Marion appoints Burkholder
Staff writer
Lifelong Marion resident Kevin Burkholder joined city council after Mayor David Mayfield swore him in Monday.
The council appointed him on a 3-0 vote. Member Ruth Herbel abstained from the vote but did not cite a reason. Under city code, the only reason a council member may abstain is for a conflict of interest, and the interest must be disclosed with the abstention.
After the meeting, she told Burkholder she abstained because of unresolved concerns about city ordinances.
Burkholder will fill Chris Costello’s seat until the next election. Costello resigned last month for health reasons. Burkholder said Tuesday that he “probably” would run for the seat.
He graduated from Marion High School in 1986 and has a bachelor’s degree from Emporia State University. He majored in business with a minor in economics.
Burkholder, 55, owns J&K Car Wash and Car Wash Solutions, which supplies chemicals to several car wash companies. He’s had that company since 2014.
He also formerly owned Burks’ Tire, buying it in 1988 and selling it in 1998. After the sale, he went to work for a car wash equipment distributor in Wichita.
Burkholder has served on the board of directors of Marion Country Club.
He is married to Kristina, and they have two daughters. Chloe Burkholder will graduate in May from Ft. Hays State University, and Calli Burkholder will graduate from high school then.
Burkholder hasn’t served in public office before.
“Chris Costello is a friend of mine,” he said. “It’s something I had contemplated for a while. I thought this would be a good opportunity to see if I could get in and fill that seat and give back to the community a little bit.”
He submitted a letter of interest to Mayfield. Mayfield said Burkholder was the only person who had “applied” for the seat, but zoning commission chairman Darvin Markley said he had given city council member Jerry Kline a letter of interest.
Burkholder said he was focused on “familiarizing myself with how everything works.”
“I don’t really have an agenda at all,” he said. “I’m good at looking at all solutions to a problem. Hopefully I can gather information and make good decisions going forward.”