Topeka USD 501 board member Lisa Schmitt running as a Republican for Shawnee County Clerk

Lisa Schmitt, a member of the Board of Education for Topeka USD 501, is running as a Republican for the office of Shawnee County clerk.

Schmitt on Feb. 22 became the first candidate to file to run for the clerk's office, said the website for the office of county election commissioner Andrew Howell.

Schmitt is invested in our city, county, state and country and will work hard to continue building trust and confidence in all those she serves and represents, she told The Capital-Journal this week.

She said she believes people want an effective and efficient government and looks forward to the opportunity to work with other leaders to provide that to Shawnee County residents.

Incumbent Republican Cyndi Beck, who has been county clerk since 1997, told The Capital-Journal this week she hasn't finalized a decision on whether to seek re-election. Beck is in her seventh term.

What are Lisa Schmitt's qualifications?

Schmitt since January 2022 has held the District 1, Position 1, seat on the board for USD 501. She unseated an incumbent in winning election to that office. Her current term expires in January 2026.

It appears Schmitt is legally entitled to both hold a USD 501 board seat and serve as county clerk, said Shawnee County counselor Rich Eckert.

Schmitt works at Hill’s Pet Nutrition as a global product manager for Hill’s Retail Order and Vet eCommerce, says the USD 501 website.

Schmitt said she has many years of experience in various agencies of state government and has worked with and in both nonprofit and for-profit organizations in this community. Through those positions and affiliations, she said, she has established a strong background in policy creation, interpretation and enforcement.

Schmitt was born and raised in Topeka and graduated from Topeka High School. She has a bachelor's degree from Washburn University and a master's degree in organizational leadership from Baker University.

She said she has volunteered in multiple parent-teacher organizations, volunteers through her church and also provides training for the National Alliance for Mental Illness.

Who else has filed to run for county offices?

Schmitt became the fourth person to file to run this year for election to a county office. The website for Howell's office identifies the others as the following:

• Register of Deeds Becky Nioce, a Republican, who filed Feb. 21 to run for re-election to that office, which she has held since 2013. Nioce is currently the only candidate in the race.

• Henry McClure, a Republican, who filed Jan. 30 to run for the District 2 Shawnee County Commission seat held by Democrat Kevin Cook. McClure is currently the only candidate in the race.

• Sheriff Brian C. Hill, a Republican, who filed Feb. 1 to run for re-election to the sheriff's office he has held since 2019. Hill is currently the only candidate in the race.

When will elections take place?

Noon June 3 will be the deadline for candidates to file to run in this year's election, said the website for Howell's office.

The primary election will be Aug. 6, with the general election being held Nov. 5, it said.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Lisa Schmitt first to enter race for Shawnee County clerk's office