The Bourbon County Democrats will meet on Flag Day, Sunday, June 14, at 1:00 pm in shelter house #1 at Gunn Park.
On June 1, Bill Meyer, who retired after 30-year career as a healthcare executive and chose, with his wife, Liz, to relocate to Fort Scott, filed as a candidate for the Kansas House of Representatives in District 4.
Bill earned his M.H.A. degree from George Washington University in 1971 and over his career served on hospital and hospital system executive staffs in Virginia, Maryland, Kansas, Iowa, Maine, and Washington, D.C. In the mid-1980s, he served as President of Mercy Hospitals of Kansas, based in Fort Scott. He is a Life Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Upon returning to Fort Scott in 2000, Bill served as Registrar of Fort Scott Community College until retiring in 2007. During that same period, his wife, Elizabeth Meyer, served as Director of the Nursing Program at the College. Bill is a member and past-President of the Rotary Club of Fort Scott, a member of the Bourbon County Arts Council, the Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County, and a volunteer in the Kansas Guardianship Program. He served on a committee that successfully promoted voter support of the bond issue to renovate and update U-234 high, middle and elementary schools. In January of this year, Bill was chosen to serve as a Trustee on the Board of Fort Scott Community College. The position had been held by his wife who died suddenly in November 2019. Bill and Liz celebrated 50 years of marriage shortly before her death.
“I am a Kansan by choice, not birth,” said Bill Meyer. “Liz and I fell in love with Fort Scott and the surrounding community during my years with Mercy Hospitals of Kansas and, when we decided to retire, Fort Scott was where we wanted to be.” Meyer added, “Of all the places we lived, we always felt welcomed and wanted here. I am now in a position where I have an opportunity to give back to this community through service in public office.”
Bill Meyer knows and is prepared to deal with the challenges we face. He will be a strong advocate for Medicaid Expansion and protecting funding for K-12, Community, and Technical Colleges. He sees the expansion of broadband internet availability as a critical ingredient in fostering economic stability and growth in rural communities across Kansas. He recognizes that promoting economic growth is the only alternative to the heavy tax burden currently carried by homeowners, small businesses, and farmers/ranchers in District 4.
District 4 covers the eastern half of Bourbon County, to view:
Frontenac, Kan. – Kansas native Lynn D. Grant, longtime city councilor and widow of 10-term Kansas legislator Bob Grant, filed Monday to run for her late husband’s seat representing Kansas State House District 2.
Kansas State House of Representatives District 2 includes most of Crawford County, the eastern 1/3 of Allen and Neosho Counties, and a small portion of SW Bourbon County.
“I have been involved in the community that is SEK for over 50 years,” said Grant, who was born in Overland Park, but moved southeast to attend Pittsburg State University and never left. “This is my home. Now I hope to honor Bob’s legacy by representing the constituents of the second district in Topeka.”
As a Kansas State Representative, Grant plans to focus on supporting ideas that will use Kansans’ tax dollars wisely by keeping public education viable, maintaining rural hospitals, providing healthcare for those who desperately need it, and improving road safety, especially on Highway 69 and Highway 7 north of Girard.
“I share Bob’s fearless passion for continuing our region’s advancement,” Grant said. “Education and healthcare are crucial not just for individual growth and prosperity but for advancing our community as a whole.”
Grant currently serves on the City Council for Frontenac, where she resides. She is a board member for Big Brutus, Inc., Elm Acres Foundation, and the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau. She retired from her job as an Administrative Specialist at Pittsburg State University in 2011.
“I’ve served in municipal government, educational institutions, and in numerous leadership positions throughout my long history in SEK,” Grant said. “I care deeply about the needs of Southeast Kansans, and I intend to fight for our interests in the state legislature.”
Grant is also a member of Women for Kansas and the Sacred Heart Altar Society, and volunteers for Festa Italiana, the Frontenac Education Foundation fundraiser. She helped found the Interfaith Alliance of Pittsburg.
Before moving to Frontenac in 2011, Grant lived for 42 years in Cherokee, where she served on the City Council for 12 years. In addition to her public service, Grant worked in the Southeast School District USD #247 for 20 years and owned and operated Idle-a-While Tavern & Grill in Cherokee for 15 years. She also helped re-establish Cherokee Homecoming, planned the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, established women’s softball, and assisted in the reorganization of Cherokee Senior Citizens.
