A Sumner County Commission candidate said the recent primary election may have him down, but not out.
Stan Burdett of Caldwell said he will form a write-in campaign for the Sumner County Commissioner District No. 3.
According to the Sumner County Clerk’s office, the official results had Cliff Bales of Oxford winning with 368 votes to Burdett’s 362. Randy Wyckoff of Wellington, who also ran for the seat, took third with a total of 283 votes.
According to the Kansas Secretary of State’s office, a person who is not a filed candidate who wishes to run as a write-in candidate may simply announce to the voters that he/she is a write-in candidate and conduct a campaign to secure their votes the same as any other candidate. Of particular concern is telling voters where on the ballot to write the candidate’s name and spelling it correctly so that the voter’s intent is not questioned.
Burdett said in a written statement that he had received calls from numerous voters, including Democrats, who were upset they were not allowed to vote for him during the primary.
According to state law, voters can only vote for their affiliated party during primary elections, while general election ballots are open to all voters. Unaffiliated voters are able to vote Democrat, according that to party’s rules.
The purpose of a primary election is to choose who will run in the general election for a certain political party.
“What I said in an interview with the Wellington News is how I felt at the time and about the Primary only. But since then I have had numerous calls saying they felt cheated because they could not vote without giving up their affiliation. Since then I looked into the state laws that say I have a right to do a write-in. So that is exactly what I am going to do. As far as I am concerned Stan Burdett is still running for County Commissioner 3rd District for the November election,” Burdett said in his statement.
Winner of the primary election, Cliff Bales says he has no comment on the write-in campaign.
“The voters should at least have a choice and everyone deserves a vote and with no one else in there, they don’t have one and that’s not right to me,” Burdett said. “It became a Republican’s game and to me it doesn’t seem right to change your affiliation to be able to vote.”
Burdett said it was the demand of the public that made him try for a second go.
“I can’t go anywhere without people coming up to me and saying, ‘I hope you do a write-in’ and I had no idea who they were,” said Burdett.
“It’s a new race,” said Burdett, who said he will now be raising more money for the write-in campaign, as well as preparing information to be mailed to voters in the third district.
“I had 363 people vote for me and I don’t want to let them down. It’s not in my make up,” said Burdett, adding he is getting energized to start work on the campaign starting in September.
“The election isn’t over until November.” he said.
Burdett says he would love to hear from area voters and can be reached at 620-845-2950 or through e-mail at se_burdett@live.com.
For the latest election coverage, check back with www.wellingtondailynews.com.
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A Sumner County Commission candidate said the recent primary election may have him down, but not out.
Stan Burdett of Caldwell said he will form a write-in campaign for the Sumner County Commissioner District No. 3.
According to the Sumner County Clerk’s office, the official results had Cliff Bales of Oxford winning with 368 votes to Burdett’s 362. Randy Wyckoff of Wellington, who also ran for the seat, took third with a total of 283 votes.
According to the Kansas Secretary of State’s office, a person who is not a filed candidate who wishes to run as a write-in candidate may simply announce to the voters that he/she is a write-in candidate and conduct a campaign to secure their votes the same as any other candidate. Of particular concern is telling voters where on the ballot to write the candidate’s name and spelling it correctly so that the voter’s intent is not questioned.
Burdett said in a written statement that he had received calls from numerous voters, including Democrats, who were upset they were not allowed to vote for him during the primary.
According to state law, voters can only vote for their affiliated party during primary elections, while general election ballots are open to all voters. Unaffiliated voters are able to vote Democrat, according that to party’s rules.
The purpose of a primary election is to choose who will run in the general election for a certain political party.
“What I said in an interview with the Wellington News is how I felt at the time and about the Primary only. But since then I have had numerous calls saying they felt cheated because they could not vote without giving up their affiliation. Since then I looked into the state laws that say I have a right to do a write-in. So that is exactly what I am going to do. As far as I am concerned Stan Burdett is still running for County Commissioner 3rd District for the November election,” Burdett said in his statement.
Winner of the primary election, Cliff Bales says he has no comment on the write-in campaign.
“The voters should at least have a choice and everyone deserves a vote and with no one else in there, they don’t have one and that’s not right to me,” Burdett said. “It became a Republican’s game and to me it doesn’t seem right to change your affiliation to be able to vote.”
Burdett said it was the demand of the public that made him try for a second go.
“I can’t go anywhere without people coming up to me and saying, ‘I hope you do a write-in’ and I had no idea who they were,” said Burdett.
“It’s a new race,” said Burdett, who said he will now be raising more money for the write-in campaign, as well as preparing information to be mailed to voters in the third district.
“I had 363 people vote for me and I don’t want to let them down. It’s not in my make up,” said Burdett, adding he is getting energized to start work on the campaign starting in September.
“The election isn’t over until November.” he said.
Burdett says he would love to hear from area voters and can be reached at 620-845-2950 or through e-mail at se_burdett@live.com.
For the latest election coverage, check back with www.wellingtondailynews.com.
