Of all the elections, don’t sit out the primary in August

Advanced voting is off to a slow start, according to Sherrie Riebel, Allen County Clerk.

As of Monday morning, only 25 of Allen County’s estimated 8,700 registered voters had cast their ballots in the first days of advanced voting. Yes, you can wait until the Aug. 7 primary election to vote. But why wait?

Better to mark the ballot ahead of time and be able to cross that important task off your to-do list.

This year’s primary election is of critical importance because among Republicans, particularly, the choices represent the extreme of personalities and ideologies: The steady-as-you-go Gov. Jeff Colyer is pitted against the firebrand Kris Kobach. Jim Barnett stands out among the field of seven as the lone supporter of expanding Medicaid.

The gubernatorial primary race is every bit as critical for Democrats. Laura Kelly is not only the only female running for governor, but is also the most qualified. Sen. Kelly’s primary opposition in the field of five is Josh Svaty, a former state representative and former secretary of agriculture. Both Kelly and Svaty live in Topeka. Kelly has served in the Kansas Senate since 2005. Svaty served in the Kansas House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009 when he was appointed ag secretary. For the past seven years he has farmed in rural Ellsworth.

The governor’s race alone is all the reason voters need to participate in the primary. The governor not only sets the tone for the state but wields great power by his or her ability to veto legislation. More than 150,000 Kansans today would have health insurance had Gov. Sam Brown-back not vetoed the legislation in 2017 to expand Medicaid.

LOCALLY, the race for Allen County Commission is up for grabs between Republicans John Brocker and Bruce Symes for those in District 3. In March, a committee of the Allen County Republican Party selected Brocker to complete the term of Jim Talkington, who resigned.

For both Symes and Brocker this is their first foray into elected office. The winner of the Republican primary will face the Democratic nominee Steven Henderson of Moran in the Nov. 6 general election.

Advanced voting is available at the county clerk’s office in the courthouse during regular office hours from now until noon, Aug. 6. Don’t forget to bring a driver’s license or birth certificate. And wear your “I voted” sticker with a sense of accomplishment.

— Susan Lynn