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Category Archives: Elections
Effort To Ensure Kansans Get Registered To Vote
Governor Kelly, State Agencies Ensure Kansas Voters Can Get Registered and Vote
~Part of Effort to Ensure Kansas in Full Compliance with Federal Voting Law~
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) and Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure every eligible Kansan has a meaningful opportunity to get registered to vote or update their voter registration.
“As we enter the homestretch of the 2020 election, it is vital that every eligible voter has a chance to register to vote and participate in our democracy,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “My administration has taken several steps to improve our outreach to Kansans – especially during this pandemic – and these efforts are already bearing fruit.”
DCF and KDHE began sending voter registration applications to Kansas residents entitled to agency-provided voter registration opportunities, one of the state’s recent efforts to ensure compliance with federal law.
Last November, Demos, Loud Light, the ACLU, and the ACLU of Kansas completed an investigation of compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) in Kansas and notified Governor Kelly and other state officials of areas to improve to ensure the state’s compliance with the NVRA. DCF and KDHE have been working on meaningful improvements to agency-provided voter registration opportunities and assistance to clients filling out voter registration applications.
Among other improvements, DCF and KDHE upgraded and will continue to improve their online application portals to provide their clients with better assistance with voter registration. Although some of the technology upgrades will take time to implement, DCF and KDHE have mailed voter registration applications to clients to ensure that they receive opportunities to register to vote before the November General Election.
This process has already provided many Kansas residents with an opportunity to register to vote or update their registration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between March and September 2020, DCF mailed voter registration applications to nearly 151,00 clients. KDHE will send voter registration applications to 127,000 client households in September.
“As we weather this pandemic, with many individuals quarantined at home and practicing social distancing, it is important we provide this service to Kansans,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I am committed to making sure eligible Kansas voters are not left behind.”
Governor Kelly encourages all eligible Kansas residents to register to vote. Kansans who receive a voter registration application in the mail are encouraged to complete the application to register to vote (or update an existing registration) as quickly as possible to ensure it reaches their county’s election office ahead of the October 13 deadline to register. Eligible Kansans may also register to vote online at https://www.kdor.ks.gov/apps/voterreg/default.aspx; a Kansas driver’s license or state identification card are required to register to vote on the Kansas registration page. Eligible Kansans can also register in minutes at KSVotes.org. To vote in the General Presidential Election this year, Kansas residents must be registered to vote by October 13, 2020.
The Governor also encourages every registered voter to vote by mail. And any registered voter in Kansas can. The application for a mail-in ballot can be found at https://www.kssos.org/forms/elections/AV1.pdf.
Applications for a mail ballot must be returned by October 27, 2020, to your county election official. Ballots will be mailed to those who apply beginning on October 14, 2020. All ballots must be postmarked on or before November 3 and received in the county election office by the close of business on November 6.
Voter Registration in Conjunction With Downtown Sidewalk Sale This Weekend
Submitted by Michael J Hoyt, organizer.
This weekend in conjunction with the weekend downtown sidewalk sale, citizen organizers will have a blue tent set up at the corner of 2nd Street and South National Ave (former Shining Studio location) to assist anyone with voter registration. The deadline to register is October 13th to be able to vote in the November 3rd National Election.
Also, registered voters who reside within the City of Fort Scott can consider the PETITION FOR PLACING THE CHARTER ORDINANCE 31 ON THE BALLOT.
Additional information will be available for an understanding why consideration by the voters is critical for the improvements needed for our SEWER AND STORM SEWER RESERVE FUNDS to be used as set forth in the Kansas Constitution and not moved to the City’s general fund.
All visitors to the tent will be given a free personal copy of THE U.S. CONSTITUTION as a token of appreciation for your interest.
Bourbon County Official Election Results from Aug. 4
The following is the official election results of the Bourbon County primary election Aug. 4, 2020, following a canvass by the Bourbon County Commissioners.
Local Democrats Elect New Officers
On Sunday, August 16, the Bourbon County Democratic Party held their biennial reorganizational meeting following the primary election.
Precinct committeemen and women voted on new officers, all of whom were elected unanimously.
Dwight Moore was elected County Chair. Moore is a retired biology professor and the former County Chair of Osage County. He and his family moved to Fort Scott in 2019.
Carol MacArthur was elected Vice-Chair. Shirley Palmer and Jacki Prettyman were re-elected as Treasurer and Secretary, respectively.
Out-going Chair Kate Emmett-Sweetser and Vice-Chair Clint Walker were thanked for their dedicated service.
