Topeka Candidate Advances in Council Race
Topeka, which hasn’t had an African American on its city council since we’ve been covering it, may be ready for a little more diversity, if Tuesday’s primary is any indication.
In a primary race for the city’s District 6 seat, candidate Marcus Miller came out in front in a field of four candidates. Miller, earned almost 50% of the vote in the primary, with Craig Dunstan coming in second, with just 23% of the vote.
Incumbent Councilwoman Hannah Naeger is not seeking reelection for the west-central Topeka district.
Miller seems to have the pedigree Topekans are looking for. A native of the city, he attended Topeka Public Schools and played football at Washburn University. He was director at the Boys & Girls Club of Topeka, and also held multiple positions at the District Attorney’s office under two different DAs.
His current position is as director of First Tee, a youth golf program. In 2022, Miller was selected among Topeka’s 20 under 40 honorees.
David Banks, a retired Topeka fireman, is also seeking election to the Topeka City Council. He did not have a primary in his bid to represent Topeka’s 4th District.
Sellers Advances in Lawrence Primary
Amber Sellers, the first African-American woman elected to the Lawrence City Council, advanced to the November general election, placing third in a field of eight candidates. There are three seats up for election in Lawrence, where candidates run at-large and not by district.
The top six candidates advance to the general election. In general, the candidates receiving the most votes are elected to four-year terms, and the third-place candidate is elected to a two-year term.
Sellers, who was first elected in 2021, finished third, which is why she’s running again so soon. Mike Dever, a former city council member, earned the most votes. The three incumbents up for reelection came in second, third and fourth.