Steve Abrams

By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Kansas State Senator Steve Abrams of the 32nd District which encompasses Sumner County went against the wishes of the Wellington School Board and City Council and voted for Senate Bill 171 which would move city and school board elections to fall on odd-numbered years and allow cities to choose whether their elections are partisan or non-partisan.

The bill was voted on by the full Kansas State Senate, passing narrowly by a 21-18 vote. It now goes to the Kansas State Representatives.

There ware a handful of amendments that passed after it was approved by voice vote by the Kansas Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections. They include: 

• Cities and other local governments would be prohibited from holding bond or sales tax question elections on any date other than an August or November election;
• Cities and consolidated city-county governments would be required to have a special election to fill a vacancy on the governing body if the municipality does not have its own procedure for filling a vacancy and has not filled any such vacancy within 60 days;
• Four year terms of elected city officials that expire in April 2019 would expire in January 2020; and
• The secretary of state must establish rules and regulations for local elections by July 1, 2016.

Both the Wellington City Council and school board passed unanimously resolutions objecting to S.B. 171 at last month’s meetings.

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