Wyandotte County wasn’t short on candidates, which means there were a lot of primaries. However, despite so many races on the ballot, turnout was a low 7%. With the low turnout, a number of races were decided by just a few votes.
Wyandotte Commission District 4
The hottest race for our readers was for the District 4 seat on the Wyandotte Commission. The seat was being vacated by Harold Johnson, which opened the field, with four prospective candidates. Tarrance Maddox, who held the seat prior to Johnson, is still alive in his comeback bid. Despite, or in spite of, his previous experience on the board, Maddox came in second to Evelyn Hill.
Hill, who served nine years on the Kansas City Kansas School Board, won 37% of the vote to Maddox 25%. As the top two vote-getters, they both advance to the general.
Other Wyandotte Commission Seats
Five – just over half – of the Wyandotte County Commission seats are up for reelection and there’s so much interest in these positions, that all but one of the races had a primary.
Three of the other districts – 2, 3 and 4 – cover eastern Kansas City, KS, east of 435, and cover much of the city’s poorest communities.
District 3 incumbent Christian Ramirez has four competitors in his bid for reelection. He finished first in the primary with 35% of the vote. However, with the county not officially finalized, only two votes separate the next two candidates: Tina Medina has 137 votes and Bette McGill has 135.
In District 2, incumbent Brian McKiernan (on the commission since 2011) did not seek reelection. Three people have stepped forward to run in this district, which is the good news. The district hadn’t had a contested election in 20 years. Bill Banks led in the race, taking home just under 50% of the vote.
In District 6, which covers south of I-70, between 435 and 670, incumbent Angela Markley did not seek reelection. This race has attracted a diverse mix of three candidates – one White, one Hispanic, and long-term Black political activist Mary Martin, who came in third and did not advance.
Deputy Register of Deeds Advances with Lopsided Vote
With the retirement of the long-time Wyandotte County Register of Deeds, her deputy, Susie Werner Nelson, hoped to step into the role. Nelson, seems to have a lot of support, gaining more than 50% of the vote in a crowded five-person primary.
Coming in second in a field of community activists was Madella Henderson, who advanced by beating out CeCe Hardin by just 36 votes.
Board Of Public Utilities Sees Wakes Advance With Bob Milan Sr. finally retiring from the BPU board after more than three decades. Pastor Stevie Wakes Sr., who is senior pastor at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in KCK, dominated this race, taking home 50% of the votes. Advancing along with him to the general election is Alex Sanchez.