The Bourbon County Democrats meet on the third Sunday of the month at 1:00 p.m. In order to facilitate social distancing, September and October meetings will be held in Shelter No. 1 at Gunn Park.
For more information about the Bourbon County Democrats, Moore can be contacted at 620-341-3074.
Bourbon County Dems Meet August 16
The Bourbon County Democrats will meet on Sunday, August 16, at 1:00 pm in shelter house #1 at Gunn Park.
Attendees are asked to bring a lawn chair, if possible. Bottled water and masks will be available.
All Democrats are encouraged to attend.
Unofficial 2020 Primary Election Results For Bourbon County
Submitted by the Bourbon County Clerks office:
2020 PRIMARY ELECTION UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
AUGUST 4, 2020
Editor’s note: the clerk does not list the winners in each position for both the Republicans and Democrats together.
Republicans:
United States Senate
Vote for One 1
Lance Berland . . . . . . . . . 41 1
John L. Berman. . . . . . . . . 10
Derek C. Ellis. . . . . . . . . 31 1
Bob Hamilton . . . . . . . . . 579
Kris Kobach. . . . . . . . . . 1,029
David Alan Lindstrom. . . . . . . 85
Roger Marshall. . . . . . . . . 537
Brian Matlock . . . . . . . . . 38
John Miller. . . . . . . . . . 41
Steve Roberts . . . . . . . . . 101
Gabriel Mark Robles . . . . . . . 10
United States House of Representative
Vote for One 1
Jake LaTurner . . . . . . . . . 1,256
Dennis Taylor . . . . . . . . . 283
Steve Watkins . . . . . . . . . 948
Kansas Senate, 13th District DISTRICT 13
Vote for One 1
Richard Hilderbrand . . . . . . . 1,451
Kansas Senate, 12th District DISTRICT 12
Vote for One 1
Caryn Tyson. . . . . . . . . . 819
Kansas House of Representatives, 2nd DISTRICT 2
Vote for One 1
Kenneth Collins . . . . . . . . 202
Kansas House of Representatives, 4th DISTRICT 4
Vote for One 1
Arlyn Briggs . . . . . . . . . 205
Trevor Jacobs . . . . . . . . . 2,030
County Commissioner DISTRICT 3
Vote for One 1
Clifton Beth . . . . . . . . . 296
Joshua Jackson. . . . . . . . . 98
LeRoy “Nick” Ruhl. . . . . . . . 172
County Commissioner DISTRICT 2
Vote for One 1
Jeffrey Fischer . . . . . . . . 282
Jim Harris . . . . . . . . . . 466
Sparky (Don) Schroeder . . . . . . 445
County Clerk
Vote for One 1
Nick Graham. . . . . . . . . . 695
Kendell Dawn Mason . . . . . . . 1,148
Bobby “Bob” Reed . . . . . . . . 685
County Treasurer
Vote for One 1
Patty Love . . . . . . . . . . 1,467
Mike Mason . . . . . . . . . . 497
Shaunn Pytlowany . . . . . . . . 559
County Register of Deeds
Vote for One 1
Lora Holdridge. . . . . . . . . 2,286
County Attorney
Vote for One 1
Jacqie Spradling . . . . . . . . 2,154
County Sheriff
Vote for One 1
Derick Burke . . . . . . . . . 1,095
Bill Martin. . . . . . . . . . 1,318
Craig A. Rice . . . . . . . . . 172
Democrats:
United States Senate
Vote for One 1
Barbara Bollier . . . . . . . . 391
Robert Leon Tillman . . . . . . . 224
United States House of Representativ
Vote for One 1
Michelle De La Isla . . . . . . . 387
James K. Windholz. . . . . . . . 217
Kansas Senate, 13th District DISTRICT 13
Vote for One 1
Nancy J. Ingle. . . . . . . . . 352
Kansas Senate, 12th District DISTRICT 12
Vote for One 1
Mike Bruner. . . . . . . . . . 138
Kansas House of Representatives, 2nd DISTRICT 2
Vote for One 1
Lynn D. Grant . . . . . . . . . 23
Kansas House of Representatives, 4th DISTRICT 4
Vote for One 1
Bill Meyer . . . . . . . . . . 563
County Commissioner DISTRICT 3
Vote for One 1
Phillip G. Hoyt . . . . . . . . 171
County Commissioner DISTRICT 2
Vote for One 1
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 19
County Clerk
Vote for One 1
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 61
County Treasurer
Vote for One 1
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 52
County Register of Deeds
Vote for One 1
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 22
County Attorney
Vote for One 1
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 23
County Sheriff
Vote for One 1
Mike Feagins . . . . . . . . . 397
Julie Saker. . . . . . . . . . 178
Ad: Jeff Fischer For Bourbon County Commission
I am thankful for your support over the past four years in our service to the community. I consider it a tremendous privilege to have your trust and hope that this trust is still valued. I humbly request the favor of your continued support for me in my quest for a second term as your County Commissioner.
