Five write-in candidates on ballot

Five candidates in Red Willow County have engaged in write-in campaigns, but voters must write in their names and check the box for the vote to count, according County Clerk Pauletta Gerver.

Each candidate filed a notarized affidavit before the October 25, 2002 deadline and shall be entitled to all write-in votes for the candidate.

Tom Sughroue, Theresa Brooks, and James R. Tiller will compete with Michael A. Cuellar and Don Brush for three seats on the Republican Valley School District No. 0109 Board of Education.

Rod Sheets runs along side incumbent Dale Stritt to fill two seats on the Indianola City Council.

Gerald O. Booth will compete with Stephen J. Harrison and G.T. Bud Wasson for two seats on the Lebanon Village Board of Trustees.

Anyone who has filed an affidavit to be a write-in candidate will be entitled to the votes cast for him/her even if only the last name of the candidate has been written if such last name is reasonably close to the proper spelling and the box is marked.

Not to confuse the issue, but the notarized affidavit requirements are for all offices except Village Board of Trustees, Township Officers (of which Red Willow County has none), and Members of School Boards of a Class I and Class II school district.

For these offices a person is not required to file an affidavit stating he or she is pursuing a write-in campaign for the write-in votes cast to be counted.

For example, the person with the most valid write-in votes will fill the third vacancy on the Village of Bartley Board of Trustees, since there are only two candidates on the ballot.