Category Archives: Elections

Candidate Forum at 5:30 p.m. Today at the Ellis Center

TONIGHT ~ Tuesday, October 25th, 2022
Join us for the 2022
General Election Candidate Forum
Tuesday, October 25th
Doors open 5:30pm for Meet & Greet w/Candidates
Forum beings at 6pm
(will also be on Facebook Live ~ Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce page)
Candidates in the races below have been invited to attend & participate in the forum.
United States Senate
United States House of Representatives, 2nd District
Governor / Lt. Governor
Secretary of State
Attorney General
State Treasurer
Commissioner of Insurance
State Representative, 4th District
Member, State Board of Education, 9th District
County Commissioner, 1st District
County Clerk
County Attorney

The November 2022 Election Voting Starts This Week

The general election will be November 8, but those who wish to, may vote earlier.

Early voting will begin Wednesday, October 26th and will be open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and will end on Monday, November 7th at noon.

People may vote at the  Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National Ave. in the commission room.

To view the sample ballot:

Sample 22GKSBOU

“We provide early voting to allow everyone the opportunity to vote, which is why we started offering Saturday voting,” said Ashley Shelton, Bourbon County Clerk. “We had a good turnout in the primary for early voting and a lot of positive comments regarding Saturday voting. We will continue to offer Saturday voting as an option if people continue to utilize it.”

Ashley Shelton. Submitted photo.

In addition to selecting candidates, there will be two questions on this ballot, one about  the election of sheriffs and one about Kansas legislative oversight.

 

Taken from the ballot:

County Sheriff Question

 

This amendment would preserve the
right of citizens of each county

that elected a county sheriff 
to continue
electing the county sheriff. The

amendment would also provide

that a county sheriff only may be

involuntarily removed from office

pursuant to either a recall election

or a writ of quo warranto initiated

by the attorney general.

A writ of quo warranto is a common law remedy which is used to challenge a person’s right to hold a public or corporate office, according to https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/quo_warranto

A  yes vote for this proposition would
preserve the right of citizens of

each county
, to
continue electing the county sheriff

via popular vote. The amendment

would also direct that a county

sheriff only may be involuntarily

removed from office pursuant to

either a recall election or a writ

of quo warranto initiated by the

attorney general.


A  no vote against this proposition
would not make any changes to

the constitution and would retain

current law concerning the election

of a sheriff and the procedures for

involuntary removal of a sheriff from

office.

The amendment states:

County and township
officers.
(a) Except as provided
in subsection (b), each county

shall elect a sheriff for a term of

four years by a majority of the

qualified electors of the county

voting thereon at the time of voting

designated for such office pursuant

to law in effect on January 11, 2022,

and every four years thereafter.

(b) The provisions of subsection

(a) shall not apply to a county

that abolished the office of sheriff

prior to January 11, 2022. Such

county may restore the office of

sheriff as provided by law and such

restoration shall be irrevocable.

A county that restores the office

of sheriff shall elect a sheriff by a

majority of the qualified electors

of the county voting thereon for a

term of four years. Such sheriff shall

have such qualifications and duties

as provided by law. The time of

voting for the office of sheriff may

be provided for by the legislature

pursuant to section 18 of article 2 of

this constitution.

(c) The filling of vacancies and the

qualifications and duties of the

office of sheriff shall be as provided

by law.

(d)
The legislature shall provide for
such
other county and township
officers as may be necessary.

§ 5. Removal of officers.
(a) Except
as provided in subsection (b),
all
county and township officers may

be removed from office, in such

manner and for such cause, as shall

be prescribed by law.

(b) A county sheriff only may be

involuntarily removed from office by

recall election pursuant to section 3

of article 4 of this constitution or a

writ of quo warranto initiated by the

attorney general.

From Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks,

“A yes vote would require counties to maintain a sheriff as an elected official,”

The Question of Legislative Oversight

The purpose of this amendment is
to provide the legislature with

oversight of state executive branch

agencies and officials by providing

the legislature authority to establish

procedures to revoke or suspend

rules and regulations.


A yes  vote
for this proposition would
allow the legislature to establish

procedures to revoke or suspend

rules and regulations that are

adopted by state executive branch

agencies and officials that have the

force and effect of law.


A no vote
against this proposition
would allow state executive branch

agencies and officials to continue

adopting rules and regulations

that have the force and effect

of law without any opportunity

for the legislature to directly

revoke or suspend such rules and regulations.

Legislative oversight of administrative rules and
regulations.


Whenever the legislature by law has

authorized any officer or agency

within the executive branch of

government to adopt rules and

regulations that have the force and

effect of law, the legislature may

provide by law for the revocation

or suspension of any such rule and

regulation, or any portion thereof,

upon a vote of a majority of the

members then elected or appointed

and qualified in each house.

From Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks,

“This will basically allow the legislature to overturn regulations created by agencies, environmental agency for example,” Meeks said. “It would take away some of the governor’s administrative powers.”

Justin Meeks, Bourbon County Counselor. Submitted photo.

