The convention of Fourth District Barton County Commission delegates whose job it is to replace the late Commissioner Don Cates will take place at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Barton County Courthouse, 1400 Main in Great Bend, said Barton County Republican Committee Chairman Richard Friedeman.
Cates died in a agricultural spray plane crash April 22. He would have been up for reelection this fall.
According to County Clerk Donna Zimmerman, the first step has already been taken. Since Cates was a Republican, she contacted Friedeman.
 He had 21 days to call the convention of the eligible delegates from the electoral precincts included in the  Commission’s Fourth District. Cates, who was from Claflin, represented the Fourth.
The district encompasses the Precinct 1 of the Fourth Ward in Great Bend, Ellinwood (Lakin Township), Claflin (Independent Township), and the South Bend, Comanche, Logan and townships.
The gathering must have a one-third quorum to be official.
There are 11 eligible delegates in the Fourth District. They include: Richard Friedeman and Janis Friedeman from the Great Bend precinct; Aaron Sauer and Catherine Strecker from Ellinwood; Mark and Kim Connell from Claflin; Kirby Krier from Logan Township; James Stevens and Pam Wornkey from Comanche Township; and David H. and Heather Smith from South Bend Township.
At the meeting, the delegates will nominate names of candidates which will be voted on by a secret ballot. A simple majority wins, and balloting will continue until a winner is chosen.
 But, Zimmerman said, the conventioneers do not have the final say. Within 24 hours, their decision must be delivered to Kansas Governor Sam Brownback either my registered mail or in person, with a copy going to the secretary of state.
The governor then has seven days to act. If he does nothing, the decision of the convention stands.
Zimmerman said Cates had filed on April 7 for reelection this fall. However, since this was done long enough prior to the June 1 filing deadline, his name is just being taken off the ballot.
Cates was first elected as a Barton County commissioner in 2010.
 Cates was flying a spraying plane near G Road and 210th Ave. 1.5 miles northwest of Garfield in Pawnee County when it crashed at 1:12 p.m. Tuesday after hitting some power lines, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. Cates flew for Pratt’s Farmers Spraying Service.
 Cates was owner and operator of the 94 Store there. He was a pilot for Pratt Farmers Spraying Service and was a retired commercial airline pilot and decorated veteran of the Vietnam Conflict.