New district attorney, commissioners sworn

A packed commission chambers Monday morning at the swearing in ceremony in the Johnson County Administration building welcomed District Attorney Steve Howe and Commissioners Calvin Hayden and Jim Allen. Sheriff Frank Denning and Comissioner David Lindstrom, who were reelected, were also sworn.

Howe, an assistant district attorney for 16 years before being let go in January 2007 as one of eight employees fired by Phill Kline defeated Democrat Rick Guinn in last November's general election. Howe, a Republican, defeated Kline in the August primary. Howe and his wife Cyndi, live

Hayden, who last year retired after a 27 years with the Johnson County Sheriff's Department, won election against John Toplikar by 42 of the more than 35,000 votes cast. The race garnered national after a video of Toplikar stealing Hayden's campaign signs was posted on YouTube.com. Toplikar was charged with misdemeanor theft and will appear next in Olathe Municipal Court Jan. 16. The sixth district commissioner, Toplikar will represent west Olathe, Gardner, Edgerton and De Soto. Hayden and his wife Kelly live in De Soto.

Allen, a former Shanee City Councilman, who was mayor from 1993 to 2004, defeated John Segale for the second district seat. His district includes Shawnee, Lake Quivira and nothern Lenexa. Allen, a State Farm Insurance agent for 29 years, lives in Shawnee with his wife Julie. They have four sons and one one granddaughter.

Denning is entering his second term as the county's sheriff. He defeated Republican challenger Ken Smith in the August primary. Prior to his first term, Denning served as undersheriff to the late Sheriff John Foster since 2002 and was appointed acting sheriff following Foster's death in March 2003. Denning was chief of police in Roeland Park from 1996 to 2002. Before that, he served in a number of capacities with the Sheriff's office since 1978. His law enforcement career began in 1971 with the Great Bend Police Department. He and his wife Robin Lewis, a former assistant district attorney, live near Edgerton.

Lindstrom was elected to his second four-year term after defeating challenger James Azeltine last November. His third district includes Overland Park and Leawood. Lindstrom completed the two-year term of Annabeth Surbaugh, when she was elected Commission Chair in November 2002. He was elected to his first four-year term in 2004. A Burger King franchisee and former defensive end with the Kansas City Chiefs, Lindstrom and his wife Mary live in Overland Park.