Bo Co Democrats Meet Oct. 23 at Ellis Center

The Bourbon County Democrats will hold a social meeting on Sunday, Oct. 23rd from 2 – 4 p.m. in the Ellis Center on the Fort Scott Community College Campus.
Guests will be Lt. Governor David Toland and Candidate for Secretary of State Jeanna Repass.
Light refreshments will be served. The public is welcome!
Submitted by Carol MacArthur
Chair, Bourbon Co. Democrats
620 215 1505
Please like us on Facebook

Bo Co Dems Serve Breakfast at Farmers Market Sept. 24

The Bourbon County Democrats are serving biscuits and gravy at the Farmers Market this Saturday, September 24th from 8 – noon.  Please come for a full helping, a half order, or just a biscuit and home made jelly!
For information, text 620 215 1505
Submitted by
Carol MacArthur
Chair, Bourbon Co. Democrats
620 215 1505
Please like us on Facebook

Nelson Blythe Selected to Fill District 1 Commissioner Position

Nelson and Euna Blythe.
A convention of the Bourbon County Republican party committee members was held on August 4 to decide  who would fill Lynne Oharah’s Bourbon County Commissioner District 1 position.
To view a prior story on Oharah’s resignation:
After the rules of selection were explained, the Republican committee had two individuals who asked to be considered:  Donald Coffman and Nelson Blythe.
Mark McCoy. Submitted photo.
“Each candidate was given three minutes to address our meeting, after this portion, the candidate and any of the public were asked to leave,” said Chairman Mark McCoy. “Much discussion took place amongst us. A motion was made to appoint Mr. Blythe by an acclamation motion, it was seconded, and all in attendance answered  in the affirmative.”
The required state form was sent certified mail on Friday, August 5 to the governor’s office, McCoy said.
“In my experience, the governor will notify our county clerk within 10 days,” he said.
Nelson Blythe will start mid-August as the new commissioner.
Nelson Blythe

Nelson Blythe, 28, worked as a deputy for the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office for approximately four years. Since 2021, he has worked as a deputy for the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff in Linn County is flexible in scheduling personnel, he said, and that will allow him to be present at the commission meetings, which typically meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays at the courthouse.

One thing that motivated him to run for the commissioner position was being involved in Bourbon County.

“When I went to Linn County, I didn’t like missing out on what is going in Bourbon County,” he said.

“I maintained good working relationships with most of the people who work in the court house, especially in the county attorney’s office,” according to a press release from Blythe. “I believe that my professional relationship with the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office will help smooth the sometimes rocky relationship with the commission.”

Additionally,  Blythe said he is glad he will be “in a position to defend our rights from state and federal governance.”

“Local elected officials need to be willing to stand up to state and federal authorities that violate the Constitution,” he said. “This isn’t an extreme view. It is a methodical, constitutional, conservative, law-abiding, Christian mindset.”

Blythe has been married to Euna for six years.

He is the son of Bud and Lee Belle Blythe of rural Uniontown. He lives on part of the farm that has been handed down in his family for over 150 years.  His grandparents were Kaley and Julia Blythe.

He is the youngest of Bud and Lee Belle’s five children and one of the three triplets. His older brother, Paden, works for the Fort Scott Police Department; his older sister, Katie Dyastra lives with her husband and three children in Fort Scott, and his sister, Hannah Stark and husband live in Fort Scott.

His identical twin brother, Kaley, is married to Kelsey and they have one child. He also lives on a part of the Blythe family farm.

Blythe earned a bachelors of science degree from Pittsburg State University in business administration.

 

 

 

 

Constitutional Amendment Question: Yes, in Bourbon County, but No Kansas Totals

Click below to view the unofficial primary election results submitted by Ashley Shelton, Bourbon County Clerk.

Most incumbents faired well in this election and the constitutional amendment proposed vote was Yes with 2, 335 votes and No-1,662 in Bourbon County. (See page 26 of the submitted documents)

UNOFFICIAL PRIMARY 2022 RESULTS

The state of Kansas election total results are different on this issue.

Kansans as a whole voted no on this constitutional amendment on abortion.

To view the Associated Press release:

https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e

Bo Co Dems Serve Breakfast at Farmers Market July 23

The Bourbon County Democrats will be serving breakfast and brunch at the Farmers Market on Saturday, July 23rd.
Please join them between 8 a.m. and noon for breakfast casserole, coffee cake, and fruit.  Ham sliders will also be offered after ten!

Submitted by Carol MacArthur
Chair, Bourbon Co. Democrats
620 215 1505
Please like us on Facebook
Reading suggestion: They Want to Kill Americans by Malcolm Nance
History of White Supremacy and current state of it.
“Serving Bourbon County’s Registered Democrats”

Chamber to host Election Candidate Forum on July 25

Chamber to host Election Candidate Forum

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces an Election Candidate Forum will be held on Monday, July 25th at the Ellis Fine Arts Center located at 2108 S. Horton St. in Fort Scott. Doors will open for a Meet & Greet with the candidates at 5:30 p.m. and the forum will begin at 6:00 p.m.

Candidates from the following offices have been invited to participate in the Primary Election Forum: United States Senate, United States House of Representatives – 2nd District, Governor/Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Commissioner of Insurance, State Representative – 4th District, Member – State Board of Education – 9th District, County Commissioner – 1st District, County Clerk, and County Attorney.

Residents of the community are encouraged to submit questions for the candidates to the Chamber by Thursday, July 21st by 5:00 p.m.  Questions may be emailed to [email protected], mailed to 231 E. Wall St., or dropped off in person.  The forum will also be broadcast live on the Facebook page Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.  Candidates in these races are asked to RSVP to the Chamber by July 21st to confirm attendance.

Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566.