Kaety Bowers,  Mapleton, and Tim  Emerson, Devon, were elected chair and vice-chairman, respectively,  of the Bourbon County Republican Party at the annual leadership reorganization meeting at  Fort Scott Livestock Market last evening. Gayle Sackett was elected secretary and Donna Banwart, treasurer, both from Fort Scott.

They will represent the county at state Republican meetings and local monthly meetings, Emerson said.

Candidates are nominated and voted on at an annual reorganization meeting.

At the September 19 meeting, the whole slate of officers was elected in one nomination.  “There was no one opposing us,” said Emerson.

The results of the election are reported to the state, he said.

According to the rules and regulations, Emerson said that the party leadership and precinct leadership must have a male and female representative.

Each precinct person represents their local township in Bourbon County.

At regular monthly Republican meetings, those running for office in upcoming elections may speak to the group.

“Usually, our meetings are quarterly, except in election years or when the group sees the need to meet,” outgoing secretary Deb Martin said. “We have Republican officeholders speak about their offices and current legislation action updates and other current political campaigns.”

On September 19, David Beerbower, county commissioner candidate; Tim Shallenberger, Kansas State Senator candidate and Rick James, Kansas Representative candidate in the November 2024 elections spoke to the group.

At monthly meetings there is also discussion on ways to help Republican candidates get elected, Emerson said.

“You go door to door to explain what the candidates stand for, that’s very helpful to candidates. Signs are put out for national and state candidates at people’s homes with good (visible, highly trafficked areas) he said.

Jennifer Hawkins, the Bourbon County Clerk said there was a 22% turnout rate for the primary election on August 6.

Hawkins said her office follows clear guidelines that the State of Kansas provides for removing people who have died from the voter registration list.

This was in response to Michael Hoyt’s quote “He said this is a state-wide problem of the registered voters roll not being “cleaned up” when people die. He said there is no clear way to get deceased people off the roll,” in a prior story.

To view that story:

https://fortscott.biz/news/hoyt-will-ask-bourbon-county-commission-to-sign-resolution-for-a-five-person-commission-vote-today

“The State of Kansas has clear guidelines, which are listed below, that list how we can remove a deceased individual’s name from the voter registration list,” said Hawkins. “The Clerk’s Office follows the guidelines and diligently checks obituaries and monitors the weekly reports sent out by the state of those who have passed away for Bourbon County residents. Individuals who pass away in a state other than Kansas, however; will not show up on the report issued by Kansas Department of Health and Environment.”

Here are the state guidelines:

“Except as otherwise provided by law, when a voter dies or is disqualified for voting, the registration of the voter shall be void, and the county election officer shall remove such voter’s name from the registration books and the party affiliation lists.

“Whenever

(1) an obituary notice appears in a newspaper having general circulation in the county reports the death of a registered voter, or

(2) a registered voter requests in writing that such voter’s name be removed from registration, or

(3) a court of competent jurisdiction orders removal of the name of a registered voter from registration lists, or

(4) the name of a registered voter appears on a list of deceased residents compiled by the secretary of health and environment as provided in K.S.A. 65-2422, and amendments thereto, or appears on a copy of a death certificate provided by the secretary of health and environment, or appears in information provided by the social security administration, the county election officer shall remove from the registration books and the party affiliation lists in such officer’s office the name of any person shown by such list or death certificate to be deceased.”

Hawkins provided the following 20 pages of official results of the August 6 election. with write-ins.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DST 4
          (VOTE FOR)  1
           RICK JAMES .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,138   72.76
           JOSHUA JONES  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       426   27.24

County Register of Deeds (Dem) (Vote for 1)
432 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 418 undervotes)
Write-in 14 100.00%
Total 14 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 418

County Register of Deeds (Rep) (Vote for 1)
2386 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 300 undervotes)
Lora Holdridge 2086 100.00%
Total 2086 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 300

County Attorney (Dem) (Vote for 1)
432 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 420 undervotes)
Write-in 12 100.00%
Total 12 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 420

County Attorney (Rep) (Vote for 1)
2386 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 414 undervotes)
James Crux 1972 100.00%
Total 1972 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 414

County Sheriff (Dem) (Vote for 1)
432 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 356 undervotes)
Write-in 76 100.00%
Total 76 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 356

County Sheriff (Rep) (Vote for 1)
2386 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 32 undervotes)
Bill Martin 1199 50.93%
Nelson Blythe 1155 49.07%
Total 2354 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 32