Kansas voters will go to the polls next Tuesday, Nov. 4, to cast ballots in the general election.

At the top of the list will the race for President of the United States and the two major candidates are John McCain and his running mate for vice-president, Sarah Palin, both Republicans, vs. Democrats Barack Obama for president and Joe Biden for vice-president.
Less known candidates for president will be:
Libertarian Party - Bob Barr and Wayne A. Root.
Independent - Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez.
Reform - Chuck Baldwin and Darrell Castle.

In other races, incumbent U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, a Republican, will be challenged by Jim Slattery, a Democrat, along with Joseph Martin, Reform Party, and Randall Hodgkinson, Libertarian Party.

Also, U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt, a Republican, will be challenged on the ballot by Democrat Donald Betts Jr., and by Steven Rosile, Libertarian Party, and Susan G. Ducey, Reform Party.

For state senator, two-term incumbent Derek Schmidt of Independence, a Republican, is running unopposed for re-election.

For state representative in the 12th Dist. which includes both Elk and most of Chautauqua counties, Republican incumbent Jeff King of Independence is being challenged by Democrat Sandra K. Frisco, Independence.

Also representing parts of Chautauqua County is Sasha Kelley of Arkansas City, a Republican, who is being challenged by Democrat Gene Burr of Arkansas City.

For magistrate judge in Dist. 14 (Montgomery and Chautauqua counties), Gary House of Sedan is the Republican nominee and will be opposed by Robert W. Lattin of Independence, a Democrat.

David A. Casement, Sedan, is running unopposed for district magistrate judge in Chautauqua County as a Republican.

In Chautauqua County, Danny D. Williams is running unopposed for county commissioner in Dist. 2 as a Republican, and Jack L. Carpenter is also running unopposed for county commissioner in Dist. 3 as a Republican.

Running unopposed for other Chautauqua County offices are Cammie Farner, Republican for county clerk; Lisa A. Hudson, Republican for county treasurer; Laura C. Beeson, Republican for county register of deeds and Larry Markle, Republican for county attorney.

Listed on the ballot as a Republican for Chautauqua County Sheriff will be Perry A. Russell of Peru, and independent candidate Cash Kimple of Sedan who has thrown his support to Russell.
Asking for a write-in vote is incumbent sheriff Frank Green who lost to Russell in the August primary election.

In Elk County, all elected county officers are running unopposed in the general election. They include: Elizabeth M. Hendricks of Howard, Democrat, county commissioner, Dist. 2; K.R. “Ken” Liebau, Grenola, Republican, county commissioner, Dist. 3; Donna K. Kaminska, Longton, Republican, Elk County Clerk; Deanna L. Jones, Longton, Republican, Elk County Treasurer; Neva L. Walter, Howard, Republican, Elk County Register of Deeds; Marla Foster Ware, Moline, Elk County Clerk; Doug Hanks, Howard, Elk County Sheriff.

Also running in Elk County: David A. Ricke, Rose Hill, Republican for district judge on the Republican ticket, Dist. 13, Div. 3; Charles M. “Chuck” Hart, Andover, Republican for district judge, Dist. 14, Div. 2; and Kristin Hutchison, Howard, Republican, district magistrate judge, Dist. 1, Pos. 1.

Numerous township positions also will be on the ballot.

Kansas Supreme Court justices Eric S. Rosen and Lee A. Johnson will be listed as “shall they be retained?” questions, and the same is true with Steve Lieben, Joseph Pierron, Christel E. Marquardt and Richard D. Greene for positions on the Kansas Court of Appeals.

Details on voting places and other election information can be found elsewhere in today’s Prairie Star.