The campaign to decide who will represent District 76 in the Kansas House next term is tinged with intrigue.
As it stands today, incumbent Peggy Mast is out of the race, leaving Jeff Freeman, Le Roy, the lone GOP candidate. He will face Bill Otto, former District 9 representative, running as an independent, and Teresa Briggs, Reading, as a Democrat.
“I feel like I need to stay the course,” Otto, Le Roy, said Monday, as to his change of registration and Mast’s recent announcement of withdrawal.
This is the second time Mast has withdrawn from the race. The first time, Freeman, a retired lobbyist for the National Rifle Association, announced his candidacy. Mast, however, filed for re-election on Oct. 8, prompting Freeman to step down. He returned to the race by filing on Feb. 28.
Meanwhile, Otto, who finished second to Mast two years ago in the primary, announced two weeks ago he would go the independent route. Finishing third in the 2012 race was Willie Prescott, Osage City.
Otto said he anticipated Prescott would file against Freeman.
District 76 contains all of Coffey and portions of Lyon and Osage counties.
As for his petition, Otto said his first forays carrying it door-to-door had been fruitful. He needs 577 signatures to file as an independent.
MEANWHILE, the race to date for District 9 is ho-hum.
No one has filed to run against Kent Thompson, LaHarpe Republican, who was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Ed Bideau, Chanute, who died last September. In a GOP caucus of Allen and Neosho counties, Thompson got the nod of 37 of 57 precinct representatives.
Two years ago Bideau won the Republican primary and was unopposed in the general election.
County Clerk Sherrie Riebel reminded that township clerks and precinct men and women for both major parties also will be elected at the Aug. 5 primary.
The filing deadline for candidates is noon on June 2.
