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Martin keeps his job, Ruhl joins commission
Bourbon County voters re-elected the sheriff and put a new face on the county commission, according to unofficial election results late Tuesday.
Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin, a Republican, won nearly 60 percent of the vote, drawing 3,552 total votes to 2,352 total votes for his Democratic challenger, Mike Feagins.
Leroy "Nick" Ruhl, Republican candidate for the county commission District 3 seat, ousted incumbent Democrat Harold Coleman, garnering 961 total votes to Coleman's 577 total votes, according to unofficial numbers.
The two races were the only contested local races in this year's election.
Martin, Ruhl, and several other candidates for county offices turned out at the Bourbon County Courthouse to watch election results, and later celebrate victories with family and friends present. Cheers and applause erupted in the third floor courtroom when results were finally announced.
"I'm very blessed to have a lot of support in the community, and from family and friends," Martin said after final results were announced.
When asked about his campaign and that of his opponent in the months leading up to the election, Martin said, "It's been interesting."
Martin said one of his immediate goals is to "continue with the jail project." The county is in the midst of a process to construct the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center.
"And we'll just see what improvements need to be done. I've got another four years," he said.
Ruhl said he was "very excited" voters supported him in his bid to become county commissioner.
"I'm so proud to be able to serve as county commissioner for District 3," Ruhl said. "Harold and I have been friends for years. But I just think voters decided it was time for a change."
Ruhl said an immediate goal for him is to address county budget issues, including rising costs of employee insurance.
"We have a budget to work on," he said. "We have to find a way to fix insurance and not have to lay anybody off."
Coleman and Feagins were unavailable for comment.
In the uncontested races, Republican Jeff Fischer received 2,236 total votes for County Commission District 2; County Clerk Kendell Mason, Republican, received 5,430 total votes; County Treasurer Rhonda Dunn received 5,460 total votes; Register of Deeds Lora Holdridge received 5,382 votes; and County Attorney Justin Meeks received 5,263 votes, according to unofficial figures.
In the U.S. presidential race, Bourbon County voters favored Republican candidate Donald Trump and his running mate Mike Pence by a vote count of 4,314 to that of 1,306 for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and her running mate, Tim Kaine. Gary Johnson, Libertarian candidate, and his running mate, William Weld, received 192 total votes. Jill Stein, Green Party candidate, and running mate Ajamu Baraka received 106 total votes. There were 100 write-in votes cast in the presidential race, according to unofficial numbers.
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, Republican, picked up a victory in Bourbon County with a total vote count of 4,321 to 1,281 for Democratic challenger Patrick Wiesner. Libertarian candidate Robert D. Garrard received 331 total votes. There were eight write-in votes cast.
U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins, Republican, garnered 4,526 total votes to 1,123 for her Democratic challenger Britani Potter. Libertarian candidate James Houston Bales received 294 total votes. There were six write-in votes cast.
In the Kansas Senate District 13 race, Jake LaTurner, Republican, received 2,467 total votes to 1,383 for his Democratic challenger Lynn Grant. There were nine write-in votes cast.