Newton is served by five at-large City Commissioners. City elections take place in the fall of odd-numbered years. The top two vote-getters are elected to four-year terms, and the third-place vote-getter serves a two-year term.
A mayor is appointed each year from within the Commission. Traditionally, the highest vote-getter in the last election is appointed vice mayor and becomes mayor the following year.
The mayor is recognized as the head of City government for ceremonial purposes. The mayor conducts Commission meetings and executes contracts, deeds and agreements on behalf of the City, but has no additional authority or voting powers. The vice mayor generally fulfills this role when the mayor is not available.
Commission members
Mayor Kathy Valentine
Patient Account Representative, Anesthesia Billing Inc.
- Member, Meridian Baptist Church
- Member, Newton BPW
- Church Clerk and Hospitality Chairwoman, Meridian Baptist Church
- Phone: 316-516-4691
Vice Mayor Leroy Koehn
Owner, Koehn Painting Co.
- Past President, Newton Area Chamber of Commerce
- Past President, Newton Rotary Club
- Past President, Harvey County Builders Association
- Past Board member, Harvey County Economic Development Council
- Past Advisory Board member, Citizens State Bank
- Member, St. Mary Catholic Church
- Phone: 316-772-3166
Owner, Davis Pest Control
- Veteran, United States Army
- Member, Fraternal Order of Eagles
- Member, Elks
- Life Member, VFW
- Member, Newton Rotary Club
- Member, First United Methodist Church
- Phone: 316-283-8976
Commissioner Barth Hague
President and CEO, Mirror Inc.
- Vice Chairman, Bluestem Communities Board of Directors
- Member, Amtrak National Customer Advisory Committee
- Past President, Newton Public Library Board of Trustees
- Past Chairman, Newton/North Newton Historic Preservation Commission
- Member, Newton Area Chamber of Commerce
- Member, Shalom Mennonite Church
- Phone: 316-283-2785
Commissioner Rod Kreie
Managing Member, Great Plains Biosciences Group
- Past President, Newton Area Chamber of Commerce
- Finance Chair, Central Kansas Community Foundation
- Finance Chair, Asbury Park
- Chair, Rotary District 5690 Youth Exchange
- Past Board Member, United Methodist Health Ministry Fund
- Past Board Member, Southwestern College
- Finance Committee, Newton Rotary Club
- Phone: 316-283-0737