Four NRD challengers among candidates filing for election

Local candidates in Red Willow County who have filed for the May 13 primaries include four new filings for positions open on the Middle Republican Natural Resources District.

Of the five positions up for election, a total of nine have filed, with four incumbents and five non-incumbents.

Non-incumbents include Rick McConville of Indianola, James Coady of McCook, Clint Schafer of Culbertson and Buck E. Haag of Bartley.

Incumbent candidates who have filed for re-election are Stan Moore of Bartley, Joe Anderjaska of Hayes Center, Jerry Mustion and Rick Spencer, both of Culbertson.

Board director Gayle Haag did not file for re-election.

For the McCook City Council, three candidates have filed for the two, four-year terms. City Councilmen Aaron Kircher and Jack Rogers have both filed for re-election and have been joined by non-incumbent Mile O'Dell.

A total of five have filed for the three, four-year terms open on McCook School Board District 17. Those who have filed for re-election are Tom Bredvick, Mike Gonzales and Diane Lyons. Non-incumbents Traci Loker and Maury Green have also filed.

Current Red Willow County Commissioner Steve Downer was the only candidate to file for the one, four-year County Commissioner vacancy.

Incumbents Steve Daffer, Crinda McConville and Duane Teter have re-filed for the three, four-year terms on the Southwest School District 179 with no non incumbents filing. Incumbent Tom Sughroue is the only candidate for the two-year term.

The two, four-year terms up for election on the Indianola City Council drew two non-incumbents, Kenneth Banzhaf and Brent May.

Incumbents had until Feb. 15 to file, with Monday at 5 p.m. as the deadline for non-incumbents.

If the number of candidates is less than twice the number of vacancies, all candidates will automatically advance to the general election in November, said Pauletta Gerver, Red Willow County Clerk. That would be the case in all of the local elections, she said.

Republican delegates to the June county convention in McCook include Aaron Kircher, Mike O'Dell, Rex Nelson, Andrew F. Meyerle, Shane Smith, Linda Taylor, Colleen Grant, Charles Coleman, Jerda Garey, John Smith, Rex Solomon, Owen McPhillips and Kenneth W. Ellis.

Democratic delegates to the county convention are Frank Shoemaker and the 160 who were elected at the Feb. 9 caucus.

A total of eight candidates have filed for the U.S. senator seat:

Republicans Mike Johanns of Omaha and Pat Flynn of Schuyler; Democrats Larry Marvin of Fremont, Scott Kleeb of Hastings, James Bryan of Wilson and Tony Raimondo of Columbus; Nebraska party Kelly Renee Rosberg of Wausa; Green party Steven R. Larrick.

Candidates for the The Third Congressional district representative in the Republican race include incumbent Adrian Smith of Gering and Jeremiah Ellison of Grand Island. Democratic contenders are Jay Stoddard of Grand Island and Paul A. Spatz of Osmond.