5 challengers file for Crofoot’s seat
Staff writer
Two county commissioners will have no opposition on the ballot this year, but a third will face four other Republicans in August, and the winner will face a Democrat in November.
No one met Monday’s noon to file against Kent Becker or Jonah Gehring in districts that include Durham, Goessel, Hillsboro, and Lehigh along with Durham Park, Lehigh, Menno, Moore, Risley, and West Branch Townships.
Dave Crofoot, however, will face four challengers in August in a district that includes Florence, the southern part of Marion, and Centre, Doyle, Fairplay, Gale, and Wilson Townships:
- Tom Britain, a noted wind farm opponent who previously has challenged Crofoot as a write-in and on the ballot.
- Dan Holub, who served as county commissioner for the northern part of the county before district boundaries were redrawn in the 2010s.
- Amy Soyez, wife of Sheriff Jeff Soyez and previously an independent candidate against Crofoot.
- Greg Wyatt, known mainly as an advocate for improvements at Marion County Park and Lake.
Whoever wins will face another noted wind farm opponent, Democrat Randy Eitzen, in November.
Barring successful write-in campaigns, commissioners Kent Becker and Jonah Gehring should be shoo-ins for re-election.
Staggered terms mean voters in other portions of the county will have to wait two years to vote on seats held by Mike Beneke and Clarke Dirks.
For state representative, Republican challenger Brandon Rein and appointed incumbent Greg Wilson, both of Abilene, will face off in the 70th District, which includes Marion and the northern and eastern halves of Marion County. Kylie Kilmer, also of Abilene, is unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
In the 74th District, which includes Hillsboro and the rest of the county, incumbent Mike King of Hesston will face off against Craig Andres of Goessel in the Republican primary. Michele Ediger of Canton is unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
.The only other contested local races on primary ballots in Marion County this August will be among Republicans running for:
- Precinct committeewoman in Gale Township, where Laura Becker and Dina Vogel filed.
- Precinct committeeman in Hillsboro West, where Clint Seibel and Ronald Wilkins Jr. filed.
- Precinct committeeman in Marion South, where Jim Crofoot and Darvin Markley filed.
No Republicans or Democrats filed for township clerk in Blaine, Catlin, Clark, Lehigh, Lost Springs, Milton, Moore, Risley, Summit, or Wilson Townhips.
Only one Democrat filed for a township clerk position — Robert Klein in Durham Park, where no Republicans filed. Republicans also did not file in Colfax and Doyle.
No Republicans or Democrats filed for precinct committeeman or committeewoman in Colfax, Lost Springs, or Moore Townships.
No Republicans filed in Florence 2nd, Peabody West, Clear Creek, Durham Park, Lehigh, or Milton.
No Democrats filed in Florence 1st, Doyle, Fairplay, Gale, Liberty, Logan, Moore, Summit, West Branch, or Wilson.
No Republicans filed for committeeman in Blaine, Grant, or Logan, and no Republicans filed for committeewoman in Risley or Summit.
No Democrats filed for committeeman in Florence 2nd, Peabody, Centre, Colfax, Doyle, Lehigh, or Milton, and no Democrats filed for committeewoman in Blaine or Durham Park.
The complete list of local candidate filings:
DEMOCRATS
County Commissioner
District 4 — Randall Eitzen.
Township clerk
Durham Park — Robert Klein.
Committeemen
Blaine — James Srajer.
Catlin — Nasir Islam.
Clark — Dax Kannady.
Clear Creek — Roy Houdyshell.
Durham Park — Robert Unruh.
East Branch — Myron Voth.
Grant — John Siebert.
Hillsboro 1st — Reginald Matz.
Hillsboro 2nd — Alvin Hett.
Marion North — Brian Tichenor.
Marion South — Michael Powers.
Menno — Herbert Penner.
Risley — Michael Brandt.
Committeewomen
Catlin — Susan Mayo.
Centre — Kelli Studenhofer.
Clark — Emily Kannady.
Clear Creek — Judy Houdyshell.
East Branch — Lori L. Yoder.
Florence 2nd — Mary Jane Grimmett.
Grant — Marianne Siebert.
Hillsboro 1st — Christine Cederberg.
Hillsboro 2nd — Arlene Hett.
Lehigh — Elizabeth Hil.
Marion North — Janet Bryant.
Marion South — Jan Helmer.
Menno — Elaine Banman.
Milton — Carol Callahan.
Peabody East — Virgina Skinner.
Peabody West — Mackenzie Young.
Risley — Patricia M. Bartel.
REPUBLICANS
County commissioner
District 1 — Kent D. Becker.
District 4 — Tom Britain, Davis Crofoot, Daniel Holub, Amy Soyez, Greg Wyatt.
District 5 — Jonah Gehring.
Township clerk
Centre — Nick Kraus.
Clear Creek — Charles Svoboda.
East Branch — Michael Jay.
Fairplay — Mark Curry.
Gale — Gail Whiteman.
Grant — Jeannine Bateman.
Liberty — Charles Loewen,
Logan — Yvonne Cushenbery.
Menno — Dwight Flaming.
Peabody — Shawn Entz.
West Branch — John Unruh.
Committeeman
Catlin — Melvin Flaming.
Centre — Greg Davidson.
Clark — Donald Vinduska.
Doyle — Jeff Inlow.
East Branch — Scott Smith.
Fairplay — Charles DeForest.
Florence 1st — Randy Mills.
Gale — Todd Becker.
Hillsboro 1st — Jonah Gehring.
Hillsboro 2nd — Ronald Wilkins Jr., Clinton Seibel.
Liberty — Louis J. Simmons.
Marion North — Lloyd Davies.
Marion South — James Crofoot, Darvin Markley.
Menno — Richard Tippin.
Peabody East — Duke Eldridge.
Risley — Matthew Gehring.
Summit — Wade Knust.
West Branch — Isaac Weiser.
Wilson — Jeffrey T. Soyez.
Committeewoman
Blaine — Jeanne Rziha.
Centre — Rose Davidson.
Clark — Regina Vinduska.
Doyle — Kathy Inlow.
East Branch — Brandy. Smith.
Fairplay — Catherine DeForest.
Florence 1st — Judith Mills.
Gale — Laura Becker.
Grant — Jeannine Bateman.
Hillsboro 1st — Renee Gehring.
Hillsboro 2nd — Cynthia Fleming.
Liberty — CleoBeth Friesen.
Logan — Yvonne Cushenbery.
Marion North — Rose Vinduska.
Marion South — Sue Markley.
Menno — Norma Tippin.
Peabody East — Randy Kralicek.
West Branch — Alisha Weiser.
Wilson — Amy Soyez
OTHER OFFICES
Burns City Council (3 seats) — Beth Bush, Dawn R. Hacker, Zeb Hatfield,.
Hillsboro City Council, Ward 1 — Jeffrey J. Jorgenson.
Hillsboro City Council, Ward 2 — Byron McCarty.
Ramona Mayor — Carl Gehrke.
Ramona City Council (2 seats) — Mark Lockhart, Paul Tucker.