back room deals and bring important discussions into the public forum. You must have an open mind and a thick skin. The public must be willing to have faith in you. They must trust you. You build that trust by showing character and honesty.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I believe I'm a good communicator. I've been interviewing and asking people the important questions all my working life. I believe I can look at both sides of an issue and make the difficult decision to choose which side is right in my opinion. I'm a hard worker and a good listener. And I want to serve the people of Sedgwick County, a place that's given so much to me.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The assassination of John F. Kennedy. I was nine years old and I remember vividly how JFK's death affected my family and the country. I watched live on television as the accused assassin was murdered by Jack Ruby in the basement of the police station. It was deeply disturbing and I remember it to this day.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a reporter/photojournalist at KJAC TV in Beaumont/Port Arthur, Texas. I was there one year before moving to Wichita, KS.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Lean on Me by Bill Withers. The lyrics, "Lean on me, when you're not strong. I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on. For it won't be long that I'm gonna need somebody to lean on." What an inspirational song of love, help and understanding.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

This position is part of a five person commission that also acts as the county board of health and the governing body for the fire district. So commissioners wear three hats. They have direct impact on the lives of our citizens by making decisions that affect road and bridge, maintenance, development and property taxes among other things. They also govern the fire district. And they sit as the county Board of Health making important decisions regarding the fight against coronavirus.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

No. The board is mostly made up of, before they were elected, average citizens with a broad variety of backgrounds. I don't believe you need to be politician or a person with business management experience to be a good leader. It takes a person who can listen to both sides of an issue and make an intelligent decision that is best for the people of the county and his (or her) district.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

The ability to listen to the people and the county staff. Also you must be able to make difficult decisions that are in the best interest of the citizens. One must put party affiliation aside when making critical decisions. Experience in working with others and communicating your ideas clearing is a must.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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