Over 10 years have passed since enough candidates filed for any of the Great Bend’s four City Council wards to force a primary. That is not the case this year, and this runoff rarity is causing some confusion for voters, said Bev Schmeidler, Barton County clerk and election officer.

This year in Great Bend’s Second Ward, four candidates filed for one open seat in the Tuesday, Aug. 5, runoff, and only residents of that ward are eligible to cast ballots, she said. The area takes in much of the city’s northwest quadrant and is home to around 2,000 registered voters. 

Tossing their hats into the ring are Charlie Dixon, Jay Luerman, Suresh Bahadur Maharjan and Stephen Patton, all political newcomers. Early voting started Wednesday, July 16, and ends at noon Monday, Aug. 4.

“Primaries are pretty rare; it’s been years since we’ve had one,” said Schmeidler. “But all it takes to mandate a primary is enough people to file for the same position.”

How this works

Great Bend is governed under a mayor/council form of government. All positions are non-partisan, and residents elect the mayor at-large and eight council members, two at-large from each of the four wards.

The mayor and one member from each district are elected in odd-numbered years, the others in even-numbered years. All serve two-year, uncompensated terms.

Since this is a non-partisan race, the number of candidates required to force a primary depends on the number of open seats on the ballot, said Schmeidler. In cities like Great Bend the number of candidates must be at least one more than three times the number of openings.

In Great Bend’s Ward 2, four candidates are seeking one open spot. The voters “vote for one or fewer” come the run-off in August, she said.

However, more than one candidate will advance, she said. The two candidates who receive the most votes move on to the Tuesday, Nov. 4, general election.

“This has caused some confusion with voters citywide,” Schmeidler said. “This primary is only open to the voters in that ward,” and her office has fielded calls from residents asking if they can vote and, if not, why.

They have also had to call some of those who submitted applications for advanced ballots because they didn’t live in the disputed ward and were not eligible. Applications started coming in a week before the early voting started.

The polling place for this election is the Prince of Peace Parish Center, 4100 Broadway. 

Just like any other election, but smaller

But just because the primary only covers one ward and its residents does not mean Aug. 5 will be any easier, Schmeidler said. It includes everything that is involved with all elections. This one just has fewer candidates.

This means they must find election volunteers, transport voting equipment, make sure ballots and supplies are delivered and picked up, and provide the necessary election security measures. There are also the associated costs.

The election cycle includes Great Bend and the other eight incorporated cities in the county, Barton Community College, three school districts, the Ellinwood Hospital District and the Cottonwood Extension Council.

About Barton County

Located in Central Kansas, Barton County lives by its motto of investing in growth. Supporting a variety of initiatives, the Barton County Commission invites residents to be part of broader conversations and to work in a joint effort for a robust economy, improved quality of life and collaboration that positions Barton County for the future. Check it out at 1400 Main Street, Suite 108, Great Bend, KS  67530, 620-793-1800, www.bartoncounty.org.