More county races to be contested than usual
In a reversal of recent trends, the majority of contested races in Douglas County this year will be at the township level.
Friday was the filing deadline for township and county positions.
Candidates running for offices in county
Here’s a list of candidates who have filed for local office:
District Attorney
Charles Branson (Lawrence, Democrat)
County commissioner, 2nd District
Nancy Thellman (Lawrence, Democrat)
Frank A. Male (Eudora, Republican)
County commissioner, 3rd District
James E. Flory (Lawrence, Republican)
County Clerk
Jameson (Jamie) Shew (Lawrence, Democrat)
Register of deeds
Kay Pesnell (Eudora, Democrat)
Treasurer
Paula Gilchrist (Lawrence, Democrat)
Sheriff
Kenneth McGovern (Lawrence, Republican)
Clinton Township Trustee
Loren D. Baldwin (Republican)
Clinton Township Treasurer
Joe Lieber (Republican)
Eudora Township Trustee
No one officially declared
Eudora Township Treasurer
Glen Grosdidier (Republican)
Grant Township Trustee
Richard Bireta (Republican)
Grant Township
Treasurer
Barbara Higgins-Dover (Democrat)
Kanwaka Township Trustee
David A. Wulfkuhle (Democrat)
Kanwaka Township Treasurer
Martin Johnston (Republican)
Lecompton Township Trustee
Jay Robertson (Republican)
Doug Wingfield (Republican)
Ed Daniels (Republican)
Lecompton Township Treasurer
William J. Maxwell (Democrat)
Lori A. Wilkins (Republican)
Marion Township Trustee
Larry “Butch” Gilliam (Democrat)
Joseph Todd Goodyear (Republican)
Marion Township Treasurer
Bernie R. Faust (Republican)
James E. Jolly (Democrat)
Palmyra Township Trustee
Sandra Elliott (Republican)
Rex Hagerman (Republican)
Palmyra Township Treasurer
Kimberly Gilbert (Republican)
David J. Cavender (Republican)
John Vesecky (Republican)
Slade Dillon (Libertarian)
Wakarusa Township Trustee
Stephen R. Brown (Republican)
Charles Taylor (Republican)
Wakarusa Township Treasurer
Ronald Rice (Republican)
Willow Springs
Township Trustee
Charles Wintermantel (Republican)
West Springs
Township Treasurer
Suzanne Evinger (Republican)
Just one race on the county level developed. Eudora Republican Frank Male is running against Lawrence Democratic incumbent Nancy Thellman for the 2nd District County Commission seat.
Incumbents are running uncontested for the 3rd District County Commission seat, county clerk, register of deeds, county treasurer and county sheriff races. Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson, who has served two terms as the county’s top prosecutor, is also running uncontested.
But more races are contested in the townships. And that’s surprising to County Clerk Jamie Shew.
“Since I have been here there has not been that much activity,” Shew said. “And it is spread throughout the county.”
Just one township position, Eudora Township Trustee, had no one filing to run for office. In a situation where no one files, a candidate is selected through write-in votes.