Two questions will be decided by Bourbon County voters at the end of November 5th’s election, along with choosing the leaders at all government levels. At a recent Bourbon County Commission meeting Clerk Jennifer Hawkins laid out the Kansas Law prohibiting electioneering, following is the excerpt from the minutes.
Electioneering Not Allowed
Bourbon County Clerk Jennifer Hawkins. Submitted photo.
Jennifer Hawkins, County Clerk, discussed the upcoming General Election and went over what electioneering is.
“Jennifer stated that KSA 25-2430 outlines electioneering and defines it as
“knowingly attempting to persuade or influence eligible voters to vote for or against a particular candidate, party or question submitted, including wearing, exhibiting or distributing labels, signs, posters, stickers other materials that clearly identify a candidate in the election or clearly indicate support or opposition to a question submitted election, within any polling place, on election day or advance voting site, during the time period allowed by law for casting a ballot by advance voting, or within a radius of 250 feet from the entrance thereof.”
“Jennifer explained this means that there cannot be any t-shirts, hats, flags on vehicles, magnets on vehicles, pins, or other wearable advertisement containing a candidate’s name or slogan.
“Jennifer said that the statue exempts “bumper stickers that are affixed to a motor vehicle that is used to transport voters to a polling place or to an advance voting site for the purpose of voting.”
“Jennifer said that any political yard signs near a polling place cannot be within 250 feet of an entrance.”
Questions On The Ballot
County Question
“Shall the current number of Bourbon County Commissioner Districts set forth in KSA 19-203(a)(b)(c)(d) & (e), be increased to five (5) Commissioner Districts?
Yes or No
Commissioner Brandon Whisenhunt said that the question is on the ballot because of a petition that was passed around the county to increase the number of commissioners.
The number of petition signers was not going to meet the deadline but was coming close to the required number, and the petitioner, Michael Hoyt, requested that the commission put it on the ballot for the voters to decide. In a 2 to 1 vote, Clifton Beth and Whisenhunt voted yes and Jim Harris voted no.
“I am hoping it will cause more discussion of issues,” Whisenhunt said. “There will be more discussion with five people talking about an issue instead of three.”
USD 234 Question
“Shall the method of election in Unified School District No. 234, Bourbon County, Kansas, be changed from the six-member district method of election, under which the school district is not divided into any member districts and all board members are elected at large?
Yes or No
Destry Brown. Submitted photo.
Destry Brown, Superintendent of USD 234 provided the following ballot question explanation.
“The USD # 234 Board of Education is asking patrons to consider a change to how Board of Education members are selected. Currently, each member is chosen from a specific area within the district boundaries, and all voters within the district vote on every position.
“This was done years ago when consolidation was done and the
district wanted to have representation from the different school communities: Winfield Scott, Eugene Ware, and rural schools like Fulton.
“Today, all students in the district attend all our schools. No attendance center boundaries exist any longer.
“In recent years, we have had to fill positions on the Board of Education due to death, movement of members out of the district, changes in job responsibilities, and retirement.
The district has found it difficult to find people to run for the Board of Education based on these specific areas that were designated years ago. Consequently, we only have six board members right now.
“We are asking the community to consider changing all our Board of Education members to at-large seats.
“This will allow people in any area of the district to run for the Board of Education.
“Some concerns have been voiced that all the board members could be elected from one neighborhood. Theoretically, that could be possible. However, it has not occurred in the districts that use the at-large format. In fact, the makeup of those boards often are more diverse.
“What would that look like? Next year, the district will have four positions open.
“Anyone interested in becoming a board member can file for a position. Suppose six people decide to run for the board. Then, the ballot next November will list all six people, and voters will select four candidates they would like to have on the Board
of Education.
“The four with the most votes, then become board members no matter where they live within the district boundaries.”
Several of these Harris/Walz signs have been stolen in the county.
Political signs are a form of freedom of speech and going on someone’s property to take them is against the law.
“Carol MacArthur, the Chairwoman of the Democratic Party, informed us that a few signs have gone missing,” said Fort Scott Police Chief Jason Pickert. “The fact that it’s a political sign isn’t relevant. If they steal a bicycle, a garden gnome, or a political sign it’s a theft. Since the value of the property is under $1,500 it’s misdemeanor theft. This would be a misdemeanor theft and a municipal citation would be issued if the subjects were identified.”
MacArthur said there have been some Kamala Harris signs and some Nancy Boyda signs stolen and some vandalized. The signs are paid for by private citizens.
MacArthur said there are 25 missing Democratic Party signs missing in Fort Scott and three 4-foot by 8-foot signs in the rural part of Bourbon County. “Those three stolen in the county were 4 x 8s. Two other 4 x 8s in the county were vandalized,” she said.
MacArthur said it is disheartening, “but people in town are replacing their signs.”
“The city police are doing a good job of cruising around, and this has slowed down the thefts,” she said.
Fort Scott Police Department is located at 1604 South National and can be reached at 620-223-1700.
Kaety Bowers speaking at the Bourbon County Republican meeting on September 19 She was elected chairwoman of the local party. Submitted photo.Tim Emmerson speaking at the Bourbon County Republican meeting on September 19. He was elected vice-chairman of the local party. Submitted photo.
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.
Bourbon County Townships, from the Bourbon County KS website.
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.