Lynn was married to Bob for 46 years. They have a daughter, Megan Fry, married to Kevin Fry, and two grandchildren, Ross and Katie.
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For more information, contact Lynn D. Grant at (620) 249-2676 or email [email protected], Donations to Lynn’s campaign may be made out to Grant for Kansans, 202 S. Appleton, Frontenac, KS 66763
The filing deadline for Bourbon County residents vying for a political position was noon, June 1, 2020.
The primary election will be August 4, 2020 and the general election will be November 3, 2020
Due to COVID-19, Bourbon County election officials will make the voting process as safe as possible and will have safety measures in place for voters and poll workers, according to an email from Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk
There are contenders to incumbents in the county commissioners, the county clerk, the county treasurer and county sheriff positions.
Following is the list of those running and was provided by the county clerk.
County Commission, District 2
Jeffrey Fischer, 2093 Justice Ln, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-223-6633, Republican is the incumbent
Jim Harris, 2302 Jayhawk Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-224-0230, Republican
Sparky (Don) Schroeder, 2309 Kansas Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-215-3344, [email protected], Republican
No Democratic candidates filed
County Commission, District 3
Clifton Beth, 2236 215th, Fort Scott, KS 66701, Republican
Phillip G Hoyt, 2422 242nd Terrace, Fulton, KS 66738, 225-335-9927, [email protected], Democratic
Joshua Jackson, 2451 Hwy 7, Mapleton, KS 66754, Republican
Leroy “Nick” Ruhl, 313 Jefferson Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-224-8172, Republican is the incumbent
County Clerk
Nick Graham, 404 Hill Street, Uniontown, KS 66779, 620-875-5059, [email protected], Republican
Kendell Dawn Mason, 2 S Eddy, Fort Scott, KS 66701, Republican is the incumbent.
Bobby “Bob” Reed, 2191 Ironwood Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-224-8137, Republican
No Democratic candidates filed
County Treasurer
Patty Love, 901 Shepherd St., Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-215-1189, [email protected], Republican is the incumbent
Mike Mason, 978 60th Street, Uniontown, KS 66779, 620-224-6183, [email protected], Republican
Shaunn Pytlowany, 906 South Eddy St, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-224-9168, Republican
No Democratic candidates filed
County Register of Deeds
Lora Holdridge, 1814 Richards Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-215-4585, [email protected], Republican
No Democratic candidates filed
County Attorney
Jacqie Spradling, PO Box 576, Spring Hill, KS 66083, Republican is the incumbent.
No Democratic candidates filed
County Sheriff
Derick Burke, 348 225th Street, Garland, KS 66741, Republican
Mike Feagins, 1964 Justice Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-223-3402, [email protected], Democratic
Bill Martin, 502 Meadow Ln, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-215-1882, Republican is the incumbent.
Craig A Rice, 1932 Maple Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-223-1381, Republican
Julie Saker, 2495 Locust Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-768-9260, Democratic
Township Trustee-Drywood
Richard Cullison, Jr, 506 260th, Garland, KS 66741, 620-224-6160, Republican
No Democratic candidates filed
Township Trustee- Franklin
No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed
Township Trustee-Freedom
Janice Seested, 2330 215th St., Fort Scott, KS 66701, Republican
No Democratic candidates filed
Township Trustee-Marion
Steve Geiger, 1121 Hwy 3, Uniontown, KS 66779, Republican
No Democratic candidates filed
Township Trustee-Marmaton
David Duffey, 1201 Locust Rd, Redfield, KS 66769, 620-228-1779, [email protected], Republican
No Democratic candidates filed
Township Trustee-Millcreek
Yvonne Beck, 1821 159th Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-829-5442, Republican
No Democratic candidates filed
Township Trustee-Osage
No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed
Township Trustee-Pawnee
Karen A Endicott-Coyan, 1635 Fern Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-547-2571, [email protected], Republican
No Democratic candidates filed
Township Trustee-Scott
Jim Sackett, 2019 Maple Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-215-5537, [email protected], Republican
No Democratic candidates filed
Township Trustee-Timberhill
Dan Laughlin, 2275 105th St., Mapleton, KS 66754, 620-743-3441, Republican
No Democratic candidates filed
Township Trustee –Walnut
No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed
Township Treasurer- Drywood
No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed
Township Treasurer – Franklin
No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed
Township Treasurer-Freedom
Karen A Paddock, 608 W Cedar St., Fulton, KS 66738, 620-224-9379, Republican
No Democratic candidates filed
