By late afternoon Sunday, Allen and Neosho counties Republicans will have a person to recommend to replace Ed Bideau, the Ninth District representative who died Sept. 5 at his home in Chanute.
Precinct representatives in the two counties will meet at 2 p.m. in the Allen County Courthouse assembly room.
Jim Talkington, Allen County GOP chairman, said a secret ballot would decide whose name would be forwarded to Gov. Sam Brownback for appointment.
The appointee will serve until the November 2014 election. Then a representative will be elected to a full two-year term.
Judy Brigham and Bud Sifers, whom Bideau defeated in the 2012 primary election before running unopposed in the general election, have indicated interest.
Brigham is former Iola city administrator. Sifers is an area oil man and has spoken in support of the Tea Party.
Jeff Locke also has been mentioned.
Locke was defeated by Democrat Bob Grant for the Second District House seat in 2012. The Second District includes a handful of precincts on the east side of Allen County. After Bideau’s death, the Register learned, Locke took up resident in the Iola area and the Ninth District, which makes him eligible for nomination.
According to Article Two of the Kansas Constitution: During the time that any person is a candidate for nomination or election to the legislature and during the term of each legislator, such candidate or legislator shall be and remain a qualified elector who resides in his or her district.
Other candidates may surface as the convention draws near.
