By Lucky Kidd
McPHERSON, Kan. — McPherson County voters will have no contested local races on their ballot Tuesday, as all candidates are unopposed. One of those candidates is David Bohnenblust of McPherson, who is the only candidate for 2nd District County Commissioner to succeed Tom Kuesner of Canton who did not seek another term. The other new name on the ballot is Cassie Chick who was recently appointed to fill the County Treasurer’s position following the retirement of Teresa Nelson and was the only person to file for the office.
McPherson County voters will also consider retention of two District Judges in the 9th Judicial District. Up for retention are Judges Jason Lane and Michael Llamas, both of Newton. Harvey County, the other county in the district, is also part of this vote.
In Marion County, two County Commission seats are on the ballot, one of which involves a write-in bid. Commissioner Randy Dalke lost the Republican primary to Clarke Dirks in District 3 and is waging a write-in campaign to retain the seat. Also on the ballot in District 3 is Democrat Randall Eitzen. In district 2, Independent incumbent Commissioner David Mueller of Tampa is running against Republican Michael Beneke of Lincolnville.
Marion County voters will also select a new County Attorney by write-in. Incumbent Joel Ensey did not file for another term, and nobody filed for the position prior to the June 1st filing deadline. They will also consider retention of three judges in the 8th Judicial District which also involves Dickinson, Geary and Morris counties.
In Rice County, there is also a write-in campaign, this for Sheriff where incumbent Bryant Evans, who lost the Republican primary to Nicholas Sowers, launched a write-in bid to remain in office. Write-ins will also be needed to fill a position on the board of Rice County Hospital District 2, which is the Little River area and operates Sandstone Heights nursing home, and for one of four City Council positions in Lyons where three incumbent council members did not seek re-election, the fourth on the ballot has opposition, and three people are running for Mayor.
In Reno County there are two contested County Commission races, one in Hutchinson and another in northeast Hutchinson and the Buhler area, where in District 3 Republican Ron Vincent of Hutchinson and Democrat Garth Strand of Buhler seek to succeed retiring Commissioner Daniel Friesen of Buhler.
There’s also a write-in campaign for County Commission District 2 in Saline County, where Kathleen Malone Crouch is running a write-in effort after losing the Republican primary to Annie Graval by 17 votes out of over 1.100 votes cast.