A farmer in Bolton Township who filed for township trustee can’t run for the office because he also filed to run for the Cowley County Commission seat currently held by Gary Wilson.
"You cannot be on the same primary ballot in two different spots," county election officer Karen Brooks said.
Robert Voegele, 29432 21st Road, filed in February for Bolton Township trustee as a Democrat. Then one hour before the June 10 filing deadline, Voegele filed for the commission seat as a Republican. He then amended his filing for trustee from Democrat to Republican.
"So, that became the newest filing for office," Brooks said. "And, the newest filing is void."
Brooks said she didn’t realize there was a problem until a similar situation occurred in Sedgwick County. "Once I realized that, I called him. At that point, I had forgotten he changed parties. I thought he would be disqualified from the commission race," she said.
An objection board consisting of Brooks, Cowley County Attorney Chris Smith and County Register of Deeds Nancy Horst met July 11. That’s when Brooks recalled that Voegele filed as both a Democrat and Republican.
When Voegele changed his party affiliation and amended the township filing, the township filing became the most recent filing. The objection board decided Voegele would have to be disqualified from the township race.
"He applied as a Democrat to run for township trustee," Smith said. "Then he filed as a Republican to run for the county commission race. After he filed for the commission race, he then amended his filing for township trustee to change his registration from Democrat to Republican. So that become the newest filing for office.
"And the newest filing is void," Smith said. "He will be allowed to run for county commission but not run for township trustee."
Voegele said he was asked months ago by a few people to run for county commissioner. "I thought about it. I got busy farming," he said.
"Then the last couple of weeks, quite a few people called and wanted me to run," Voegele said. "I’ve got lots of things going on. Got busy. All of a sudden it was the deadline and I had to hurry up an file or not file."
The vacancies on the township board were filled when Voegele was considered a candidate. Now the trustee spot is vacant with no candidates on the primary ballot.
"It will have to be filled. Whoever gets the most write-ins – iIt’s anybody’s guess," Voegele said.
Wilson is running for a second four-year term on the Democratic ticket. With Voegele on the Republican ticket, the race won’t be decided until the November general election.
"In my opinion, it don’t matter which party you are," he said. "You are there to represent the people, not just Democrats or Republicans."
Voegele changed parties at the last minute so the race will be decided in November and not the primary when one of the two Democratic candidates would be eliminated.
"It’s a presidential election. There will be more voters out," he said. "When you’re playing politics, you need to get all the angles you can."
Voegele also said he plans to campaign for the job. An organizational meeting is planned for Thursday night.
"August is here," he said.
