by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Sumner County votes passed a half-cent sales tax that will allow the construction of a new Cowley County satellite campus to be built in Wellington.

Elsewhere, Sumner County voters gave their support to Republican candidates on both the state and national level. Also, Sumner voters voted to retain a half-cent sales tax for the financing of emergency medical services, ambulance services and the Sumner Mental Health Center.

There were 58 percent voter turnout which was about the same as four years ago said Sumner County Clerk Debbie Norris. Eight years ago it was at 63 percent.

As far as the Cowley College vote, which was arguably the most closely watched local race of the night, the proposal won by a 54.5 to 45.5 percent margin. 5,173 votes were cast in the affirmative while 4,304 votes were no. It was one of the closest votes of the night.

Dr. Dennis Rittle

In the early going, there were some troubling indicators of the initiative’s passage. The advance votes were closer than what supporters were hoping. Even after the second wave of vote tallies were released there was still doubt in that a lot of the other outer county precincts weren’t tallied nor were the paper ballots counted.

But in the end, the margin grew instead of shrunk. By 10:30 p.m., the announcement was made, Sumner County voters had passed it through.

Dr. Dennis Rittle, president of Cowley College, was ecstatic afterwards.

“It is transformational. It is a new era not only for this county, but this region. This will touch everyone’s life in a meaningful way. It will bring new jobs. It will retain jobs. It will build a bigger workforce. It will increase the tax base and enhance citizenship across this county. And all I can say is thank you.”

Sumner County Economic Development Director Stacy Davis was equally happy.

“I’m so excited. I feel like a kid at Christmas. We knew from the very start that this was a good proposal. The campaign was well orchestrated, and it was carefully planned. It has been such a positive experience.”

As far as what happens next, Rittle was a bit more vague. He said he hopes to reveal a specific Wellington location within the coming month. The goal is to have the campus open and ready for classes by the Fall of 2018.

“This is a historical moment in Sumner County and I don’t take that lightly,” he said.

Davis said she hopes to have other economic development announcements in the near future. Before the election, the SCEDC board announced eight economic development deals hinge on the Cowley College construction but did not reveal it.

Sumner Newscow will release individual precincts on this particular vote at a later date.

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Elsewhere on the ballot, it was again the Republican’s day, stifling the momentum of moderate-leaning gains in the Republican primary.

Larry Alley

Larry Alley was a big winner in the hotly contested State Senate 32 race. Alley won with 62 percent of the vote against Democrat challenger Don Shimkus district wide. He also garnered 60 percent in Shimkus’ home county of Sumner.

Both the house district seat of the 80th and 116th District broke the Republican’s way. Anita Judd-Jenkins would take 69 percent in her district to Michelle Schiltz’s 31 percent. In Sumner County, the margin was 54-46.

Anita Judd-Jenkins

Kyle Hoffman

Republican incumbent Kyle Hoffman also won big with a 60-40 percent victory over Roitman. He also carried Sumner County, Roitman’s home county, 51-49 percent.

Statewide, Sumner County voters would go with the trend. President-elect Donald Trump received a stunning 72 percent of the vote in Sumner County.  Both U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and U.S. House of Representative Mike Pompeo won by similar margins.

Sumner County also gave thumbs up to a Constitutional amendment promoting the legality of hunting and fishing with an 82 percent approval rating.

For full election results click here.  http://www.sos.ks.gov/ent/sumner.html

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