BY ANDY TAYLOR
Montgomery County Chronicle
In what could be a record-breaking turnout of voters, next Tuesday’s general election will see Montgomery County residents go to the polls to decide the nation’s next president as well as choose various county, state and federal office holders.
Polls will open at 7 a.m., and will close at 7 p.m.
Charlotte Scott-Schmidt, county clerk and chief election officer, said she expected the turnout for next Tuesday’s election to be about 60 percent, which, should her prediction hold true, will be among the highest in recent elections. Some 60 percent of the registered voters cast ballots in the 1992 presidential election — the highest voter turnout in modern history.
Scott-Schmidt said on Monday that the volume of voters seeking advanced ballots or absentee ballots has already surpassed her expectations. More than 1,000 Montgomery County voters will cast ballots before the Nov. 4 election day, signaling a democratic urge by voters to make their voices known.
Presidential elections typically draw more response because of the high-profile nature of the nation’s chief executive officer. And, this year’s election will be no different.
For the first time since 1952, a presidential election will be decided among non-incumbent presidents and vice president. On the presidential ballot will be the Republican nominee John McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona, and his running mate Sarah Palin, the Alaska governor. Representing the Democrat Party will be Barack Obama, a U.S. senator from Illinois, and his running mate, Joe Biden, a U.S. senator from Delaware.
Also on the presidential ballot will be three other teams, including the Libertarian Party candidates Bob Barr/Wayne A. Root, Reform Party candidates Chuck Baldwin/Darrell L. Castle, and independent candidates Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzalez.
• U.S. House of Representatives: The race for the U.S. House of Representatives, Fourth District (which includes Montgomery County), will see incumbent U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, face a challenge from three candidates. They are Donald Betts Jr., a Democrat from Wichita; Steven A. Rosile, a Libertarian Party candidate from Wichita; and Susan G. Ducey, a Reform party candidate from Wichita.
• U.S. Senate: A seat for the U.S. Senate is up for grabs as U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Dodge City, is being challenged by former congressman Jim Slattery, a Democrat from Topeka. Also on that ballot will be Joseph L. Martin, a Reform Party candidate from St. Marys, and Randell L. Hodgkinson, a Libertarian Party candidate from Topeka.
• Kansas Senate: At the state level, voters in Cherokee and Parker townships of Montgomery County, which includes the city of Coffeyville, will decide the election for the Kansas Senate, 14th District. Candidates include the incumbent, Dwayne Umbarger, a Republican from Thayer, and David L. Miller, a Democrat from Parsons.
• Kansas House of Representatives: Voters in the 11th District of the Kansas House of Representatives will decide a representative to serve a two-year term in the Kansas House. State Rep. Virgil Peck, Jr., a Republican from Tyro, is being challenged by Virgil O. Horn, Jr., a Democrat Party candidate and Coffeyville mayor.
The 11th District includes the cities of Caney, Tyro, Dearing, Coffeyville, Liberty and Cherryvale and all areas within Cherry, Drum Creek, Liberty, Parker, Cherokee, Fawn Creek and Caney townships.
The 12th District of the Kansas House of Representatives will see two candidates seeking a two-year term. State Rep. Jeff King, R-Independence, will face the Democrat Party nominee: Sandra Frisco of Independence.
The 12th District includes the cities of Independence, Sycamore and Elk City and all areas within West Cherry, Sycamore, Louisburg, Rutland and Independence townships in Montgomery County. The 12th District also includes the eastern half of Chautauqua County (east of K-99 highway) and all of Elk County.
• District court judge: At the county level, voter interest is being peaked because of several contested races. This includes the race for the 14th Judicial District judgeship. Gary House, the Republican Party nominee from Sedan, won his party’s nomination by upsetting incumbent Russell Canaday in the August primary election. House will face Democrat Party nominee Robert Lattin of Independence for a four-year term.
The 14th Judicial District includes Montgomery and Chautauqua counties.
• Montgomery County Sheriff: The race for Montgomery County Sheriff will see the Republican nominee, Robert Dierks of Coffeyville, face Jerry Gilbert, a Democrat Party nominee from Coffeyville. Dierks defeated incumbent sheriff Stan Veach in the August primary election.
However, Veach is conducting a write-in campaign in the general election. Because Veach was defeated in the August primary election, Veach’s name will not appear on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.
• State Supreme Court/Kansas Court of Appeals: The Nov. 4 general election ballot also will ask Kansas voters to retain several judges to the Kansas Supreme Court and Kansas Court of Appeals. The names of Eric S. Rosen and Lee A. Johnson will be on the Kansas Supreme Court retention question; the names of Steve Leben, G. Joseph Pierron, Christal E. Marquardt and Richard D. Greene will appear on the Kansas Court of Appeals retention question.
• Uncontested races, township elections: The Nov. 4 general election ballot will also include a variety of township officer and trustee candidates.
There are numerous uncontested races on the Nov. 4 election ballot. They include:
• Kansas Senate, 15th District — Derek Schmidt, Republican from Independence.
• Montgomery County Commission, 2nd District — Larry G. McManus, Republican from Independence.
• Montgomery County Commission, 3rd District — Fred M. Brown, Democrat from Coffeyville.
• County Clerk — Charlotte Scott-Schmidt, Republican from Independence.
• County Attorney — Larry Markle, Republican from Coffeyville.
• Register of Deeds — Marilyn Calhoun, Republican from Coffeyville.
• County Treasurer — Nancy Clubine, Republican from Independence.
