Candidates set for county seat

by Jonathan Van Dyke

With the filing deadline passed for county positions, the race for the single commissioner’s seat has begun.

Aside from Cat Urbigkit and incumbent John Linn, three more potential candidates filed.

For the democratic nomination, both Courtney Skinner and Susan Kramer filed.

Skinner has served on the education board, and has also run for the county commission position in the past.

Kramer has been heavily involved with the county recycling program, and has also filed for the position previously.

The republican entry of recently elected town councilman David Smith might be confounding to some. County Clerk Mary Lankford said that Smith could only hold one office at a time, and she had just finished drafting a letter informing him of the law.

Three seats for the Rural Health Care District (RHD) were up. Dick Kalber refiled for a four-year term, Ken Shriver refiled for a two-year term, but Walt Bousman did not file.

Instead, Cindy Van of Cora will be taking Bousman’s seat, a four-year term. Because no one else filed for a RHD position, Van will simply slot into the four-year position Bousman vacated.

The only way this scenario could change is if a write-in candidate was voted over the three. With the filing period over, the only way any other candidates can be included for any of the positions is by write-in.

The primary for the county commission candidates will be on Aug. 19. The remaining two candidates will square off on Nov. 6.