By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The democratic process was in full force in Russell County ahead of last November's general election. Now the search for two new commissioners is underway. County Clerk Kristi Whitman said everything began with a citizen's petition to change the size of the Russell County Commission.
"A citizen in the city of Russell started a petition to go from three to five," she said. "She had enough signatures for that question to go on the ballot last November, and it passed. The commissioners had to redistrict for the five commission districts."
Jeannine Byers-Long, a realtor in Russell, collected signatures from more than five percent of registered voters. In November, 740 voters, or nearly 56 percent, said yes to the change, compared to 584 votes against. The county's geographic information systems department worked with the three current commissioners to create new maps featuring five districts. After discussion, a resolution passed by the commission made those changes official in December.
Now party committees are seeking applications to fill the two new commission spots in Districts 4 and 5. Interested parties must reside in those districts. Republican candidates may submit applications to Dan Krug, party chair, by Jan. 14. Democratic candidates may submit applications to Charma Craven by Jan. 22.
The parties will select candidates for both of the new districts. Those candidates will be on the General Election ballot in November.
Applications may be mailed to the following addresses:
Republican applicants:
Dan Krug
Woelk & Cole
4 S. Kansas Street
PO Box 3
Russell, KS 67665
Democratic applicants:
Charma Craven
19480 Beatty Lane
Luray, KS 67649