Local, state candidates to face forum
By The Herald Staff
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County commission, sheriff and legislative races will be the focus of the Ottawa candidates’ forum at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Franklin County Office Annex, 1418 S. Main St., Ottawa.
Although the forum — sponsored by the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Action Committee, the Franklin County Farm Bureau and the Ottawa Warren Black American Legion Post — is geared to August’s primary election, all candidates for local and area positions were invited.
As with past forums, members of the audience will get to submit questions to candidates.
Those who have said they plan to attend include:
• Franklin County Commission 3rd District is the only commission race with a primary. Both Republicans, Commissioner Roy Dunn and his challenger, David Hood, have said they’ll attend. Independent Scott Barnhart also has said he’ll attend.
• Franklin County Commission 2nd District — Ed Taylor, Republican; John Riddle, Democrat; Gene Hirt, independent.
• The sheriff’s race has a Republican primary. Sheriff Craig Davis is being challenged by retired Shawnee County Sheriff’s deputy Jim Honn and former Franklin County jail administrator Tony LeMaster. All have said they’ll attend. Democrat Byron Goracke hasn’t said if he’ll attend Tuesday’s forum.
There are two Republican primary races for area Kansas House of Representative races.
Incumbent Bill Otto, LeRoy, is being challenged by Sheila Lampe, Picqua, for the 9th House District. Both said they plan to attend. That district includes southwestern Franklin County. Democrat Jon Dunbar, Colony, hasn’t said he’ll attend Tuesday.
In the 5th District, Cara Polsley, Ottawa, and Jeannie Plaisted, Osawatomie, are vying for the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent Democrat Bill Feuerborn, Garnett. That district covers southern Ottawa and Franklin County.
However, neither Republican has indicated they’ll be at the forum Tuesday. Feuerborn will.
In other races that will be decided in November, but whose candidates have said they’ll attend, include:
• 10th House District (north Ottawa and northern Franklin County) — John Coen, R-Wellsville; and Tony Brown, D-Baldwin City.
• 59th House District (western Franklin County) — Jim Irey, D-Melvern; and William Prescott, R-Osage City.
• 12th Senate District (all but southwestern Franklin County) — Pat Apple, D-Louisburg; and Andrew Rickel, D-Garnett.
• Robert Garrard, Libertarian candidate for the 2nd U.S. House District, has also said he’ll attend.
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