Grant County Republican Precinct Committee Went To Work To Find New Commissioner

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This past August, Grant County resident and then Commissioner Marty Long announced his resignation from the Grant County Commission. Long had the opportunity to return to a position he was familiar with - State Representative - when then State Representative David Younger left an unexpired term following his resignation.  Long, a Republican, ran for the unexpired term and subsequently was elected by the GOP Convention and officially appointed by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly.

But what did that mean for Grant County Commission? Grant County Republican Precinct Committee had a job to do  - find someone to fill the shoes left behind on the commission by Long's exit.

"At midnight August 21, Republican Grant County Commissioner District 1, Marty Long officially resigned due to his nomination to the Kansas House of Representatives," said Republican Precinct Chairman Roger Flummerfelt.  "The six county Republican Precinct Central Committee members representing the territory of District 124, delivered their nomination to the governor and August 22, Mr. Long was sworn in by Governor Kelly."

And this is the point where Grant County Republican Central Precinct Committee got involved, according to Flummerfelt.

"(Our) responsibility was to find a replacement for County Commissioner District 1 due to a vacancy of a Republican elected official," Flummerfelt said. "Precinct Central Committee Members in Kansas are required to file for election just as any other elected office. They do not need any special credentials, other than wanting to serve their county."

According to Flummerfelt, those interested had to  be a registered voter in the precinct where they live and must run for either a Republican or Democrat position according to their voter registration.

"Grant County has four precincts, your voter registration will state what ward or precinct you reside," he said. "Each of the four precincts must have one man and one woman if the Party is organized. Grant County does not have an organized Democratic Precinct Central Committee.  Committee Members are elected every two years and were elected during the August 2024 Primary Election."

Members of the committee, who are all elected officials, are Precinct 1 - Jerry Caldwell and Rhonda Anderson, Precinct 2 – Thomas Fuhrmann and Sheila Brown, Precinct 3 - Roger Flummerfelt and Dee Longoria, and Precinct 4 - J. Stephen Alford and Kathy Olson.

"Committee Members can, but are not required to participate in political rallies, promote candidates, etc.," Flummerfelt said. "An important function is to replace elected county officials that leave office before their term expires."

There are three county commissioner districts in Grant County and presently, according to Flummerfelt, all are held by Republicans. Requirements for Long's replacement were that they reside in County Commissioner District 1 territory and are a registered Republican at the time of selection.

The Precinct Committee was, said Flummerfelt, by Kansas regulations, given 21 days from Marty Long’s resignation, to send a nomination for his replacement to Kansas Governor Kelly’s office. 

"August 13, an announcement went out on various local media outlets announcing a deadline for filing and to file at the Grant County Clerk Office by 5 pm Friday, August 30," Flummerfelt said.

When the deadline ended, he added, the following 14 candidates had officially filed: Irene Velasquez, Douglas Burnum, Greg Fort, Lori Seger, Shawn Rider, Lonnie Lee, Mark Diaz, Darrin Figgins, Justin Anderson, Jared Schneider, Tim Dieker, Sam Hayden, Tammy Lane-Reese, and Mike Anderson.

"They all had to present a resume along with a letter of intent as to why they were interested in filing for Grant County Commissioner," Flummerfelt said.

The number of individuals who stepped up to apply was a pleasant surprise to the committee.

"It was a surprising, yet welcoming response to the Precinct Committee that so many were willing to serve the needs of Grant County," Flummerfelt said. "We were very pleased with the turnout."

Once the committee completed interviews with the candidates and discussed each, a vote was taken by secret ballot.

"It was required the winner have majority vote, at least five of the eight votes," Flummerfelt said. "At the end of the voting process, Darrin Figgins received majority vote."

The Republican Precinct Committee delivered their nomination to Governor Kelly for official appointment, according to Flummerfelt, and all candidates were called to thank them for their interest in serving Grant County and to let them know the outcome.

The governor then had seven days to formally acknowledge the candidate they had selected.

"There were a lot of good candidates," Flummerfelt said. "There was a lot of discussion before we came to our decision."

"Darrin Figgins (was) officially sworn in at the Grant County Commissioner's meeting October 1," Flummerfelt added. "He received his Oath of Office at the beginning of the meeting and he was then a commissioner."

The committee has not had to utilize this process very often.

"We've had to do it a couple of times in the past,"Flummerfelt said. "It's rare - but it happens."

According to Flummerfelt the committee went through this same process six years ago when Grant County Commissioner Mark McGaughey was elected and when the County Attorney came in as well as a couple of other occasions.