Ranzau, Howell win Sedgwick County commissioner primaries

A new majority on the Sedgwick County Commission could emerge after District 4 incumbent Richard Ranzau held off Sen. Carolyn McGinn and District 5 candidate Rep. Jim Howell defeated Derby Mayor Dion Avello.

With all precincts reporting Tuesday night, Ranzau received 54 percent of the vote and McGinn 45 percent. Howell handily defeated Avello with 63 percent of the vote.

“I’m feeling really good. I was shocked to see the outcome of this election,” Howell said at his election watch party in Derby. “I was not expecting to see that margin of difference. I think people are hungry for principled leadership. I think people are frustrated to see people making decisions on what appears to be emotions or friendships.”

The outcome of the primary sets up a possible new majority on the board.

Commissioners Tim Norton, Jim Skelton and Dave Unruh have held the majority on the commission for the past four years. When the five-member board splits, Ranzau and Commissioner Karl Peterjohn almost always are in the minority.

Peterjohn and Ranzau are more likely than the other commissioners to oppose economic incentives to private businesses, and Ranzau has consistently voted against accepting federal grants to pay for county programs, saying doing so burdens future generations, including his children.

A majority change could mean businesses facing a tougher time getting incentives such as tax-increment financing districts, tax abatements and forgivable loans. If Howell, seeking the seat vacated by Skelton, and Ranzau, were to win the general election, they and Peterjohn likely would form a new majority. Ranzau, 49, has said that he would push to reopen the Judge Riddel Boys Ranch if he and Howell won their elections.

“I’m very happy,” Ranzau said. “It’s been a long campaign. We’ve worked hard virtually every day. We passed the first hurdle, and we rest for a few days and get ready for the general election.”

Ranzau will face former commissioner and state representative Melody McCray-Miller in the November general election. The district is in the north-central part of the county, which includes Park City, Valley Center and Sedgwick.

McGinn, at her watch party at MOXI Junction in Maize, expressed concerns about how the election was being operated.

She said her husband, Mark, who has voted at the same place for the past 27 years, had to cast a provisional ballot Tuesday. She said the election office had an incorrect address for her son two years ago. He corrected it then, but when we went to vote Tuesday, his address still was wrong. He also had to cast a provisional vote.

McGinn also said that precinct lists she purchased from the Sedgwick County election office were missing streets — and more important, voters. She said she already had planned to talk to someone about that problem after the election.

“Now I’m wondering why my husband wasn’t on the voting list today when he went in to vote,” she said.

McGinn said she was able to cast a vote.

The Republican primary is always hard to predict, she said.

“We did our best job to get our message out,” McGinn said.

She was frustrated by the pace of election results.

“It’s hard to kind of figure out what’s coming in because it’s coming in so slow. I just don’t have a good feel for it,” she said.

McGinn questioned why members of the media were not allowed at the election office except for specified times.

“Seriously? A public building paid by the taxpayers?” she said.

Peterjohn joined Ranzau at his election watch party at his home.

John Todd, a supporter of Ranzau’s, kept repeating an unofficial campaign line: “Don’t make the same mistake McGinn.”

McGinn, 55, said she would remain in Topeka if she didn’t win the election.

Avello, 74, touted his local experience in his campaign to represent District 5, which covers the southeastern part of the county, including Derby.

“I’m disappointed in the fact that things are changing,” Avello said of the outcome of the election. “Cutting government seems to be what the young people want, and I don’t think that’s the right way to go.”

Avello’s term as mayor is up in April. He already had decided not to run again, he said.

Howell, 50, will face former Rose Hill Mayor Richard Young, a Democrat, in the general election.

The commission is a five-member board that meets on Wednesdays except for the last week of the month. The board also meets with department heads and other staff on Tuesdays every week. Commissioners earn $83,718 a year plus get a car allowance and can request a cellphone allowance. In January, commissioner salaries will rise to $89,715, which is what their pay would be if board members had not rejected earlier raises. Commissioners will have the option of declining that increase, too.

Commissioners make decisions about how to spend taxpayer money, appoint people to boards and serve on various boards in the community. They approve the county’s annual budget. County Manager William Buchanan has recommended a $421,355,378 budget, including Fire District 1, for next year. Commissioners are set to vote Aug. 13 on the 2015 budget.

This story was originally published August 5, 2014 at 9:02 PM with the headline "Ranzau, Howell win Sedgwick County commissioner primaries."