Stagner Will Run for Prowers County Commissioner

Lamar Mayor Roger Stagner

Long time Lamar businessman and current Lamar Mayor Roger Stagner said today, “I’ve given it a lot of thought and discussion with my family, and I will be a candidate Prowers County Commissioner.” Stagner will be seeking the District III seat being left vacant by Commissioner Gene Millbrand who decided not to seek re-election in November several weeks ago.

Stagner ran for the position four years ago and lost in the primary to Millbrand. Wendy Buxton-Andrade is also a declared candidate for District III. She made her official announcement this past fall. This will now shape into a two-way race which will be decided by a Republican primary election in the spring. The position is open for other candidates, and at this point, no one from the Democratic Party in Prowers County has made their intentions known.

Mayor Stagner said that if he wins the primary he will still serve as Lamar’s mayor, but if he wins the November election, city councilman Skip Ruedeman, as mayor pro-tem will fill out the final year of Stagner’s term on the council. The mayor of Lamar is elected as an at-large candidate. Stagner voiced his love of the city of Lamar and city employees, stating, “It’s been great working together to make things better for us all.” He added that all of Prowers County is dear to his heart and he will fully represent the residents of Holly, Granada and Wiley, “We need to get along with them too.” Stagner said that as Mayor of Lamar he has obviously, taken the, “city view” in his representation of Lamar, but is also prepared to realize that if he wins the November election, he’s prepared to take the “county view” as a representative of District III.

A second GOP primary election will be held in the spring between incumbent Henry Schnabel for Prowers County Commissioner from District 1 and challenger Mike Parker.

By Russ Baldwin