By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
It's almost an afterthought at this point but Brian Bellendir was again elected Barton County Sheriff. First elected in 2012, Bellendir was uncontested in this year's August primary, then was again uncontested in last Tuesday's general election. This election was extra notable as Bellendir becomes the first-ever sheriff in Barton County to be elected to four four-year terms.
"There were some sheriffs back in the 50s and 60s that had two-year terms," he said. "Until 1966, they ran every two years and there were some sheriffs that had four two-year terms."
Barton County law enforcement will see a general shakeup in January. Current County Attorney Levi Morris won a Republican primary in August and took in more than 85 percent of the vote against write-in candidate Kate Wary in Tuesday's election for 20th Judicial District Judge. Colin Reynolds, a former assistant under Morris in the county attorney's office, won a pair of uncontested races to take over for Morris.
"We worked with Colin when he was an assistant county attorney down here," Bellendir said. "I'm confident he's going to do a god job. We've had a good working relationship with him. We've had a good working relationship with Mr. Morris while he's county attorney."
Bellendir is also optimistic about elections at the federal and executive levels. He hopes changes there can slow immigration and drug issues stemming from the border.