By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Many local governmental seats go uncontested during elections. Some even go without a single candidate filing for the position. That was not the case for the Ward 2 seat on the Great Bend City Council. Four candidates filed for the job to prompt a primary election on Aug. 5, with the top two candidates advancing to the general election in November. Jay Luerman and Charlie Dixon have advanced to the next round of voting.
Less than 14 percent of registered voters turned out to vote. Luerman collected 241 votes, or 65 percent of the total votes cast in the primary. Dixon also advanced to November's general election with 69 votes, or 19 percent of the total. Suresh Maharjan collected 44 votes, and Stephen Patton earned 16 votes.
The Ward 2 candidate will represent the northeast quadrant of Great Bend, and only registered voters in that section of the city were able to vote in the primary. Early voting took place at the Barton County Clerk's Office from July 16 through noon on Aug. 4. The final votes were cast at the Prince of Peace Parish Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Kevyn Soupiset and Jolene Biggs currently represent Ward 2 on the city council. Biggs did not file for re-election in 2025.