Township Treasurer-Marion
Rex Wilson, 905 Clay St., Bronson, KS 66716, 620-939-4750, Republican
No Democratic candidates filed
Township Treasurer-Marmaton
Wilma K Graham, 102 W 4th, Redfield, KS 66769, 620-756-4436, Democratic
No Republican candidates filed
Township Treasurer-Millcreek
Betty L Graham, 1458 Tomahawk Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-224-6072, Democratic
No Republican candidates filed
Township Treasurer-Osage
Kathleen Valentine, 2638 Tomahawk Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-857-4133, Republican
No Democratic candidates filed
Township Treasurer-Pawnee
Sharon Middleton, 1374 Eagle Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-215-4894, Democratic
No Republican candidates filed
Township Treasurer-Scott
Harold Rogers, 2189 Ironwood Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-223-1329, [email protected], Republican
No Democratic candidates filed
Township Treasurer-Timberhill
David Scharenberg, 1045 Yale Rd, Mapleton, KS 66754, 620-224-8932, Republican
No Democratic candidates filed
Township Treasurer- Walnut
No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed
Democratic Committeeman-1st Ward
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeeman-2nd Ward
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeeman-3rd Ward
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeeman-4th Ward
Jeff Sweetser, 1012 S National Ave, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-224-2282, [email protected]
Democratic Committeeman-5th Ward
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeeman-6th Ward
Dwight Moore, 801 Fairway Dr, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-341-3074, [email protected]
Democratic Committeeman-7th Ward
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeeman-Drywood
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeeman-Franklin
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeeman-Freedom
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeeman-Marion
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeeman-Marmaton
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeeman-Millcreek
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeeman-Osage
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeeman-Pawnee
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeeman-North Scott
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeeman-South Scott
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeeman-Timberhill
Clinton L Walker, 1999 105th St, Mapleton, KS 66754, 620-743-0114
Democratic Committeeman-Walnut
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeewoman-1st Ward
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeewoman-2nd Ward
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeewoman-3rd Ward
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeewoman-4th Ward
Kate Emmett-Sweetser, 1012 S National Ave, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-224-2282, [email protected]
Democratic Committeewoman-5th Ward
Carol Ann MacArthur, 702 S Crawford St., Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-215-1505, [email protected]
Democratic Committeewoman-6th Ward
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeewoman-7th Ward
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeewoman-Drywood
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeewoman-Franklin
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeewoman-Freedom
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeewoman-Marion
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeewoman-Marmaton
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeewoman-Millcreek
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeewoman-Osage
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeewoman-Pawnee
Shirley J Palmer, 1862 Eagle Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-704-1934, [email protected]
Democratic Committeewoman-North Scott
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeewoman-South Scott
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeewoman-Timberhill
No Candidate filed
Democratic Committeewoman-Walnut
No Candidate filed
Republican Committeeman-1st Ward
William Michaud, 7 N Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 785-213-7745, [email protected]
Republican Committeeman-2nd Ward
No Candidate filed
Republican Committeeman-3rd Ward
Todd McDermed, 110 S Broadway, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-215-4364, [email protected]
Republican Committeeman-4th Ward
No Candidate filed
Republican Committeeman-5th Ward
Shane A Walker, 1123 Burke Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-224-7272, [email protected]
Republican Committeeman-6th Ward
No Candidate filed
Republican Committeeman-7th Ward
Glenn Rash, 906 Emmert, Fort Scott, KS 66701 620-719-7502, [email protected]
Republican Committeeman-Drywood
Larry Shead, 2468 Cavalry Rd, Garland, KS 66741, 620-215-2396, [email protected]
Republican Committeeman-Franklin
Lynne D Oharah, 2120 95th St., Uniontown, KS 66779, 620-215-3120, [email protected]
