Holub, Barnett advance; Meier does well in county
"The easy part is over," newly elected Marion County Commissioner Dan Holub said Tuesday after he defeated fellow Republican Max Hayen, 382-292, in the 2nd District primary. "Now the work starts. It's time to put words into action."
The only response from Hayen, former mayor of Marion and county appraiser, was: "The best man won."
Because no Democrat was on the ballot Tuesday, victory in the primary is tantamount to election in the general.
In other races decided Tuesday, former Marion resident James Meier carried Marion County but failed in his attempt to unseat Republican incument State Sen. Jim Barnett in the 17th District.
Meier had 607 votes to incumbent Barnett's 549 in Marion County. However, reports from three of the four other counties in the district indicated that Barnett would be the winner. He will face Democrat Sharon Karr in the general election Nov. 2.
"I feel great about carrying Marion County," Meier said. "Even in Lyon County I carried 30 percent of the vote. What does that say when a 22-year-old college kid can get 30 percent of the vote in a county where the incumbent is a doctor and quite popular?"
The race may be over but Meier is not going to stop being involved.
"I will be watching (Jim Barnett) carefully to see if he supports a strong marriage amendment," Meier said. "I want to make sure he is making tax decisions which in the long run are good for Kansas."
When asked if he'll run again, Meier responded "You never can tell. I really didn't enjoy the politics of it. But in visiting with people I was telling them what they wanted to hear."
"I'm very pleased with how it came out," Meier concluded.
Republican Randy Dallke of Peabody was the sole candidate for the county commission seat in the third district. He received 278 votes.
On the state level, the only contested race on the Republican side was between U.S. Senator Sam Brownback and Arch Naramore. In Marion County, Brownback soundly defeated Naramore 1,246-135.
First District U.S. Representative Jerry Moran and District 35 State Senator Don Dahl were both unopposed.
On the county ballot, all five county officials had no opposition from fellow Republicans and tallied the following votes:
Clerk Carol Maggard: 1,242
Treasurer Jeannine Bateman: 1,246
Register of Deeds Faye Makovec: 1,235
Attorney Susan Robson: 1,160
Sheriff Lee Becker: 1,187
