Dean Akings has outspent incumbent Jennifer Schartz in the Republican primary election for Barton County Commissioner representing District 5. In District 4’s Republican primary, incumbent Ken Lebbin has outspent the challenger, Alicia D. (Schartz) Straub.
Candidates were required to report contributions and expenditures from Jan. 1 through July 24 by this Monday at the Barton County Clerk’s Office. County Clerk/Election Officer Donna Zimmerman said all of the required reports were filed Friday or Monday. As soon as they were filed, her office sent copies to the Governmental Ethics Commission in Topeka.
Leading the pack in contributions and spending, Akings reported receiving $5,000 in contributions, plus $1,404 in in-kind contributions, and spending $3,643. Schartz reported receiving $570 in contributions, plus $671.66 in in-kind contributions, and spending $1,241.66. Both candidates reside in Great Bend.
All amounts in this story are rounded to the nearest dollar. This is a partial list; the complete files may be viewed at the Barton County Clerk’s Office during regular business hours.
In both cases, the in-kind contributions came from the candidates themselves.
Akings received $500 donations from himself (twice) and from each of his children, Randy Akings and Melissa Schuman, both of Lenexa. Other $500 donations came from Tammy Hammond, Rosewood Services; Spurlock LLC (McDonalds); and Barton County For Growth, a political action committee with a Great Bend Post Office box. (Lebbin received $500 from Barton County Business for Growth, listing the same mailing address.) Akings also received $400 from Sheila Fleske, and $100 each from Dan Bonine, Roger Murphy, Mary Lou Murphy, Megan Murphy, Andrew Murphy, Suchy Construction, Alan Moeder, GB Redi-Mix and D&S Casing, all of Great Bend; and John Settle, Larned. There were also donations of less than $100.
Schartz received a $500 donation from Kip Spray; $50 from Maryla Fox and $20 from Homer Kruckenberg.
Akings spent $1,085 on advertising in the Great Bend Tribune and $1,181 on advertising with Eagle Radio, plus $200 for Eagle Radio “billboard advertising,” $563 with Golden Belt Printing, $839 with Mark’s Signs, $350 with Maggie Lee for press releases and $201 for postage.
Schartz spent $605 on postage, $495 for yard signs from “Signs on the Cheap” in Austin, Texas; $43 at Walmart for parade candy and $19 from the Copy Center at USD 428 for flyers and postcards.

District 4
Lebbin and Straub are both Ellinwood residents. Neither listed in-kind contributions to their campaigns. Lebbin received $2,100 and has spent $1,414, while Straub received $1,000 and has spent $970.
Lebbin received $500 donations from Trish Dove in Ellinwood and from Barton County Business for Growth in Great Bend. He also received $200 from Al Hammersmith, Rick and Pattie Kirkpatrick and Devere Dove, all of Ellinwood; $150 from John and Connie Roth, Ellinwood; and $100 each from Dennis Lebbin, Towanda; John Jaco Inc., Great Bend; and Richard & Lois Ball, Great Bend.
Straub received $500 from Kathy Krier, Claflin, and $500 from Lila Schartz, Great Bend.
Lebbin reported spending $646 on newspaper advertising; $130 on parade supplies (candy); and $638 for yard signs.
Straub spent $118.17 for campaign photos and printing; $594 with online company A.G.E. Graphics for yard signs and banners; $78 at Walmart for bottled water/labels for the Barton County Fair; and $17 at Sam’s Club in Salina plus $84 at Amazon.com, both for her appearance at the Ellinwood After Harvest Festival parade.