Lynn Packer, Sedgwick County public works director, describes professional path to Wichita and a radio proposal anecdote
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Summary
In an interview with Commissioner Jeff Bluebaugh, Lynn Packer described growing up in San Diego, earning a civil engineering degree at San Diego State University, moving to Kansas after meeting his wife and rising through county engineering ranks to become public works director; he also recounted being proposed to live on a local radio show.
Lynn Packer, Sedgwick County's Public Works Director and County Engineer, told Commissioner Jeff Bluebaugh he grew up in San Diego, attended San Diego State University for civil engineering and moved to Kansas about 25 years ago after meeting his wife. Packer said his wife, originally from Winfield, was already teaching when they met, which influenced his decision to relocate and settle in south-central Kansas.
Packer described a long county career that began with an internship and progressed through a series of positions to his current role as county engineer and public works director. He highlighted the personal side of that journey: two children nearing key life milestones, with a son set to graduate from Mays High School and a daughter completing an undergraduate degree at Wichita State University.
On a lighter note, Packer recounted a memorable public moment when his partner proposed to him over the "B98" morning radio show. "She asked me on the radio live if I would marry her," he said, describing the surprise and how a cousin later sent a recording.
Packer closed by offering contact information for the public works department and encouraging residents with maintenance concerns to reach out to county staff.