Editor’s note: This is the first installment of a four-part series on area political campaigns.
Campus voters will have many issues on their minds and a few choices to make when they go to the ballot box in November.
Deputy of Elections for Douglas County Keith Campbell said elections will be held for the state executive offices of governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer and commissioner of insurance.
Student voters have a variety of issues on their minds on Nov. 11.
Sophomore Jason Mock, who describes himself as “left-leaning in ideology with some conservative tendencies,” said his primary interest this year will be the state and national elections, because of the lack of competitive races on the local level.
“In the race for Congress I will be concerned with the raw numbers – the 15 seats the Democrats need to gain control of the House,” he said. “In some of the other races I am looking at, I am more concerned with state issues.”
Senior Theresa Oliver, a self-described conservative, said she was more interested in the state and local races and issues.
“This election I will be looking more at what is best for Kansas – what we’re doing with public school funding, job creation and state spending,” she said.
Mock said the Iraq War and the United States’ handling of the “War on Terror” were important issues for him this fall.
“However, I wouldn’t say they were the most important to me because issues at the state level right now are more pertinent, simply because one liberal Congressperson will not be able to get in there and change policy,” he said. “Whereas a level-headed attorney general will be able to vastly improve conditions in the state of Kansas.”
At the federal level, voters will choose between incumbent Jim Ryun, R-Lawrence, and challengers Nancy Boyda, D-Topeka, and Roger D. Tucker, Reform-Ottawa, in the race for House representative for Kansas’ Second Congressional District, Campbell said.
The local scene will see Tenth District State Representative Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, facing challengers Roy C. Dunn, R-Ottawa, and Robert Garrad, Libertarian-Edgerton, Campbell said.
Janet Waugh, D-Kansas City, is running unopposed for the state board of education seat for the First District, as is Janet Ballinger, R-Baldwin City, for the position of Palmyra Township Clerk, Campbell said.
Voters will also be faced with retention questions for one state Supreme Court justice, nine Court of Appeals judges and three District Court judges, he said.
Oliver said candidates that represent her values being elected is of importance to her.
“I would like to see traditional values upheld by whoever is elected,” she said. “When dealing with economic issues, it’s important to have someone who knows what they’re doing.”
For information on when and where to vote, Douglas County voters can visit the Clerk’s Election Division website at www.douglascountyelections.com, Campbell said.
Click the link below for the official election notice with voting locations.