Republican Committeeman-Freedom
Lawrence Paddock, 608 Cedar Street, Fulton, KS 66738, 620-224-1381, [email protected]
Republican Committeeman-Marion
Lafe W Wilson, 924 Jayhawk Rd, Uniontown, KS 66779, 620-654-8231, [email protected]
Republican Committeeman-Marmaton
Charles Robison, 1761 Locust Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-215-3755, [email protected]
Republican Committeeman-Millcreek
No Candidate filed
Republican Committeeman-Osage
Marvin Creager, 2141 245th, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-857-4158, [email protected]
Republican Committeeman-Pawnee
Kevin D Wagner, 390 130th Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-215-2174, [email protected]
Republican Committeeman-North Scott
Bill Lalman, 2047 Native Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-224-9218
Republican Committeeman-South Scott
Larry G Martin, 2141 Ironwood Dr, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-224-4300
Republican Committeeman-Timberhill
Dan Laughlin, 2275 105th, Mapleton, KS 66754, 620-743-3441
Republican Committeeman-Walnut
Jason L Sutterby, 148 Hwy 39, Savonburg, KS 66772, 620-224-7495, [email protected]
Republican Committeewoman-1st Ward
Jennifer Michaud, 7 N Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 785-230-7010, [email protected]
Republican Committeewoman-2nd Ward
No Candidate filed
Republican Committeewoman-3rd Ward
No Candidate filed
Republican Committeewoman-4th Ward
No Candidate filed
Republican Committeewoman-5th Ward
Jana R Walker, 1123 Burke Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-224-7272, [email protected]
Republican Committeewoman-6th Ward
Rhonda Dunn, 420 Rosemary Lane, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-224-1186, [email protected]
Republican Committeewoman-7th Ward
Patty Love, 901 Shepherd St., Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-223-3800 x-192, [email protected]
Republican Committeewoman-Drywood
Vickie Shead, 2468 Cavalry Rd, Garland, KS 66741, 620-224-4149, [email protected]
Republican Committeewoman-Franklin
No Candidate filed
Republican Committeewoman-Freedom
Janice Seested, 2330 215th St., Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-857-4768
Republican Committeewoman-Marion
Linda S Wilson, 924 Jayhawk Rd, Uniontown, KS 66779, 620-654-7413, [email protected]
Republican Committeewoman-Marmaton
Celena (CJ) Robison, 1761 Locust Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-215-0816, [email protected]
Republican Committeewoman-Millcreek
No Candidate filed
Republican Committeewoman-Osage
Carol Creager, 2141 245th, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-857-4158, [email protected]
Republican Committeewoman-Pawnee
Rachel M Wagner, 390 130th, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-547-2233, [email protected]
Republican Committeewoman-North Scott
Glenda Lalman, 2047 Native Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-223-3805
Republican Committeewoman-South Scott
Debra M Martin, 2141 Ironwood Dr, Fort Scott, KS 66701, 620-224-6846, [email protected]
Republican Committeewoman-Timberhill
Jan Laughlin, 2275 105th Street, Mapleton, KS 66754, 620-743-3441, [email protected]
Republican Committeewoman-Walnut
Rebecca Sutterby, 148 Highway 39, Savonburg, KS 66772, 620-224-7495, [email protected]
The 13th Senate District has a new candidate. Nancy Ingle of Pittsburg filed for the Democratic nomination for the Senate Seat. Ingle, a retired attorney, filed on Friday, May 29th.
A native of Pittsburg, Ingle has previously served Crawford County as an assistant prosecutor in the Crawford County Attorney’s office, and also as an Assistant for Policy in the Office of former Governor John Carlin. She worked in the private sector as a manager for a Fortune 500 company, Boeing, and for several highly respected research centers, including Cedars-Sinai and UCLA.
Ingle said that she decided to file for office because she has grown tired of the continuing discord in Topeka. “It isn’t even about being a Democrat or Republican anymore. It’s just plain petty politics. The people of SEK don’t have anyone who will stand up for their interests in the Senate.”
Ingle cited the antics of the Kansas State Senate last week as a very dark day for the people in the State of Kansas. The legislature passed a bill that stripped the Governor of her authority to protect the people. Before the final bill could even be read, they left town.
“If you are serious about governing and representing the people, you don’t treat a legislative bill like a hand grenade; throw it over the fence and run. If you believe what you are doing is right, you stand your ground, you don’t have to sneak out the backdoor.”
There are issues like Medicaid expansion, that have been pending for multiple years because of the back and forth bickering in Topeka. Ingle said, “It shouldn’t matter whose idea it is, if it’s good for your people and the State you need to get behind and push.”
The 13th district includes all of Cherokee and Crawford counties and parts of Bourbon and Labette.
