photo by: Contributed

Steve Jacob

A fourth candidate has filed to run for the Douglas County Commission’s 1st District seat this year, the race’s first Libertarian candidate.

Steve Jacob, who told the Journal-World he has been a Lawrence resident for all but one year since 1983, has filed to run as a Libertarian after winning the nomination at Libertarian Party of Kansas’ annual convention. On Jacob’s campaign Facebook page, he notes he is running for the seat with a particular interest in fighting mandates, cutting spending and lobbying for fewer restrictions on property rights.

In Kansas, Libertarians file for election in local races at the state level, rather than with the local county clerk, because they do not appear on the primary election ballot. Instead, Jacob will join the other candidates for the seat on the general election ballot in November.

There are four candidates for the seat. The others include incumbent District No. 1 Commissioner Patrick Kelly, a Democrat, who filed for reelection in May.

Kelly will face Lawrence resident and former City Commission candidate Dustin Stumblingbear, a fellow Democratic candidate who filed at the beginning of 2022, in a primary election Aug. 2.

The final candidate is Lawrence resident Justin Spiehs, the race’s sole Republican candidate as of Tuesday. Spiehs has likened mask-wearing to child abuse and is facing felony aggravated assault charges and a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct; he filed to run in April.

The filing deadline for the 2022 election is Wednesday, June 1. The general election is set for Nov. 8.