L&T staff report

Monday is the deadline to become a candidate for three open positions on the Seward County Commission, and so far only two candidates have signed up to run.

Dist. 4, currently held by John Mettlen (R), has former Liberal Mayor Jose Lara (D) as the lone candidate for the seat. The seat was vacated by Tammy Sutherland-Abbott in December, and Mettlen was selected by the Dist. 4 precinct committee representatives.

Dist. 3 was vacated in December by Scott Carr (R), and Jairo Vazquez  (R) was selected by the Dist. 3 precinct committee representatives to fill in for the final year of the term. To date, no one has signed up to run for this seat.

Dist. 2 was vacated in December when Presephoni Fuller (R) stepped down to move out of state, and Clay Louderback was appointed in January by the Dist. 2 precinct committee representatives. Kay Burtzloff, the Seward County Democratic Party chair, has signed up to run.

Candidates have until noon Monday to register as a candidate for the Aug primary. Those who win the primary in each party will advance to the general election in November, and those who win in November will be sworn in January 2027.