By Lucky Kidd
RENO COUNTY, Kan. — Voters in two Reno County Commission districts will be selecting new Commissioners at Tuesday’s general election. Three seats are on the ballot, with one of them held by Incumbent Ron Hirst of South Hutchinson who won a three-way Republican primary in August and is unopposed Tuesday in the 2nd District which includes the southern part of Hutchinson South Hutchinson and western Reno County.
The 3rd District, which generally includes the part of Hutchinson east of Plum and north of 23rd Avenue and northeast Reno County including Buhler and Medora, is an open seat as Incumbent Daniel Friesen of Buhler did not seek re-election. Ron Vincent of rural Hutchinson, who won the August Republican primary, will face Democrat Garth Strand of rural Buhler.
The 4th District election is for the final two years of a term that Mark Reece was elected to in 2020 but declined to accept. Republican precinct committee members in the district selected John Whitsel to take the place of Reese. Whitesel, who twice made unsuccessful bids for the Kansas Legislature, was defeated in the Republican primary by Richard Wagner, who will face Democrat Lindsey Hatfield Tuesday.
Reno County voters will also have uncontested races on their ballot for Sheriff, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, County Treasurer, District Attorney and three judicial positions. Division 2 District Judge Keith Schroeder is seeking his second term on the bench, while Greg Bell is unopposed for Division 4 District Judge to succeed retiring District Judge Patricia Macke Dick. Also on the ballot is Magistrate Judge Jeff Newsum, who is seeking his first full term after being appointed to fill the vacancy created when Daniel Gilligan was elected Division 3 District Judge in 2022.
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