Tuesday's local races....

[Neecy]

There are a lot of city council races coming up on Tuesday throughout Johnson County, and I was wondering how your local races are shaping up. Do you have a Democrat running?

Here in Prairie Village, Ward 6, we have a far right-wing nutter incumbent (Belz) who's pretty smug about his chances for victory. We don't have a Democrat running, so I looked up information on his Republican opponent Stan Plesser and I was like, wow, he doesn't seem like a theocrat or a greedy Republican jerk. He actually sounded cool.

So, I wrote him and --- he's really a Democrat (long story, but that's not uncommon in JoCo). I've spoken to him and I met him today and he's terrific. So, for the first time in my life, I'll cast a ballot for a Republican, albeit an extremely progessive one. I'm going to canvass Democrats for him this weekend, because while they're splitting the Republican vote most Democrats would normally stay home - but if we show up we can beat the far-right extremist Belz. Gotta love that - time to start turning them out of office everywhere, especially in our own neighborhoods.

So, what seemed like a dull election now looks kind of fun - any other good local races going on next week?

[KansDem]

1. Thanks for the information...

I'm still studying the candidates' positions in Ward 3.

A young teacher who moved to Prairie Village just last summer was the top vote-getter in Tuesday's Ward 3 City Council primary election — but barely.

Mike Riley, 26, received 68 votes, or 36 percent of the ballots. Riley teaches and coaches tennis at Bishop Miege High School.

In the one-ward race — 189 Ward 3 residents cast ballots — vote margins were small.

Michael Kelly, a 31-year-old realtor who has lived in the city nine years, was three votes behind Riley. He received 65 votes, or 34 percent.

Both candidates will advance to the April 4 general election.

Third candidate Warren Smith, a 44-year-old realtor and lifelong city resident, received 56 votes.

Kelly said he walked the neighborhood prior to Tuesday's election and that he believed his votes came from residents in agreement with his hopes for the city.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_kmtkc/is_200603/ai_n16095602

"Debate" as recorded in JoCo Sun here:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16133085&BRD=1459&PAG=461&dept_id=155725&rfi=6

Their summation:

Kelly: I have extensive involvement in the Kansas City business community. I have served as a member of the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Council.

Riley: I worked in Washington in 1998 for my congressman. I also did social work and mentored adults coming off of heroin in Dublin, Ireland, in 2000.

Smith: My volunteer work at Belinder Elementary, everyday experience as a Realtor promoting the area and my interest in working with the people of Prairie Village.

So far, I'm leaning toward Riley...

[chat_noir]

2. I see signs

Wednesday there will be all those obsolete yard signs out there for the taking.

Grab them to make your own anti-war, IMPEACH, etc. signs for those Tuesday and Sunday protests.