Staff writer
Craig Dodd, who recently announced his intention to run a write-in campaign in the Republican primary for the District 1 seat on the county commission, ran into a bit of a stumbling block last week.
When he visited the county clerkâs office, he found he was registered as an independent voter. To run in the primary, he would have to change his registration to Republican before July 1.
Because of a new law passed by the Kansas Legislature, the normal filing deadline was moved from June 1. The first day of affiliation prohibition this year is July 1 because the law does not go into effect until then.
Dodd also is investigating another option. He could run as an independent and still appear on the November ballot but would need to pay a $35 filing fee and submit a petition signed by at least 4 percent of registered voters in the district. County Clerk Tina Spencer said that comes out to 107 voters in District 1.
Dodd said he could not confirm yet whether he would remain independent or switch to Republican.
To be listed on the ballot as a Republican, he or the other announced write-in candidate, Lori Lalouette-Crawford, will have to receive at least 134 write-in votes Aug. 5, and surpass all other Republican write-in candidates.