Miller to seek county position

ELECTIONS

By FREDRICK J. JOHNSON

The Capital-Journal

Shawnee County Democrats are bringing their 1996 primary race for the county's 2nd District commission seat back for an encore.

Former Commissioner Vic Miller filed on Monday for the Democratic Party's nomination to the post and will oppose incumbent Mike Meier in the Aug. 1 primary.

From there, it should be smooth sailing through the November general election for the winner as the Republican Party failed to enlist a candidate by the noon Monday filing deadline. Meier last year had to defeat Republican David Jackson in the general election after unseating incumbent Miller in the primary.

The only other primary battles for a county office are in the sheriff's race. Incumbent Dick Barta and former sheriff Dave Meneley have filed on the Republican ticket, and Topeka Police Capt. Mike Padilla and former Topeka police officer Michael Ramirez have filed on the Democratic ticket.

Miller, who filed by petition, said Monday afternoon that he told Meier weeks ago that he was considering a run for his former commission seat.

"We agreed it might be fun," said Miller, adding he liked Meier and got along well with him.

"I'm not running against him as much as I'm running for the job," Miller said, adding his only criticism of Meier has been that he ran as a Democrat in 1996 then changed his registration to independent after the election and now is running as a Democrat again.

"I think if you're going to ask for the party's nomination you need to be a member of the party, not just when it's convenient," Miller said.

Meier acknowledged he wasn't surprised by Miller's entry into the race and said that when asked about it earlier in the day he replied that it is difficult for some who has held an office not to run again "because you still have all those signs."

"I'm kind of excited," Meier said. "I think he'll be a real good opponent."

Meier did note that although he was running in the Democratic Party primary, he was asking the citizens to nominate him.

Miller said he didn't want to pick apart at this time Meier's decisions on some issues the commission still faces.

"Regardless of who wins the primary, Mike will be on the job for another seven months, and I don't want to do any back-biting," Miller said. "Mike didn't second-guess me as I was filling out my term. I appreciated that."

In the race for the commission's 3rd District seat, incumbent Ted Ensley is unopposed in the Democratic Party primary and will face Dan Kingman in the general election. Kingman, son of former commissioner Winnie Kingman, is unopposed in the Republican Party primary.

Shawnee County Treasurer Rita Cline appears to have another four years safely in hand as she has no opponent in the Democratic Party primary and the Republican Party failed to enlist a candidate.

Other candidates seeking county offices are:

District attorney: Incumbent Joan Hamilton, Democrat. Robert Hecht, Republican.

County Clerk: Incumbent Cyndi Beck, Republican. Larry Wilson, Democrat.

Register of Deeds: Incumbent Marilyn Nichols, Republican. Marsha O'Leary, Democrat.

Copyright 2000
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.