Several races developed for seats on governing bodies through Allen County before the noon Tuesday filing deadline, including two for Iola City Council positions. The city-school spring election will be on April 7. In Iola, all four incumbents filed for re-election, while newcomers Aaron Franklin and Austin Sigg filed. Sigg, a supply sergeant with the Kansas Army National Guard, will face incumbent Eugene Myrick for Ward 3, in the southwest portion of town. Franklin, a claims adjuster with Nationwide Insurance, will challenge incumbent Steve French in Ward 4, in the southeast quadrant. Meanwhile, incumbents Jon Wells (Ward 1) and Bob Shaughnessy (Ward 2) are unopposed, as is Iola Mayor Joel Wicoff. Humboldt’s council also will 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.
BOARD OF EDUCATION in USD 257 (Iola) and USD 258 (Humboldt) drew considerable interest.
In USD 257 Douglas Dunlap is the only incumbent on board, for position 2. Others seeking seats are Stanley Grigsby, who owns a local computer business, and Jen Taylor, who chaired the “Yes, Yes” committee in favor of building new elementary and high schools for USD 257, for position 1; Mary Apt, a former member, for position 3; local business owner Virginia Macha and Dan Willis, environmental manager at B&W Trailer Hitches, for position 7, which being at-large will be decided for all voters in the district.
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.
ln 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.
At Allen Community College, two incumbents, Spencer Ambler and Ken McGuffin, are candidates as are Mary Kay Heard and Delbert Nelson for three trustee seats. Larry Manes did not file for re-election. The trustees board has six members, with three elected every two years to four-year terms.
Darrell R. Monfort and Job Springer are candidates for two openings on the Southwind Extension District Board.
OTHER MUNICIPAL candidates:
Bassett, mayor, Larry Crawford; council (five openings), Connie S. Alexander, Carol Crawford, James F. Rafcliff, Sheryl Ratcliff.
LaHarpe, mayor, Lloyd Wayne Turner, EllaMae Crowell and Cynthia Carr; council (two openings), Savannah M. Flory, Don Gay, Ronald Knavel Sr., David Lee, Danny Ware Jr.
Mildred: no filing for mayor or five council seats.
Moran: mayor, Phillip Merkel; council, two openings, James Mueller.
Savonburg: mayor, Vernon Leon Cuppett Jr.; council (five openings), Michael Vile, Richard Whitebread, Robert Wilson, Glen Wolfe.
