By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Elections are often reserved for later in the year but a new race is currently underway for Great Bend residents in Ward 2. Barton County Clerk Bev Schmeidler said a certain set of circumstances made an Aug 5. primary election necessary for the Ward 2 seat on the Great Bend City Council
"The reason we have a primary in that ward is that four people filed," she said. "Any time three times the number of positions open plus one files, that causes a primary. If three people had filed, there wouldn't have been a primary. All three of those would have gone on to the November election."
Only registered voters in Ward 2 of Great Bend may vote in the primary election. Ward 2 covers much of the northwest portion of Great Bend and is currently represented by Kevyn Soupiset and Jolene Biggs. Soupiset was re-elected to a new term last year, and Biggs did not file as a candidate for this election. Candidates for the 2026 primary include Stephen Patton, Suresh Maharjan, Charlie Dixon, and Jay Luerman.
Early voting in the primary began Wednesday in the Barton County Clerk's Office on the second floor of the courthouse. Voters from Ward 2 may early vote in the clerk's office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through noon on Monday, Aug. 4. Prince of Peace Parish, 4100 Broadway Ave., will be the only polling location on Election Day. That site will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5. The top two vote earners from the primary election will advance to November's general election.