Karen Crnkovich, an Olathe business owner running for Johnson County Commission Chair, says rising property taxes and growing government spending drove her to enter the race.
Crnkovich faces incumbent Mike Kelly in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election. The position is nonpartisan.
"For most of my career, I stayed out of politics," Crnkovich said in a questionnaire response to Surround Sound News. "But eventually I began asking: if people who know how to build, lead and solve problems do not step forward to serve, who will?"
Crnkovich ran in the 2024 Republican primary for Kansas' 3rd Congressional District.
Candidate information
- Residence: Olathe, Kansas; 20-year Johnson County resident
- Party affiliation: Republican (the Commission Chair seat is nonpartisan)
- Education: Bachelor of Science, University of Missouri-Columbia
- Family: Originally from Michigan. Lives with her stepdaughter and two Yorkshire Terriers.
- Prior elected office: None
- Previous Campaigns: U.S. House (2024)
Experience and public service
Crnkovich is president and owner of DMC Service, Inc., a commercial HVAC and plumbing service contractor based in Johnson County. She said she took over the company when it had four employees and less than $1 million in annual revenue. It now employs more than 20 people and generates more than $5 million annually, she said.
DMC Service has earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list for five consecutive years and has been recognized as a Top 10 finalist for the Kansas City Chamber's Small Business of the Year award (2023, 2024), according to Crnkovich's questionnaire responses.
She also founded Strong Homes, Strong Families, a nonprofit that assists homeowners with critical home repairs. She previously served as president of the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri, leading that organization during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the issues
Property taxes and county budget: Crnkovich said the county is budgeted to hold more than $500 million in reserves and called right-sizing those reserves one area she would examine for tax relief. She said every spending category should be evaluated, including staffing levels, construction costs and outside contracts.
She pledged that if she cannot deliver meaningful property tax relief during her first term, she will not run for reelection in 2030.
Data centers: Crnkovich supports a temporary pause on new large-scale data center approvals while the county develops a comprehensive policy based on independent analysis. She said she would require applicants to disclose projected water and electricity consumption, demonstrate adequate utility capacity without shifting costs to residents and provide decommissioning plans with financial guarantees.
She said any incentives should be tied to measurable community benefits, including permanent jobs and capital investment, with enforceable clawbacks if commitments are not met.
Early voting: Crnkovich said she agreed with the decision to eliminate eight early-voting sites used in 2024 and add two new locations, creating a 12-site countywide plan. She noted the new plan provides approximately 18% more total early-voting hours and that about 90% of county voters live within a seven minute drive of an early-voting location. She said the chair's role is to ensure the Election Office has appropriate resources while expecting transparency and security.
Government accountability: Crnkovich said she would ask difficult questions about contracts, capital projects, staffing and reserves. She described herself as a concerned citizen and contrasted her background with what she called career politicians. She said leadership requires transparency and accountability, and that taxpayers should receive measurable value for every dollar the county spends.
The Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election is the next opportunity for Johnson County voters to weigh in on the Commission Chair race.
