Voters head to the polls Tuesday

In what may well be the last spring city and school elections ever, Allen Countians heading to the polls Tuesday will have several choices on their ballots — albeit, some more than others.
In Iola, all four city council incumbents filed for re-election, with two — Steve French and Eugene Myrick — drawing challengers.
Myrick, a retired National Guardsman, faces challenger Austin Sigg, a supply sergeant with the National Guard’s 891st Engineer Battalion’s headquarters company in Iola. Myrick and Sigg are in Ward 3, which covers much of the southwest quadrant of town.
French, an investigator for the Kansas Board of Healing Arts, holds the seat in Ward 4 (southeast). He is being challenged by Aaron Franklin, a claims adjuster with Nationwide Insurance.
Incumbents Jon Wells (Ward 1) and Bob Shaughnessy (Ward 2) are unopposed, as is Iola Mayor Joel Wicoff.

The USD 257 Board of Education features a pair of contested races.
Dan Willis, safety and environmental manager at B&W Trailer Hitches, will face off against local business owner Virginia Macha for the at-large seat, meaning every voter within USD 257 has a vote. They’re looking to replace the outgoing Mark Burris, who declined to file for re-election.
Jen Taylor, who last fall chaired the  “Yes, Yes” committee in favor of building new elementary and high schools, is squaring off against Stanley Grigsby, who owns a local computer business, for Position 1. They’re looking to replace Don Snavely, who declined to run again.
Doug Dunlap, the only 257 school board incumbent to run for re-election, is unopposed for position 2. Mary Apt, a former member, is unopposed in her bid to replace Jack McFadden.

AT ALLEN Community College, four are running for three trustee positions. Incumbents Spencer Ambler and Ken McGuffin are seeking re-election, as are Mary Kay Heard, retired owner of Iola Western Auto, and Delbert Nelson, a local farmer. Nelson is a former trustee.

HUMBOLDT City Council has two races for positions where incumbents did not file.
Robert Lachenmaier and Jeb Kaufman will square off to succeed Wayne Smith in Ward 1, position 1, while Jean Moore and Sarah Lassman are candidates for the Ward 1, position 2 seat currently held by Joann Evans.
Incumbents Nobby Davis, mayor, and council members Vada Aikins and Sunny Shreeve are unopposed.
In USD 258 Sandra Whitaker and Joe Works are the only incumbents among seven candidates seeking four seats, all decided in at-large voting. Other candidates are Joyce Allen, Donald Hauser, Craig Mintz, Scott Murrow, Clayton Schoendaller and Briana Wilkerson.

VOTERS in LaHarpe have plenty of homework to do before casting their ballots. Three candidates are running for mayor, and five others are seeking two seats on the LaHarpe City Council.
Mayoral candidates are Cynthia Carr, incumbent, former mayor Lloyd Wayne Turner and Councilwoman EllaMae Crowell. Savannah Flory is the only council incumbent who filed for re-election. Other challengers for the two openings are Don Gay, Ronald Knavel Sr., David Lee and Danny Ware Jr.
 
NONE of the local races will be contested in Moran or for the Marmaton Valley USD 256 school board. In fact, there are more openings than candidates.
In USD 256 (Moran-Elsmore) two incumbents — Jim Armstrong, position 3, and Kris Smith, position 7 — are seeking re-election, while Mark Spillman filed for position 1, currently held by Amanda Allen. Position 2 will be filled by write-in votes or appointment after the election.
Moran Mayor Phillip Merkel is unopposed in his re-election bid, as is City Councilman James Mueller. No other candidates filed. In addition to Mueller, one other seat will be filled, either by write-in votes or by appointment.

OTHER MUNICIPAL candidates:
Bassett, mayor, Larry Crawford; council (five openings), Connie S. Alexander, Carol Crawford, James F. Ratcliff, Sheryl Ratcliff.
Mildred: no filing for mayor or five council seats.
Savonburg: mayor, Vernon Leon Cuppett Jr.; council (five openings), Michael Vile, Richard Whitebread, Robert Wilson, Glen Wolfe.

STATE LAWMAKERS are nearing a comprehensive bill that will move all city and school board elections to the fall of even-numbered years, when state and national races — including presidential elections — are decided.
Supporters say the change will boost turnout in local elections. Critics see no need for change.
Both the Kansas House and Senate must approve the measure before it is sent to the governor.