Four years ago, my promises to you were:
- To complete the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center construction contract on time and within budget, leveraging my skills as a professional engineer. This construction contract was valued at 6.8 million and was executed without any significant change orders.
- To benchmark our county’s financial performance with like-sized Kansas counties. These comparisons helped in budgeting, compensation and forecasting.
- To improve accountability and transparency, specifically with the Garland Fire Department. That Department is once again performing to the satisfaction of its constituents.
The biggest challenges over this term were the restructuring of healthcare, the wind turbines, and the pandemic. Healthcare is 17.5% of our economy and our community was facing the realization that our hospital was closing. Fortunately, our county commission worked with Mercy and two key providers were recruited to ensure continuity of care. The anticipated decline of property values did not occur.
Mercy donated an ambulance service to Bourbon County to provide this service. After comparing several nearby county models’ organizational structure for ambulance service, we ultimately patterned ours like the Allen County model. Bourbon county contracts with Fort Scott for $1,020,000 annually for operating this service and the county collects the fees. We were able to keep this service local for about half the cost to taxpayers in comparison to our northern neighbor, Linn County.
Civic leader Bill Brittan approached the county commission with the concept of a Healthcare Mall. He believed that with three anchor tenants, this property would be a viable, self-sustaining community resource that could attract medical professionals, students, and patients into our community. Two of the anchors appeared to be already in place, those being Community Health Centers of South East Kansas and Ascension Via Christi. The county commission felt that another anchor tenant was needed to make this sustainable.
Last September, Nathan Fawson of the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center requested a tour of the Mercy Hospital building. Since that time, the concept of a regional behavioral crisis center has been explored and pitched in Topeka. Preliminary discussions with State and Federal behavioral health providers were initiated, linking these services with FSCC’s Nursing Program. Unfortunately, the pandemic has hampered the development of these proposals into letters of intent.
I have learned a great deal as we engaged the prospect of wind turbines in our county. I regret that this issue was so divisive, pitting neighbor against neighbor. I also carry remorse for some of my own off-the-cuff conduct during our commission meetings. I’ve learned that Truth is a precious commodity and that Trust must be earned.
Looking ahead, there are serious challenges that we face as a county. Our tax rate on urban commercial property is 5%. A comparison of the rate with local counties in our area, we find that Labette County (Parsons) is the only county in southeast Kansas that is higher at 5.3%. Crawford County is 3.8%. At 5%, a commercial property owner pays in property taxes the value of his property every 20 years and at 4%, 25 years. We must work to improve our stewardship or lucrative commercial ventures may bypass our community.
During KDOT’s regional meetings, I have provided them testimony in the shaping of their vision. In my opinion, completing 69 as a four-lane through Pittsburg and connecting to the Oklahoma Turnpike is vital to our long term growth strategy. In a way, we are competing against 169 in connecting Kansas City to Dallas with a future interstate.
On a personal note, I am 59 years old and have been married to Gloria Fischer for 30
years. She serves our veterans as a physician. Together, we have four children—Joseph, Mary, Noah, and Benjamin. Joseph graduated from K-State as a mechanical engineer and works for an ag tech company, 360 Yield. The other three are learning at KU and Washburn. They cherish our community and hope to return to serve here.
I am a licensed Professional Engineer with Bachelor and Master Degrees in civil engineering. My academic research experience revolves around bridge rehabilitation and I’ve presented this topic at the national American Society of Civil Engineers conference. I have a great deal of heavy construction experience as well as skills for solving complex problems. Along with my wife, I have some experience in the medical service sector also.
Our family delights in serving the public sector. We’re builders and we love this county and its people. If I have your trust and confidence, I would humbly ask for your vote for County Commissioner.
Candidates Meet Public July 28
A candidate meet-and-greet event was organized for citizens to meet some candidates for the upcoming election.
The event was held on July 28 at The Boiler Room Brewhaus, at the corner of National Avenue and Wall Street in downtown Fort Scott.
Bob Hamilton, candidate for US Senate; Clifton Beth, candidate for Bourbon County Commission District 3, and Jim Harris, District 2 County Commissioner candidate met with the public.
Approximately 25 attended, according to Josh Jones, who submitted the photo and information.
From left to right are Bob Hamilton, Josh Jones, Gil Beerbower, and Jim Harris.
