From the Capital-Journal
Six Topeka
women will be recognized during the fourth annual Women of Influence Awards
reception at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, in the Regency Ballroom of the
downtown Ramada Hotel and Convention Center, 420 S.E. 6th. The event is
sponsored by GO Topeka’s Entrepreneurial and Minority Business Development. One of those six is Shelly Buhler, former Rossville mayor and now Shawnee Co. Commissioner.
When Shelly Buhler reflected this week on her proudest
accomplishments as a Shawnee County commissioner, those that came to mind
involved long-term benefits to the community.
Her first big vote was tied to major upgrades to the Bettis Family Sports
Complex at Lake Shawnee that brought tournaments and revenue into the
community. After several years of discussion, a public-private partnership with
Waste Management made curbside recycling standard. Just last month, she
celebrated completion of the new Willard Bridge, a hard-fought
victory that followed years of safety concerns and
pleas for funding to replace the deteriorated structure.
Through three terms as a commissioner,
Buhler said, she has enjoyed “working on (constituents’) behalf for things that
are important to us, not just today, but in the future.”
Buhler will be honored for her
community service Wednesday, Sept. 20, at GO Topeka’s 2017 Women of Influence
Awards. The awards banquet recognizes women who have influenced decisions on
issues and enhanced the quality of life in their community, as well as serving
as a role model for inspiring others to change their community.
Buhler
grew up in Junction City in a family that instilled in her a commitment to
community. Faith, family and community were top priorities, and she looked for
ways to contribute.
She graduated in 1987 from Benedictine
College — where she met her husband, Steve — with a bachelor’s degree in
community services, an interdisciplinary degree combining sociology and human
ecology. At the time, she said, she had no idea she would later use it as a
politician.
“I think I have used a lot of what I
have learned in just being a community volunteer,” Buhler said. “That
definitely has been helpful.”
After graduating, Buhler worked as
community outreach director for Community Action in Atchison County, where she
worked with low-income families. She later worked as assistant director for a
regional food bank.
She began volunteering in her Shawnee
County church and community while staying home to raise the couple’s three
children. She was encouraged by others in the community to run in 2001 for
mayor of Rossville.
When Rossville experienced flooding
during her second term as mayor, the county’s emergency response efforts piqued
her interest in county government. In 2006, she ran mid-term for a seat on the
Shawnee County Commission that she has held ever since.
Buhler said she has chosen to be a
full-time county commissioner, which allows her time to volunteer with
organizations that include the Topeka Community Foundation, for which she
chairs the board of directors; Safe Streets Coalition’s Recognition Council;
Heartland Healthy Neighborhoods’ leadership team; the Rossville Community
Foundation; and Rossville PRIDE. She also is tri-chairwoman for Momentum 2022,
a massive, holistic development strategy that will be implemented in 2018.
Previous involvement with Heartland
Visioning made her feel it was important to maintain focus on quality of life
and quality of place in the Momentum 2022 plan. Community feedback obtained
during the process showed the steering committee that people want to contribute
to improving Topeka and Shawnee County, she said.
“I think we’ve listened, and now we
need to work together and take some action to improve the quality of life for
everybody in our community,” she said. “That’s really hard work.”
Leadership courses, including the 2003
class of Leadership Greater Topeka, introduced Buhler to a different approach
to leadership. People approach problems differently and with different
perspectives, she said, and she learned skills to help break down barriers so
people can work together.
“I hope that I exercise leadership in a
positive way,” she said.
Contact
reporter Samantha Foster at (785) 295-1186 or @samfoster_ks on Twitter.
