This campaign is built on one simple idea: more people should have a voice in the decisions that shape their lives.

That’s why Ethan Spurling is running for Douglas County Commission, District 4.

His campaign is focused on the issues people are dealing with every day. The rising cost of living, housing that’s getting harder to afford, and the need for practical, realistic solutions that help people not just get by, but actually move forward. Just as important to him is encouraging more civic participation and making sure people feel like their voice matters in local government.

At the heart of Ethan’s campaign is a simple belief: Your vote. Your voice. Your choice.

He sees this campaign as more than a path to office. It’s a chance to bring people back into the process and remind them that their voice matters.

“I believe I’m the right person to represent this district,” Ethan says. “But if this campaign significantly increases voter turnout, that’s something I’ll be proud of no matter the outcome. Encouraging people to participate is what matters most to me.”

Ethan works in policy and government relations for a Lawrence-based education nonprofit, where he focuses on building partnerships and working on policies that support families, strengthen communities and expand opportunity.

He grew up in Frontenac in southeast Kansas and attended Frontenac Public Schools from kindergarten through high school. His interest in public service started early. At 18, while still a senior, he ran for his local school board because he believed even young people should have a say in the decisions shaping their communities.

Ethan went on to attend Pittsburg State University, where he studied political science while working on campaigns across southeast Kansas. He graduated in 2018 with a better understanding of how policy connects to everyday life.

In 2015, he was elected to the Frontenac City Council and served four years. That experience showed him how local government works at its best. It’s where decisions become real, where policy meets people, and where leadership means listening just as much as it means acting.

After college, Ethan worked on Gov. Laura Kelly’s campaign and later joined the Kelly administration. He served in the governor’s office before becoming director of government affairs at the Kansas Department of Revenue, where he worked on policy and legislative priorities across the state.

Today, Ethan and his wife, Andrea, live in Eudora, where they bought their first home two years ago. Andrea earned her master’s degree in social work from the University of Kansas and works as a therapist in the nonprofit sector. Together, they spend their time supporting local businesses, getting to know their neighbors and building a life rooted in community.

When he’s not working, Ethan enjoys traveling, experiencing new cultures and spending time at home grilling and talking with neighbors as they walk by. He and Andrea also share their home with their dog, Teddy, short for Theodore, named after President Theodore Roosevelt.