Sheriff's race up in the air
By GAYLE WEBER
COLBY -- With an unknown number of provisional ballots, a tight Thomas County Sheriff's race might not be decided until midday Friday.
Thomas County commissioners will canvas votes at 8 a.m. Friday to see if Rod Taylor's 20-vote lead over incumbent Mike Baughn stands up.
Thomas County Clerk Shelly Harms said she estimated there were anywhere from 100 to 150 provisional ballots for commissioners to consider Friday.
"What provisionals we've counted in the past didn't make that much difference, but we haven't had a race this close," Harms said.
After Tuesday's Republican primary, Taylor had 697 votes to Baughn's 677. Cloyde Hopper also had 293 votes. There is no declared Democratic challenger for the November general election.
Taylor is a former Kansas Highway patrolman and served as deputy sheriff in Thomas County from 1998 until earlier this year.
"I filed (for sheriff) one day, and (Baughn) fired me the next," Taylor said.
He said if there was one reason for running, it was the accountability of the sheriff's office.
"In law enforcement, we hold people accountable for their actions, and they should have to hold themselves accountable, too," Taylor said. "Within the department itself, there's a lot of professionalism that's not being adhered to."
Baughn is finishing up his first term as Thomas County sheriff but has been with the department since 1985. He faced competition from a write-in in 2004, but the race was not as close as this year.
"I hope there's enough provisionals to put me over the top," Baughn said. "I'll have to wait and see what the final count is before I decide what I'm going to do."
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Rooks County also will be getting a new sheriff after five candidates battled for the Republican nomination.
Deputy Sheriff Randy Axelson received the most votes with 455. Undersheriff Daryl Thornburg finished with 412.
There is no Democratic challenger for the November general election.
"I'll have to wait until November until I start making any plans to see if anybody runs as a write-in," Axelson said.
He will be taking over for Roger Mongeau, who has served as sheriff since 2000. Mongeau received 177 votes Tuesday.
"I think it will be a huge advantage taking his place because I really learned a lot from Roger," Axelson said.
Part-time Plainville police officer Ryan Cellmer received 311 votes, and Stockton resident Jeannine Spiess received 24 votes in the primary.
Votes will be canvassed Friday.