By Roger Sims, rsims@linncountyjournal.com
Correction: In an earlier version of this story, James Akes and Mike Van Vlack's names were misspelled. We regret the error.
MOUND CITY – Linn County voters are expected to head to the polls on Tuesday, Aug. 6, to cast ballots in the primary election. The county clerk’s office has been taking advanced ballots – that option will close at noon on Monday – and mail ballots, with a Tuesday deadline, are expected to trickle in to the office throughout the week.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and races are expected to have unofficial results by the end of the evening. Final results will take place after election audits and canvassing by the county commission, and that process is expected to take about two weeks.
Republican voters will, for the most part, have a selection from which to choose. Democratic voters will have a choice in only one race – choosing who will face the Republican nominee in the U.S. House 2nd District race. In most Republican races, the winner of Tuesday’s primary will be the only candidate on the ballot for the Nov. 7 general election.
Here are the races in the Republican primary:
• Three candidates are seeking the nomination for the Linn County Commission seat in District 2: Rod Earnest, Alison Hamilton, and Vicki Leonard. Current Commissioner Danny McCullough did not file for re-election. District 2 includes voters in Valley, Potosi, Paris, Sheridan and Stanton townships.
• Two will seek the Commission seat for District 3: Incumbent Jim Johnson and challenger Richard Morrell. District 3 includes voters in Mound City, Blue Mound, Centerville, and Liberty townships.
• Two candidates are vying to be Linn County Sheriff in a countywide race: James Akes and Patrick Huntley. The winner will replace current Sheriff Kevin Friend, who opted not to run for re-election.
• The county attorney race also has two candidates: Joseph Falls, Ottawa, and Justin Meeks, Fort Scott. Both men are seeking to replace current County Attorney Burton Harding, who did not seek re-election. Meeks is currently the assistant county attorney for Linn County.
• Countywide voting will also take place for three county offices where only one person filed to seek the office. County Clerk David and Register of Deeds Kristy Schmitz are seeking to retain their respective offices. Deputy Treasurer Joannie Reed is seeking to replace current Treasurer Janet Kleweno, who is not seeking re-election.
• In the Kansas Legislature, Stetson Kern, Pleasanton, is challenging incumbent Caryn Tyson, Parker, for the 12th District seat in the state senate.
• Rick James, La Cygne, and Joshua Jones, Fort Scott, are seeking the 4th District seat in the state House of Representatives. The winner of that race will replace Trevor Jacobs, a Fort Scott Republican who did not file for re-election.
The race for the 2nd District Representative to the U.S. House of Representatives has races for both political parties. Incumbent Jake LaTurner, a Pittsburg Republican, announced earlier this year he would not seek a second term in office.
Democrats will be choosing between Nancy Boyda, Baldwin City, and Matt Kleinmann, Kansas City, Kan. Boyda is a former representative who won a two-year term in the U.S. House in 2006 but was not re-elected in 2008. Kleinmann is a community organizer.
The race for the Republicans is much more crowded. Candidates include Jeff Kahrs, Topeka; Michael Ogle, Topeka; Derek Schmidt, Independence; Shawn Tiffany, Delevan; and Chad Young, Lawrence. While most of his opponents have sought to get their message out, Schmidt, who lost to Laura Kelly in race for governor two years ago but served as state attorney general from 2011 to 2023, has benefitted from wider recognition.
Several people have filed for township posts, and none of them are opposed. They are:
• Blue Mound Township: Benda Beth, treasurer, and Polly Ann Yates, trustee.
• Centerville Township: Brenda Conner, treasurer, and Karen Whitcomb, trustee.
• Liberty Township: Barbara Hines, treasurer, and Cheri Dunlop, trustee.
• Lincoln Township: Mike Van Vlack, trustee, and no one has filed for treasurer.
• Mound City Township: Carol Wood, treasurer, and Gary Schmitz, trustee.
• Paris Township: Jean Peterson, treasurer, and Carmen Self, trustee.
• Potosi Township: Steve Ellis, treasurer, and Tel-Lea Cox, trustee.
• Valley Township: Wayne Cox, treasurer.
In addition, Republicans and Democrats will be voting to select precinct committee man and precinct committee woman in each township. None of the candidates who filed for the post have opposition.
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