Republican nominee for Anderson County Attorney, Steve Wilson, says he plans to seek outside advice on whether or not keeping his job as Garnett Municipal Judge constitutes a conflict of interest if he’s eventually elected to the county’s chief prosecutor’s post in November. Wilson won the nod of county Republicans in Tuesday’s primary by a wide margin. Since no Democrat filed for the post, Wilson is the winner of the race, if no write-in opposition arises before November, and he’ll take over the County Attorney’s office in January.
Wilson is a 1973 graduate of Garnett High School and retired from his private law practice in Wichita in 2012, but took the local judgeship after he moved back to Garnett and the vacancy arose. He says he plans to run the question by the disciplinary board for an advisory opinion and see if it violates principles of professional responsibility. He says if there is any feeling of impropriety, he will resign as judge. Wilson says he’s enjoyed the Municipal Court job and he believes he is serving the people of Garnett, so, it’s worth the effort to get an advisory opinion.