Jeff Fischer: Candidate for Bourbon County Commissioner, Advance Voting Has Begun
Advance voting at the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National Avenue continues until noon, August 3.
The hours of the county clerk’s office are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 pm. There is a plexiglass barrier between the voter and poll worker and employees are sanitizing after each voter, Bourbon County Clerk Kendell Mason said.
“Masks are not required, but we strongly encourage people to wear them to help keep everyone safe,” Mason said.” Masks and hand sanitizer will be available at all polling places.”
To view the Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum on July 20, click here: https://fortscott.biz/news/view-the-candidate-forum-last-night-here
This is part of a series of features on the candidates running for offices in Bourbon County. The Bourbon County Primary Election will be held, Tuesday, August 4, 2020.
Name:
Jeff Fischer
What position you are running for:
County Commissioner 2nd District
Age:
59 Years
Education:
Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering
Masters of Science Civil Engineering
Post Graduate Studies Civil Engineering
Experience:
3.5 years of experience in the role of Commissioner
10 years of leading corporate and collegiate learning experiences
20 years of construction engineering experience
What skills do you bring to the position if elected or re-elected?
If my constituents re-elect me to serve again as their commissioner I bring the skills from the past as outlined in my educational background: Professional Civil Engineer, Experience with heavy construction, Experience speaking to large audiences on a wide range of topics from the medical service sector to roads and bridge rehabilitation. I am a skilled researcher and seek to understand complex issues by drawing from a broad band of knowledge, before narrowing down to reaching a decision for the good of the present with a look to future growth and development. I have the skills of a pastor who nurtures the flock in my pastoral duties in my church. As a leader in the ministerial community I have gained the skill of listening and the skill of humbling myself. I learn from my mistakes. I seek input from others and try to make amends for wrongs foolishly committed. I have a genuine love for the future growth of Fort Scott and Bourbon County. My public speaking skills at local, regional, state and national levels are a valued asset to our community. I can represent Bourbon County in the Committee meetings across the globe, if necessary, to gain access to outsiders planning to locate their businesses in rural America. I am skilled at financial planning and can assist in helping department heads when they seek guidance in yearly budgets. I have a unique skill in historical memories of Fort Scott, remembering what our great-grand parents envisioned for us and dreamed for our children. My skills are varied, yes, through years of formal education and also life experiences. My constituents afforded me an opportunity to serve Bourbon County four years ago. Thank you for your vote of confidence in 2016. Please review what the commission as a body has accomplished. I humbly ask your forgiveness for my stumbles. I seek the chance to continue in service to the community we all love.
What is your priority on day one?
- Listen carefully.
- Secure additional anchor tenants to realize the capacity and benefits of the Medical Mall concept.
- Develop and implement a strategic plan for county infrastructure.
View The Candidate Forum Last Night Here
Shaunn Pytlowany: Candidate for Bourbon County Treasurer, Candidate Forum Is TODAY
This is part of a series of features on the candidates running for offices in Bourbon County. The Bourbon County Primary Election will be held, Tuesday, August 4, 2020.
Today, July 20, is the candidate forum at Ellis Fine Arts Center, on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for a meet and greet with candidates. The forum starts at 6 p.m. in the order of federal, state, then local candidates.
Shaunn Pytlowany, 49, is a candidate for Bourbon County Treasurer.
He graduated from LaVista High School, Fullerton CA. He was a graduate and graduate assistant of Dale Carnegie training, a General Motors Mark of Excellence award winner, business management and financial training through Toyota, Ford, General Motors, Dodge.
” Professionally I have over 19 years experience in leadership and team building,” Pytlowany said. ” I’ve been a successful local business owner since 2006. Also, being that I’ve lived and have been active in the community for 26 years it’s given me the opportunity to develop strong working relationships with city and county officials.”
” If elected my past experience in the automotive industry along with operating a business would be a benefit,” he said. “From inventory control, building and developing teams, and expense management.”
What would be your day one priority if elected?
“Analyze the current structure in the office,” he said. “Are the correct people in the correct positions? Develop a plan to increase the amount of daily transactions that are currently processed during the pandemic. Keep the office on budget by reducing the amount of times an outside auditor is needed in turn saving the taxpayers money.”
The following is information provided on the Bourbon County Kansas website.
Not sure if you’re registered to vote or where to vote?
You may register to vote online, through the Kansas Secretary of State’s website.
Check your voter registration status, the location of your polling place and view a sample ballot at VoterView by the Secretary of State.
Advance Voting is available prior to each election. You may advance vote in one of two ways: By mail, by filing an application for a ballot to be mailed to you OR in-person, beginning at least one week prior to any election.