×
×
homepage logo

Candidates file at last minute for Tonganoxie City Council, USD 464 races

By Shawn Linenberger - | Jan 27, 2015

A World War I doughboy statue stands outside the Leavenworth County Courthouse.

Several residents have filed for Tonganoxie City Council and USD 464 school board positions.

The deadline was noon Tuesday for City Council and mayoral filings, as well as school board.

USD 464 school board incumbent Diane Truesdell is running for Position 1 against challenger Amelia C. Brusven. Truesdell joined the board in 2004.

Incumbent and current board president Kathy Baragary is seeking a third term as the Position 2 representative. She first was elected in 2007. Also running against her are William (Bill) Loechler and Kaija Baldock.

Incumbent board member Gene Becker is running against Michelle McGhee for Position 3. Becker currently is the Position 7, or at-large, board member.

That position does not require a member to live in a specific district in the district.

Position 7 candidates are Tamara Behm and Bryan D. Kemp.

Leana Leslie, who has been on the board since 2003, has chosen not to run for a fourth term in Position 3.

Her current term ends in June. Board members elected in the April general election will begin their terms July 1.

Leslie said she thought it was time for someone else to join the board.

Her daughter, Makayla, is a 2011 Tonganoxie High School graduate. Son, Justin, is a senior this year.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” Leslie said. “I think it’s been great. I feel like we’ve accomplished a lot of great things. But 12 years, I think, is a long time to be on there.”

She said the new elementary school opening later this year would be a big accomplishment for the district.

“The great thing is every year I’ve been on the board, the board has gotten along so well,” she said. “We may not have all had agreed all the time, but appreciated each others’ opinions.”

She said she would miss working with a variety of people in her board member capacity.

In City Council and mayoral races, there are three positions up for grabs overall.

Tonganoxie Mayor Jason Ward is seeking another term and will face a challenge from council member Bill Peak.

That leaves Peak’s position open, as well as that of fellow member Kara Reed.

Reed is running for her seat along with five other residents.

Former Tonganoxie Mayor Michael W. Vestal, Curtis Dean Oroke, Susan M. Freemyer, Charles L. Conrad and Melynda Harbour also are vying to fill the two at-large positions.

MAIL-IN BALLLOTS DUE TUESDAY

Ballots for Leavenworth County’s one-cent sales tax extension are due next week.

The ballots must be received by mail to the Leavenworth County Courthouse by Tuesday.

Ballots dropped off at the clerk’s office at the courthouse in Leavenworth must be received by noon Tuesday. Ballots also can be dropped off at the county annex at U.S. Highway 24-40 and Laming in Tonganoxie by 11 a.m. Tuesday.

County Clerk Janet Klasinski reminds voters to make sure they are registered at their correct address and that the county has the voter’s current mailing address.

For more information about the mail-in ballot, contact the Leavenworth County Election Office at 913-684-0419 or 913-684-0422. You may also reach the office by email at hklinkenberg@leavenworthcounty.org or jklasinski@leavenworthcounty.org.

Klasinski said Tuesday morning that her office has received back about 11,900 out of the 38,000 that were mailed out.