Earlier Kansas legislative action moved the state's school and city elections to the fall of 2017 instead of in the spring as has been the norm.

So there would be no election this spring in Barber County. However, Barber County Election Deputy Amy Sill said a special election is called for April 11 to fill the position of U.S. House of Representatives for the Kansas 4th Congressional District. That's since Congressman Mike Pompeo was named director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) under the Trump Administration. Pompeo represented Kansas as U.S. Representative for the 4th District from 2011-2017.

Candidates for that congressional position in the April 11 election are: Ron Estes, Republican; James A. Thompson, Democrat; Chris Rockhold, Libertarian.

Barber County School and City Election Seats Available

The general municipal election is set for Nov. 7. People wishing to run for the open positions must file by June 1 at the Barber County Courthouse, Sill said.

The deputy confirmed there is now a $20 filing fee, instead of the $5 fee of the past. To avoid the fee, she said candidates can file a petition. The number of required signatures per petition is: Medicine Lodge, 111; Kiowa, 50; Isabel, 5; Hardtner, 3; Hazelton, 3.

The number of people running for the open positions (four or more) on the city councils and school boards will determine whether a primary election is held, Sill said. A primary election would be held Aug. 1 if needed. The last day to file for the primaries would be July 11.

Kiowa City and USD 255 Open Positions

The positions open on Kiowa's City Council are: Mayor (held by Brandon Farney, who has served two four-year terms so cannot run for the position this time) and two four-year councilmember terms currently held by R.L. Simpson and Tom Wells.

USD 255 (South Barber School District) has three open positions that are currently held by Steve Allen, Dooli Rugg and Mark Pollock. Those are: Position #4 ( Pollock) Dist 2 – inside Kiowa; Position #5 (Allen) Dist 1 – outside Kiowa; Position #6 ( Rugg) Dist 1 – outside Kiowa.

Medicine Lodge City and USD 254

In Medicine Lodge three city council seats are open. They are currently held by Norman Clouse, Mike Roe and Ron James.

USD 254 has three positions open that are currently held by Andrea Fisher, Allen Dick and Micha Werner. Those are: Position #4 (Fisher); Position #5 (Dick); Position #6 (Werner).

Other Barber County Community Open Seats

Hardtner

Mayor (right now is Durwin Wolgamott)

Two City Council (right now is Barbara Cundiff and David Gorden)

Hazelton

Three City Council (right now is Kathy Hays, Gene Weber and Jose Ruiz)

Isabel

Mayor (right now is Marilyn Murphy)

Two City Council (right now is Lonnie Frederick and Tamara Krom)

Sharon

Mayor (right now is Ken Ricke)

Two City Council (right now is Lance Vandeveer and Rod Fischer)

Sun City

Mayor (right now is Mark Long)

Five City Council (right now is Gene Myers, Teena Thurber, Russell Oestereich, Deitra Black and Michael Wayne)