County Commissioners

Duties of the County Commissioners

The Riley County Commissioners meet twice a week to discuss and conduct county business. During these meetings, they are responsible for:

• Approving the budget

• Adopting personnel policies and payment plans for all county offices

• Providing for adequate county government facilities

• Setting tax levies

• Determining township boundaries

• Making citizen appointments to county boards

In addition to these responsibilities, they take on the roles of legislator, public manager, community leader, citizen liaison, inter-local diplomat, and federal and state lobbyist.

An important aspect of being a county commissioner is citizenship responsibilities. They are required to interpret county government decisions, communicate constituents’ needs and preferences to the commission, hear and resolve complaints about county services and communicate with citizen board appointees.


  1. District 1
  2. District 2
  3. District 3

photo of Commissioner Ford standing in front of the Kansas seal and flags

District 1

John Ford (R), Member

John Ford is currently serving his first term as Riley County Commissioner, after being elected in November 2018.

Ford was born in Leavenworth, Kansas in 1977 and has been a resident of Manhattan for more than 35 years. He is currently employed at Florence Corporation here in Manhattan and has worked for the organization in various roles since 2015. Ford graduated from Manhattan High School in 1995 and went on to attend Manhattan Area Technical College (MATC) and Kansas State University (KSU), where he majored in Construction Science. He has also lived in Kentucky and Ohio.

Ford’s interest in politics and governance started in college and he served as Student Body Vice President of the Student Government Association during his time at MATC. 

John Ford’s political service also includes:

  • City of Manhattan Social Service Advisory Board (2012-2018), Vice Chair for 4 years
  • Riley County FEMA Board (2013-2018)
  • Service on several local as well as Congressional and US Senate Campaigns

Ford is an avid fan of sports and supports both Kansas State University and University of Kentucky athletics. In his spare time enjoys watching football, baseball, and college basketball, as well as reading, music and, of course, politics.