From the BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS website is the following information about the 2020 election.
A Primary Election will be held August 4, 2020. Candidates for the following offices will be nominated by each political party which has qualified to participate in the Primary Election:
The following officers will be elected in each political party which has qualified to participate in the Primary Election:
Candidate filing deadline for local offices is noon, Monday, June 1st, 2020.
If you would like to request a packet to file for a local office, please call (620)223-3800 ext. 100.
1st Ward Community Christian Church DRYWOOD Grace Baptist Church
2nd Ward Grace Baptist Church FRANKLIN Mapleton Community Building
3rd Ward Grace Baptist Church FREEDOM Fulton Community Building
4th Ward Community Christian Church EAST MARION Uniontown City Hall
5th Ward Community Christian Church WEST MARION Bronson Community Building
6th Ward Community Christian Church MARMATON Redfield City Hall
7th Ward Grace Baptist Church MILLCREEK Redfield City Hall
OSAGE Fulton Community Building
PAWNEE Redfield City Hall
NORTH SCOTT Community Christian Church
SOUTH SCOTT Grace Baptist Church
TIMBERHILL Mapleton Community Building
WALNUT Uniontown City Hall
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.
The County Clerk is elected in November of Presidential Election years to a term of four years. There are no term limits to this elected office.
The Bourbon County Clerk/Election Officer is responsible for a wide range of things under Kansas Law. Some of those are listed here.
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.
The election process has begun and this year the general election date is November 3,
“Filing deadline is noon, June 1st, 2020,” Bourbon County Clerk Kendell Mason said. “Anyone wanting to run for a local office can pick up the filing paperwork from my office.”
The county clerk’s office is located on the first floor of the north wing of the Bourbon County courthouse, 210 S. National Ave.
Since the interview, the courthouse has temporarily closed due to COVID 19 prevention measures.
“I am checking my emails on a regular basis,” Mason said on March 17. “if someone needs a packet they can email me with their mailing information and we will mail them a packet. My email address is [email protected].”
At the county level, there have been some filings for Bourbon County Sheriff and two commission positions, Mason said.
So far this year, three men have applied to run for Bourbon County Sheriff: Derick Burke, Bill Martin and Craig A. Rice
Two Bourbon County Commission seats are up for election:
For Commission District #2 – Jeffrey Fischer and Jim Harris
For Commission District #3 – LeRoy “Nick” Ruhl
“Elections in even years are in August and November,” Mason said. “A law changed the odd-year elections from spring to fall.
As of last week, there are no amendments received to be put on the ballot, Mason said.
The following is from the Bourbon County 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.
The Fort Scott City Commission had a special meeting on Dec. 30 to sign off on a letter to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.
This was in response to local citizen Michael Hoyt’s protest alleging Kansas open meetings violations by the commission.
“I wrote on behalf of the city and commission in reply to an inquiry from Lisa Mendoza of the Kansas Attorney General’s office,” Jeffrey Deane, Lauber Municipal Law, LLC, Lee’s Summit, MO, said in an email to FortScott.Biz. Deane is the new Fort Scott City Attorney, replacing Burton Harding.
The city response letter was approved Dec. 30 by the commission and signed.
Hoyt’s Allegations
Hoyt alleged the city commission violated the Kansas Open Meetings Act when it prepared and signed a letter objecting to the candidacy of Kevin Allen, outside of an open meeting.
“It is now a public record and to save you the time of making a KORA request of us or the attorney general, I am providing this copy for information,” Deane said in an email to FortScott.Biz.
Hoyt sent a letter to the attorney general that a “notice of objection” was prepared and signed by each member of the Fort Scott City Commission on August 23, 2019.
The allegation is that the commissioners were acting together as a governmental body for the citizens of Fort Scott, in violation of the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA), according to Hoyt’s complaint.
The KOMA violation form was dated 10-10-2019 and signed by Hoyt.
To view the complaint to the attorney general, click below:
The City Attorney’s Response
“This allegation is baseless,” Attorney Deane noted, “in that
1) the commission, as the governing body, lacked the legal power and/or standing to contest Mr. Allen’s candidacy;
2) the August Letter was executed by five individuals, qualified under law as registered voters to lodge the contest, and not as an action of the governmental body; and
3) the provisions of KOMA did not attach to the actions of the commissioners acting on power granted to them individually by law and not in their official capacity.
