Many candidates will be unopposed in elections of interest to Douglas County voters this year.

Barring write-in campaigns, Douglas County Commissioners Bob Johnson and Jere McElhaney will be re-elected to their seats, Ken McGovern will become sheriff and Kay Pesnell will be the new register of deeds.

“I think what it means is what I’ve said all along: This is a fantastic County Commission,” McElhaney said. “We’ve worked very well together. We’ve accomplished more with this county commission than I think past county commissions have. Things are running very, very smooth. We’re a well-oiled machine, and people appreciate it.”

Likewise, Kansas House members Barbara Ballard and Paul Davis, who are Democrats, and Joe Humerickhouse and Lee Tafanelli, Republicans, face no opposition in their bids to return to the Legislature.

But there were late filings for a number of races across Douglas County in the days leading up to Thursday’s noon deadline:

• Edward Sass, a Democrat from Easton, joined a crowded field in the race for the Kansas Senate seat being vacated by Republican Bob Lyon. Sass will face Jan Justice of Bonner Springs in the August primary; the winner will take on the survivor in the Republican primary that includes Connie O’Brien of Tonganoxie, Roger Pine of Lawrence, Chuck Quinn of Perry and Richard Rodewald of Eudora.

The district includes a portion of Lawrence north of Sixth Street, plus Baldwin, Eudora, all of Jefferson County and Basehor, Easton, Linwood and Tonganoxie in Leavenworth County.

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• Leo Kerwin, a Democrat from Wellsville, will challenge incumbent Tom Holland of Baldwin in the primary. The winner will face Rich Lorenzo, a Lawrence Republican, in the November election. Kerwin was unavailable for comment.
• Jameson Shew, a Lawrence Democrat, filed this week to face Republican Marni Penrod in the campaign for Douglas County Clerk.

“I think we have an opportunity to have a pretty good discussion about the clerk’s office,” said Shew, who holds degrees in political science and government. Chief among the issues: changes to voting laws that will require electronic balloting in the next few years.

Voters “should know when they vote it will be accurately recorded,” he said.

Other key contested races

• Lawrence Republican Arch Naramore, co-owner of Kansas Key Press, is a primary challenger to U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, who also faces opposition from Democrats Robert Conroy and Lee Jones.

Brownback has the support of the Kansas Republican establishment, but Naramore said the senator was vulnerable.

“I don’t think the people in Kansas like him,” Naramore said of Brownback. “He has his power base, but somebody could change it all for him.”

• Kansas Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, will face the winner of the Republican primary campaign between Douglas Desch, Berryton; Bob Hanson, Topeka; and Lowell Ramsey, Tecumseh. The Senate district includes parts of Douglas, Shawnee and Osage Counties.
• State Rep. Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence, will face primary opposition from Keith Noe, Lecompton. There is no Democrat running in the race to represent northwest Douglas County.
• State Sen. Mark Buhler, R-Lawrence, faces primary opposition from Don Johnson, a Lawrence Republican. The winner will face Democrat Marci Francisco, a former Lawrence mayor.
• Anthony Brown, a Eudora Republican, and Tom March, an Olathe Republican, will campaign to replace outgoing incumbent Rob Boyer in the Kansas House, representing a district that includes northeast Douglas County.
• In southwest Douglas County, Democrats Kent Dederick of Tecumseh, Ann Mah of Topeka and Gordon Yetter of Topeka will vie to face the winner of the Republican primary campaign between Justin Holstin of Tecumseh and Renae Hansen and Jack Woelfel, both of Topeka. The winner replaces outgoing incumbent Roger Toelkes in the Kansas House.
• And in Douglas County, Sharon Englebrecht and Cindy Monshizadeh will face each other in the Republican primary for county treasurer. The winner will face Democrat Paula Gilchrist in the November election.
• Some top legislative leaders, including Senate President Dave Kerr, R-Hutchinson and Senate Majority Leader Lana Oleen, R-Manhattan have announced they won’t seek re-election. But House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka has filed to keep his seat.

The primary election is Aug. 3. The general election is Nov. 2.