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Linwood man files for county seat

By Caroline Trowbridge - | May 12, 2004

One candidate has tossed his hat in the ring for election to the third district county commission seat currently held by Joe Daniels Jr.

Dick Brauer, a Linwood area real estate and appraisal company owner, says he would like to succeed Daniels on the commission. Daniels has decided not to seek a second term on the three-member board.

The deadline to register for county and state offices is noon June 10. If any more Republicans file for the seat, a primary election on Aug. 3 will determine who will move onto the general election, set for Nov. 2.

Brauer is the first candidate to file for the third district seat.

Brauer, 63, said he’s lived his entire life “on the north side of the Kaw River,” adding that his family’s roots in the county dates back to 1864.

He said he decided to run for county commission because “I believe in the will of the governed. I believe in accountability, and I believe in honesty in government.”

He said he didn’t believe those beliefs were being addressed by the current county commission.

“I’m not going to expound on that now,” he said. “That wouldn’t be smart. Those are the things I believe in, and we’ll leave it at that for now.”

The Republican candidate filed by petition, which he said was beneficial because he had an opportunity to talk with county residents about their concerns.

And while Brauer lives in the extreme southern portion of Leavenworth County, he doesn’t see that as an impediment to his candidacy.

“I’m a real estate appraiser and I get all over the county,” he said. “I’m everywhere. I’ve been on every rock road there is in this county, from one end to the other, trust me. I get around. I’m all over. There’s no problem with me being visible and around, I’ll tell you for sure.”

Brauer has served on the Linwood Planning Commission, as well as the Unified School District 458 board.

“I’ve been married for 40-some years, and raised three children, and if that doesn’t qualify you for something, I don’t know what would,” he said. “I still have the same wife I started with. I have to be able to thrive on rejection to be able to do all those things.”

The Bonner Springs graduate, who also has farmed in the county, said he’s concerned at the tax increases that county residents are facing.

“If you work it out mathematically and they keep going up like they have been, nobody will be able to afford them in a few years,” he said.