Here’s how I voted. Like I inferred earlier, I went with a straight GOP ticket.
POTUS — Bush/Cheney
John Kerry is a Massachusetts Liberal — in most years, he wouldn’t even be considered electable. He’ll pull Douglas County, though.
I don’t believe there is a conciveable way Bush could have prevented the country from going in the red again, and I believe Kerry’s tax proposal amounts to punishing the rich. Our Income tax system is preety much progressively in line with the amount of wealth the classes control as it is.
As for military action: Somehow, I think Kerry is going to try to use a diplomatic solution that will amount to a surrender.
US Senator: Sam Brownback
His Democratic opponent lost the Primary to a “placeholder. ”
US Representative: Jim Ryun
Boyda may take Lawrence, but will likely give up the rural regions that rest of the district. Ryun had an ad that suggested that Boyda moved from JoCo to Topeka to try to take his seat (the 3rd Distict, which includes JoCo and the eastern part of Lawrence, is covered by Dennis Moore) and is fiercely anti-war in an area which may tend to lean more towards support for Military action.
State Senator: Mark Buhler
I’ve known Mark for some time now, since his days as a county commissioner. I consider him a friend, and he’s had to settle me down once or twice. Certainally, the Democrats don’t care for him because he’s a Realator by trade.
State Representative: Tom Sloan
The Democrats didn’t find anyone to challange Rep. Sloan. However, he does have a Libertarian on his tail.
Board of Education: Robert Meissner
This is one where I went with party lines. Both candidates seem worthy of filling the position.
District Attorney: Christine Kenney
Her opponent charges that the incumbant DA has been less than competnent in the DA office. I don’t see it, but than again, I’m a partisan for the GOP 🙂
County Commission: Jere McElhaney
Like Sen. Buhler, I’ve met with Comm. McElhaneny a few times and I like him. His opponent is a local vet who filed as an independant, as the Democrats have had no chance in this county district. My mom had initially taken my two cats to this vet, but I wound up taking them elsewhere. The vet I go is on 6th Street, and has a rubber-stamp policy for political yard signs: if you come in and ask, he’ll let you put one up.
County Clerk: Marni Penrod
County Tresuarer: Cindy Monshizadeh
Back to party lines for these two. Cindy’s husband is also the manager at a local Sports Bar/Restaraunt that I have been going to on many an occasion..
Register of Deeds: Kay Pesnell (D)
Sheriff: Ken McGovern (R)
Both of these candidates are running unopposed. In the Primary, I put down “Big Jay” for Register of Deeds as a “throwaway” write-in. Four Years ago, I filled in “The LFS Firebird”
Judicial Retention:
4 Supreme Court Judges, 4 Court of Appeals Judges, and three district judges are up for retention, usually, this is a “rubber-stamp” yes, but for Paula Martin, a group has formed because of what some consider to be an extreme deviation in sentacing in a Rape conviction (60 days confinment minimum with 5 years probation, 2 years confiment if probation is broken — minimum presumed sentance is 13 years).
I disagree with the notion that Judges should not be subject to the political wind — appoitment of Judges has been know to be an issue in Presidential races (including this one) and some districts in Kansas continue to elect judges in partizan elecetions. I also believe that the DA did not punt this one, as some suggest. I voted down Martin, and voted to retain Judge Murphy and Malone (who has a son one year older and a daughter one year younger than me) as well as the Supreme court and Appeals judges.