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	Franklin County, Kansas, USA

2009-11-07

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2009-11-05

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Saturday, March 28, 2009 4:00 AM

Election Preview: The race is on

By JENALEA MYERS, Herald Staff Writer

Hotly contested races. Familiar and new faces. Write-in winners.

The April 7 election will bring a number of scenarios in area city council and school board races.

In an effort to inform voters and promote higher voter turnout, The Ottawa Herald beginning today will profile candidates running in each area city council and school board race. Stories also will be available online at www.ottawaherald.com/election/

While the election is less than two weeks away, advance voting already has started. Franklin Countians can advance vote from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the county clerk’s office in the courthouse, 315 S. Main St. Advance voting ends at noon April 6.

In the spring 2007 election, just 19 percent of voters cast their ballots, County Clerk Shari Perry said.

Top races

Ottawa school board and city commission races will be two of the most contested races in the election. In both races, six candidates will compete for three positions.

Those elected in the city commission race will face some tough years ahead dealing with budget cuts and balancing projects.

It won’t be any easier for elected school board members, as the Ottawa School District is considering a number of scenarios for a facilities master plan.

Outside of Ottawa, Pomona and Wellsville city councils have more candidates than available spots.

Two candidates will vie for Pomona mayor — the only contested mayoral race in the county — while five candidates will compete for only two council positions.

The council soon will make decisions for streets and drainage projects that will be possible through a one-cent sales tax increase Pomona voters passed in November. Council members also will continue to work on plans to build a new Casey’s General Store.

The Wellsville City Council also will look to the future with plans for infrastructure improvements funded through a half-cent sales tax increase voters passed in November.

Five candidates are running for just three spots on the council.

Old and new

While there are a number of newcomers running for positions, some longtime incumbents also will appear — or, in some cases, reappear — on the ballot.

In the Ottawa City Commission race, Mayor Gene Ramsey, who has served 15 years on the commission, will run alongside another longtime incumbent, Rocky Fleer, who has served for 10 years.

They, and another incumbent, will be challenged by a few new faces, including Helen Hood. Though Hood is new to politics, her last name isn’t. Her husband, David Hood, was elected in November as the Franklin County commissioner representing the 3rd District.

The family ties extend, as the Hoods’ daughter, MaLinda Manis, is running for the Ottawa School Board. She’s joined by two incumbents and three new faces, including Brandon Jones, who is the husband of Franklin County Attorney Heather Jones.

In area city council races, some familiar names will make a return to the ballot.

Dennis Norton, former Williamsburg mayor and council member, will run uncontested for the council. He’ll be joined by another familiar face — Gene Hirt.

Hirt ran unsuccessfully in November for Franklin County commissioner representing the 2nd District.

The name Hancock will reappear on the ballot for Pomona. Joann Hancock will challenge Richard Adler for mayor. Her husband, Rex, ran unsuccessfully against Adler in 2007.

Unpredictable winners

It’s difficult to say who will win some of the positions on area city councils. That’s because no one filed for a few positions, which means the winners of those spots will be write-in votes.

A council member position on the Lane, Princeton and Rantoul city councils, as well as the Lane mayoral position, will be awarded to write-in candidates.

Write-in winners are not officially determined until the canvass, which is scheduled for April 10, Perry said.

“I will send out a notice of election to each winner after the canvass, and they will take an oath of office if they want the position,” she said.

The Williamsburg, Lane, Rantoul, Princeton and Richmond city council races, along with all of the rural school boards, have some candidates that will run uncontested in April.

Uncontested candidates will be elected unless someone leads a successful write-in campaign effort.

Jenalea Myers can be e-mailed at jmyers@ottawaherald.com.