2024 Barton County State & Federal Candidate Forum

In partnership with the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, the League of Women Voters will be hosting two different Candidate Forums for the upcoming November election season. Forums are open to the public with refreshments being served. 

Both forums will be live-streamed on the Great Bend Post.

Contact: Janice Walker, 620-617-4568
janicew1949@gmail.com

July 18, 2024 - Barton County Local Candidate Forum
Great Bend Senior Center
2005 Kansas Ave.
Great Bend, KS
6:30-8 PM
Refreshments will be served.

A total of eight (8) candidates running for County Clerk, County Register of Deed, City Council/Ward 1, and the Ellinwood Hospital District are being invited.

July 25, 2024 - State & Federal Candidate Forum
Great Bend Senior Center
2005 Kansas Ave.
Great Bend, KS
6:30-8 PM
Refreshments will be served.

A total of 13 candidates running for Congress/District 1, State Senate, State House, and District Judge are being invited.


Get the election information you need at vote411.org. Brought to you by the League of Women Voters Education Fund.

VIEW CURRENT ELECTION FILINGS, DATES, AND LOCATIONS HERE.


STATE & FEDERAL CANDIDATE INFORMATION

• Tracey Mann (Salina)
• Paul Buskirk (Lawrence)
• 
• My father was a preacher and my mother was a teacher. I am the youngest of three children. We lived in Nebraska until I was 9; then 6 years in Grand Junction, Colorado. Dad then accepted an administrative role with the church and we moved to Derby, Kansas in 1976. During high school, I was mostly involved in speech and debate activities, and then off to the University of Kansas. While my academic journey began in the sciences, I found my love and passion in psychology. I went on to graduate school to study counseling psychology, which then led to my involvement in academic counseling and advising with the University of Kansas Athletics Department. This has been my career path for the last 38 years – connecting with thousands of amazing young adults along the way. Kansas is where I met my wife, Lauren. She came to the University of Kansas from California to pursue graduate school in clinical psychology. When we first met, I suppose we may have seen our path in Lawrence as short-term. Yet, here we are 32 years of marriage later – very much embracing Kansas as our home. We have two amazing daughters – both KU graduates and both making their way as young professionals. We are very proud parents and incredibly blessed.
• Eric Bloom (Lawrence)

• Tory Marie Blew (Great Bend)
• John Sturn (Ellinwood)
• 

 - John wants to work to ensure the priorities of the schools and rural communities of the 33^rd Senate District are placed ahead of the priorities of the large political lobbying organizations that are increasing their influence in Topeka. John fully appreciates a legislator’s duty to vote for his constituency.
 - John and his wife Tammy have lived and raised their family in Ellinwood. He has been active in Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, youth religion classes and church groups, kids’ rec league coaching and in his church. He has served on the boards of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Great Bend Community Theatre and as a Barton County Economic Development Planning Team member. John is in his eleventh year as an Ellinwood School Board member.
 -  John worked in the natural gas pipeline business as an engineer and in field operations management. He started work in Great Bend, eventually working in Omaha, and Bushton for Northern Natural Gas and in Pratt for Kansas Gas Service.
- ​​John was raised on a dairy and wheat farm near Bushton. He attended rural Holy Name Grade School and graduated from Bushton High School. John was one of small-town Scoutmaster Lawrence Timmons’ 40 Eagle Scouts. He graduated from Kansas State with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

• Matthew Westenfeld (Lyons)

• Mark Rondeau (Great Bend)
• 
• I am a lifetime resident of Great Bend and Barton County. After college, law school and serving 4 years on active duty in the USAF, I came home to Great Bend, by choice.  I joined Mark Calcara and Earl Watkins in 1983 and practiced law in the Watkins Calcara law firm for 40 + years. Practicing law in the western half of the state has given me insights, practical experience and skills which will translate directly to serving as a legislator. I have been active in the community and my church (School Board, Lions Club, Boys Home Board, Great Bend Housing Authority, Master Gardeners, etc.) and believe in giving something back.
  I became so frustrated by the state of politics in Washington and Topeka I decided it was time to step up and give my friends and neighbors an actual choice - do we want more of the same or are we ready for something better?
  I have the skills and the temperament to start building bridges and tearing down artificial walls to find practical, common sense solutions. We are Kansas first and foremost.
• Sherri Brantley (Great Bend)
• 
• I am Dr. Sherri Brantley, a Great Bend native, who moved here in 1975 from Dodge City.
  Our family has a long history of business ownership in Barton County. My father,
  Gordon Brantley purchased the Cook and Weber Funeral Home in August 1975. Gary
  Foster, my stepdad owned A-1 Truck in Great Bend. My mother, Greta Foster spent 28
  years at Barton County Community College. My twin brother, Dr. Scott Brantley has
  been a local chiropractor in Great Bend.
  In 1984, I graduated from Great Bend High School and then from Barton County
  Community College in 1986. I hold a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central
  Oklahoma in Elementary Education. In addition, I have two Master's degrees; an M.S.E.
  in Elementary Education / ESOL, and an M.S. in Building Leadership. Finally, I earned
  my doctorate.
  My children; TeeJay, Cayton, and Steele are the highlight of life along with being
  blessed with four grandchildren.
  Within the community, I am a member of Heartland Community Church, Great Bend
  Chamber of Commerce, and the Barton County 4-H Holding Board. Also, I have
  several state and national memberships within the field of education.
  I would be honored to represent our community in the 112th District House of
  Representatives.

• JoAnn Roth (Ellinwood)
• Brett Fairchild (St. John)
  •  - Serves on the Agriculture and Water Committees
     - Has a 100 Percent Pro-Life Voting Record
     - Voted for the Fairness in Women's Sports Act
     - Voted to repeal the tax on Social Security
     - Voted to restrict Chinese land ownership
     - Voted to preserve the 2nd Amendment
  • Brett Fairchild is the current repre­ sentative in the 113th district. As a state representative, Brett has fought for conservative principles and has fought to defend our rural way of life. Brett has fought to defend the lives of unborn children, has fought to defend the 2nd Amendment, has fought to reduce tax rates, and has fought to keep spending under control. Brett has been a strong voice for Agriculture and voted to require labeling of fake meat, which will help the cattle industry in Kansas. If reelected, Brett will continue to fight for conservative values and principles in the state legislature.
    
    Brett is a 3rd generation farmer from St. John, Kansas. He and his dad Kurt Fairchild farm over 1,500 acres of wheat and corn. Brett attends Calvary Baptist Church, located three miles north of Stafford, Kansas. Brett has served on the Finance Committee at Calvary Baptist Church and has also helped with the church's Awana program in the past.
    
    Brett graduated from St. John High School and graduated from Sterling College with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Brett participated in athletics in high school and college.

• Donald E. Anderson II (Ellinwood)
• Levi Morris (Great Bend)