Every vote will count in race for sheriff

Campaign signs are sprouting around town like tulips and daffodils as four contenders seek votes to replace retiring Red Willow County Sheriff Gene Mahon.

The four candidates hope to catch the eyes -- and votes -- of residents in the May 13 primary.

They've got their job cut out for them.

More importantly, the voters have a job to do.

That's because there are not very many of them to do it.

We're working on another story to explain the situation in detail, complete with sample ballots, but the upshot is this: A few dozen votes are likely to decide the sheriff's race.

That's because the winner of the race will be determined in the Republican Primary, which is open only to registered Republicans, which numbered 4,318 in the latest count.

There are 1,414 registered Democrats in Red Willow County, 1,387 Nonpartisans (Independents) and 25 Libertarians.

While Democrats and Libertarians allow Nonpartisans to vote in their primaries, the Republicans do not.

That means a tight race would yield about a thousand votes for each candidate for sheriff, IF every registered voter turns out. At the usual rate of about 30 percent turnout, an even race would be in the 300-vote range.

If you're not a registered Republican and you'd like to vote in the sheriff's race, you can join the GOP by mail-in registration postmarked no later than April 25, and in-person voter registration by May 2.

Watch the Gazette for a more in-depth story, with sample ballots soon.

When election day rolls around, please go to the polls, and when you do, please be kind to your election worker if he or she seems to be a little confused about the rules.

Have no fear, there's no danger that Arnold Schwarzenegger will be grand marshal of the annual Heritage Days Parade. Tuesday's editorial can be explained by checking out the date at the top of the page.