Month: August 2014

Hundreds attend Night Out Against Crime event

Fire Chief John Paul Jones attended the Night Out Against Crime event Aug. 5 at the Kansas National Guard Armory, 18th and Ridge, Kansas City, Kan. (Photo by William Crum)

by William Crum
More than 300 people attended the national Night Out program sponsored by the Unified Government of Kansas City, Kan.-Wyandotte County.

Neighborhood groups and civic organizations were also there making this program a success. Civic and social leaders were in attendance. Even Target was kind enough to provide hot dogs, water and chips for those who attended this program.

Mayor Mark Holland made a proclamation that proclaimed Aug. 5, 2014, as national Night Out Against Crime.

This is a program that encouraged citizens to get involved whether it be a civic or community organization.

Even though it was Election Day in Wyandotte County, the turnout for this was still high.

Getting involved in the community causes crime to decrease, said Kansas City, Kan., Police Chief Ellen Hanson. Because of programs like this that would encourage the citizens of Wyandotte County to get involved, the crime rate has decreased according to statistics. Wyandotte County has one of the lowest rates in the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan area.

A color guard at the Night Out Against Crime Aug. 5 at the Kansas National Guard Armory. (Photo by William Crum)

Mayor Mark Holland spoke at the Night Out Against Crime Aug. 5 at the Kansas National Guard, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo)

The Night Out Against Crime event was held Aug. 5 at the Kansas National Guard Armory. (Photo by William Crum)

Sheriff Don Ash spoke at the Night Out Against Crime event Aug. 5. (Photo by William Crum)

More than 300 people attended the Night Out Against Crime event Aug. 5 at the Kansas National Guard Armory. (Photo by William Crum)

Unified Government Commissioner Jane Winkler Philbrook talked with Fire Chief John Paul Jones during the Night Out Against Crime Aug. 5. (Photo by William Crum)

The color guard at the Night Out Against Crime Aug. 5 at the Kansas National Guard Armory. (Photo by Natalie Olds)

Fire Chief John Paul Jones spoke at the Night Out Against Crime event Aug. 5. (Photo by Natalie Olds)

Voters choose new judge in primary election

Tim Dupree

After the lead changed hands throughout the evening, Wyandotte County voters chose a new judge, Timothy Dupree.

The close vote in the three-way judge race was Dupree, 3,207 votes, with 39.5 percent; Courtney Mikesic, 2,843, with 35 percent; and James Yoakum, 2,070, with 25.5 percent. There is no Republican candidate in the general election.

The final vote totals are unofficial, and the election will be certified at a later date. Wyandotte County Democrats had a turnout of about 20 percent, while Wyandotte County Republicans had a 27.5 percent turnout.

In other contested races, Kelly Kultala of the Piper area easily won the Democratic nomination for U.S. House of Representatives, 3rd District, over Reginald Marselus, 13,948 to 6,369. The district included Wyandotte, Johnson and Miami counties. She will face incumbent U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-3rd Dist., in the general election.

After several earlier tries, Edwardsville city has passed a sales tax, 346-175.

In a close statewide race, with about two-thirds of the votes in, incumbent Sen. Pat Roberts had a 48 percent to 41 percent margin over challenger Milton Wolf in the Republican primary. The winner of the contest will face the winner of the Democratic primary. With partial results, Chad Taylor had 53 percent of the Democratic vote compared to Patrick Wiesner’s 47 percent.

Gov. Sam Brownback won the primary contest with a 64 percent of the vote to Jennifer Winn’s 37 percent, with two-thirds of the vote counted.

Secretary of State Kris Kobach defeated Scott Morgan in the Republican primary, 65 percent of the vote to 35 percent, with two-thirds of the votes counted.

The five-way commissioner of insurance Republican primary contest saw Ken Selzer in the lead with 28 percent, Beverly Gossage second at 24 percent and Clark Shultz third at 23 percent with two-thirds of the votes in.

Election results

Primary election 2014, Wyandotte County unofficial results
113 of 113 precincts reporting
U.S. Senate, Democratic
Chad Taylor 3,259
Patrick Wiesner 3,680

U.S. Senate, Republican
Pat Roberts (Incumbent) 1,395
D.J. Smith 215
Milton Wolf 1,742
Alvin E. Zahnter 161

U.S. House of Representatives, 3rd District, Democratic
Kelly Kultala 5,717
Reginald (Reggie) Marselus 1,759

Governor, Republican
Sam Brownback (Incumbent) 2,576
Jennifer Winn 929

Secretary of State, Republican
Kris Kobach (Incumbent) 2,841
Scott Morgan 633

Commissioner of Insurance, Republican
Beverly Gossage 1,019
David J. Powell 285
Ken Selzer 820
Clark Shultz 324
John M. Toplikar 659

Wyandotte County District Court Judge, Position 11, Democratic
Timothy L. Dupree 3,207
Courtney Mikesic 2,843
James T. Yoakum 2,070

Edwardsville sales tax question
Yes 346
No 175

– Unofficial results from Wyandotte County Election Office

Primary election 2014, statewide unofficial results

U.S. Senate, Democratic
Chad Taylor 34,390
Patrick Wiesner 30,557

U.S. Senate, Republican
Pat Roberts (Incumbent) 125,306
D.J. Smith 15,057
Milton Wolf 106,128
Alvin E. Zahnter 13,935

U.S. House of Representatives, 3rd District, Democratic
Kelly Kultala 13,948
Reginald (Reggie) Marselus 6,369

Governor, Republican
Sam Brownback (Incumbent) 164,319
Jennifer Winn 95,373

Secretary of State, Republican
Kris Kobach (Incumbent) 164,396
Scott Morgan 89,320

Commissioner of Insurance, Republican
Beverly Gossage 54,578
David J. Powell 39,638
Ken Selzer 64,073
Clark Shultz 53,900
John M. Toplikar 24,455

Wyandotte County District Court Judge, Position 11, Democratic
Timothy L. Dupree 3,207
Courtney Mikesic 2,843
James T. Yoakum 2,070

–Unofficial results from Secretary of State’s website