Topeka ? A judge has scheduled an ouster trial in mid-November for suspended Mayor Butch Felker on allegations of violating state campaign finance laws.

Felker had said he hoped that the Shawnee County district attorney’s case against him would be resolved by Nov. 11.

But District Judge Eric Rosen scheduled the trial for Nov. 17-18, and is expected to rule sometime later — rather than at the trial’s conclusion — on whether Felker must quit the office.

The ouster proceeding, which is a civil rather than criminal matter, has two segments.

Rosen must first hear evidence at trial related to the campaign finance allegation. If Rosen determines there was a violation, he must decide whether the violation would be serious enough to force Felker from office.

Dist. Atty. Robert Hecht filed an ouster petition Sept. 26 asserting that Felker had misused public funds, violated Kansas campaign finance laws and engaged in misconduct and financial improprieties.

After a hearing last week, Rosen dismissed the allegations of misconduct and misuse of funds but ruled that the case relating to campaign finances could proceed. He also granted Hecht’s request that the mayor be suspended from office while the case was pending.

The ethics charge alleges that Felker falsified a campaign finance report from his 2001 mayoral campaign to hide questionable contributions and identities of some contributors.

The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission fined Felker $7,500 in July on three other violations to which Felker had pleaded guilty.

Barb McGinnis, spokeswoman for the district attorney, said she didn’t know if Hecht would call more witnesses or submit more evidence during the trial.