For these reasons there was no KOMA violation.”
The Fort Scott City Attorney’s conclusion of the issue is as follows:
“Mr. Hoyt’s allegations stem from a flawed reading of the laws that govern this issue,” Deane states in the response to the attorney general. “The KOMA requires meetings when the governing body is transacting the business or affairs of government. As the analysis sets out above, the power and standing to raise an election contest is a personal right reserved and granted only to registered voters. A governmental subdivision such as the city, even though its duly elected governing body, lacks the legal power to lodge a
contest. As a result, the August Letter, even though signed by the five individuals that are also commissioners, could only be the expression of the individual’s power and standing to contest.”
To view the complete response, click below:
20191229 Fort Scott Reply to AG letter Final
Course Of Action To Be Determined
Assistant Attorney General Lisa Mendoza, who is also on the Open Government Enforcement Unit, said in the letter that once a response from the city is received, a proper course of action will be determined.
This may include further investigation, closing the matter or seeking appropriate remedy for any KOMA violations.
As a remedy, Hoyt seeks the entry of a consent order, admission of a violation and a $500 fine per commissioner, according to the letter from Mendoza.
Background Of The Issue
From Attorney Deane’s response to the attorney general:
The November 2019 Fort Scott City Commission elections were passionately contested.
Fourteen candidates filed for the city commission seats held by Commissioners Cheryl Adamson, Cindy Bartelsmeyer, and Mayor Jean Parker.
The August primary elections pared the 14 candidates down to six for the general election.
Rumors were circulating about Kevin Allen, alleging that his primary residence was his home on Brown Street, which is outside the boundary of the city limits, according to the letter from Attorney Deane. Allen used the address of Skitch’s Hauling & Excavating, Inc., his business address, on East 20th Street as his residence.
City ordinance and state law require candidates for city office to reside in the corporate boundaries of the city where they will hold office.
The allegation that Allen lacked the residence to hold office in Fort Scott was generally known to the electorate, including the individual city commission members, Deane’s letter stated.
“Cheryl Adamson authored the August letter, as an individual contest of Mr. Allen’s residency to hold office, to which Cindy Bartelsmeyer, JoLynne Mitchell, Randy Nichols, and Jean Parker joined,” Deane said in the response letter.
The letter could only have been brought by individual registered voters under state law and not by the city commission acting in its official capacity, Deane stated
The August letter was accepted by the Bourbon County Election Officer and a board convened for a full hearing on the matter.
The election board determined that even though Allen had several conflicting addresses in and out of the boundaries of Fort Scott, his claim of legal residence at the East 20th Street business address was sufficient to support candidacy and the election continued, according to the Deane letter.
The following are the unofficial results for the general election Nov. 5 for the Fort Scott City Commission, USD 234, and Fort Scott Community College Trustees, USD 235, area town councils and the Southwind District.
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According to Bourbon County Clerk Kendell Mason, the results will not be official until after canvassing by the commissioners on November 14th
To see the complete Bourbon County Clerk’s election results click below:
City Commission
Pete Allen-714
Kevin Allen- 688
Lindsey Watts-661
USD 234
Lynnette Jackson for the at-large position- 1,030
Danny Brown for the #2 position- 1,193
Kellye Barrows for the # 3 position-1,294
Fort Scott Community College
David Elliott-1,632
Robert Nelson-1,275
Kirk Hart-1,144
The above information from Larry Gazaway on
http://KOMB-FM All-Hit 103.9 & KMDO-AM 1600 Fort Scott Broadcasting
Info from the Bourbon County Clerk’s office:
USD 235
Troy Goodridge, position one-217
Jason Sutterby, position two-227
Joshua Hartman, position three-137
Sally Johnson, at large position-195
Fulton mayor, no candidate filed, there were 14 write-ins
Bronson:
James Olson-26
Danielle Minor-26
Michael Stewart-30
Redfield:
Jimmie Jackson-16
L.D. Morrison-15
Angela Hixon-12
Uniontown:
Danae Esslinger-27
Dave Wehry-27
There will be no commission meeting on Tuesday, November 5th due to election.
Submitted by
Doretta Neville
Bourbon County Clerk/Election Office
210 S. National Ave.
Fort Scott, Ks 66701
620-223-3800 ext. 100 or101
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