By Lucky Kidd
GOLDEN BELT — Two area sheriffs lost re-election bids in Tuesday’s Republican primary elections. Pawnee County Sheriff Scott King was defeated by Larry Atteberry who received 56 percent of the primary vote. Atteberry is unopposed in the November general election. Also losing was Rice County Sheriff Bryant Evans who lost his re-election bid to Nicholas Sowers.
Pawnee County Commissioner Phil Hammeke was re-nominated to his 2nd district seat Tuesday, defeating Lee Morss 231-134 in the western Pawnee County District.
State Representative Tory Marie Blew of Great Bend won the Republican nomination for the 33rd District Kansas Senate seat given up by Senator Alicia Straub of Ellinwood. Blew took 65 percent of the vote Tuesday over John Sturn of Ellinwood to face Democrat Matthew Westenfeld of Lyons in November.
State Senator Alicia Straub was trounced in her bid Tuesday to oust incumbent Barton County Clerk Bev Schmeidler, who defeated Straub by a just over 2-1 margin. Barton County Register of Deeds Glennda French did lose her re-election bid Tuesday, falling to Susan Williams who took 58 percent of the vote. In the 20th Judicial District, Barton County Attorney Levi Morris won his primary over Ellinwood Attorney Robert Anderson II. Morris will be unopposed in November to succeed retiring Division 2 Judge Steven Morris.
In other Golden Belt area races Tuesday, Stafford County Sheriff Robert Murrow received more than double the combined vote of challengers Tori Perez and Greg McAlister to win renomination. In the only contested race in Edwards County Billy Broker defeated Tonya Taylor for 2nd District County Commissioner.
