By Roger McKinney

rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

COLUMBUS, Kan. — Contested races are shaping up for the Aug. 5 primary election in Cherokee County. The filing deadline is June 10.

Several candidates had filed with the county clerk as of Wednesday.

Filing for sheriff in the Democratic primary are Jerry Delmont, of Columbus; David Groves, of Columbus, a Baxter Springs police officer; and Gary Allen, of Baxter Springs, a Baxter Springs city councilman, former undersheriff and former Baxter Springs police chief.

Filing for sheriff in the Republican primary are Kent Soucy, of Columbus, the current undersheriff; and Garry Abram, of Galena, former Sheriff’s Department chief deputy and former Galena police chief.

Democrats filing for 2nd District county commissioner are Ted Wary and Jack Garner, both of rural Columbus.

Fred Low, of rural Baxter Springs, has filed as a Democrat for 3rd District county commissioner. Richard Hilderbrand, of Riverton, has filed as a Republican for the same position.

So far, incumbent Treasurer Juanita Hodgson, of Columbus, is the only contender to have filed for that position. She is a Democrat.

Crystal Gatewood, of Columbus, is the only person to have filed so far for county clerk. She is chairwoman of the Democratic Party in the county.

Still out

So far, no one has filed as a candidate for county attorney or for register of deeds in the Aug. 5 primary in Cherokee County.