Local Races for November Starting to Take Shape

Prowers County Courthouse

The early stages for the race for Prowers County Commissioner are starting to be lined out for area voters in November.

Mike Parker and Henry Schnabel are both declared candidates for District One in Prowers County. Parker made his intentions known in a press release last week, and incumbent Schnabel, who has been a commissioner for the past three years, announced on Tuesday, January 10, his candidacy for reelection in November.

District III, which had been represented by Commissioner Gene Millbrand for two terms, will apparently be left open to challenger Wendy Buxton-Andrade at this point. Andrade declared her candidacy in mid November of last year. Millbrand said in a press release issued Wednesday, January 11, that after considerable review, he will decline to run for reelection in November and will fill out the remainder of his term this year as Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. The other commissioner, Joe Marble from District II, is not up for re-election this year.

If there are no challengers to Andrade for the seat from the county Republican Party, and none from the Democratic ticket, she would be the only candidate for the District III seat and automatically replace Millbrand for the new term. If another Republican candidate steps forth, the issue would come to an early vote within the county party for a lead candidate. Depending on the number of votes received by any candidate, a primary vote would be forced, which, according to the Secretary of State’s election year calendar, would be on June 26. The winner from the Republican primary would still have to face any Democratic challenger for the District III Commissioner’s seat.

By Russ Baldwin