By Roger McKinney

rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

Kansas Democrats will caucus Tuesday and Kansas Republicans on Saturday to select their choices among those running for president.

Democratic caucus locations are in each Kansas Senate district. The caucus location for Democrats in District 13 is the Franklin Community Center. The location for Democrats in District 14 is the Parsons Veterans of Foreign Wars post.

District 13 includes all of Crawford and Bourbon counties. Cherokee County is divided between District 13 and District 14.

In Cherokee County, every location north of Center Star Road is in District 13. In Columbus, residents living east of Highway 69 are in the 13th District and those living west of the highway are in District 14. The city of Baxter Springs and all locations west are in the 14th District. Cherokee County towns in the 13th District include Galena, Roseland, Scammon, Weir and West Mineral. Cherokee County towns in the 14th District include Baxter Springs and Treece.

The 14th District includes Labette and Neosho counties, and Coffeyville in Montgomery County. Those with questions about where they should caucus may call the Kansas Democratic Party at (785) 234-0425.

Jenny Davidson, communications director for the Kansas Democratic Party, said caucus locations open at 6 p.m. and people must be in line by 7 p.m. to participate. The caucus is open to registered Democrats. If one is not registered, one may do so at the door. Everyone who is over age 17 and who will be 18 by Nov. 4 may participate. When inside the location, participants will go to a designated area for the candidate they want to support. Davidson said one supporter for each presidential candidate may speak for up to three minutes. After the groups appear to be established, the caucus chairman will take a count to determine which candidates have the support of at least 15 percent of caucus participants.

Davidson said then there will be a realignment of participants. She said anyone may move to any group or stay in the group they are in. She said those in one candidate’s group may negotiate with those in another candidate’s group for support.

Davidson said after the groups are settled, the chairman takes a final count. “It’s a party-building activity,” Davidson said. “It’s a social event as well as a political process. It’s also fun and exciting.”

Kansas Republicans caucus Saturday in several locations in each congressional district. The nearest caucus location for those in Cherokee, Crawford and Labette counties is the Parsons Recreation Center.

Corrie Kangas, political director for the Kansas Republican Party, said most caucus locations will open around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, with the caucus starting at 10 a.m. Participants must have been registered as a Republican by Jan. 25 and must have photo identification.

Kangas said speeches by representatives of each candidate’s campaign, or presentations by supporters, will start the event. At the conclusion of the speeches, ballots will be distributed to caucus participants. They cast their ballots and go home, Kangas said.

Kangas said when the Legislature canceled the presidential primary in the state, a caucus was the only option remaining to the parties that allowed participation by rank-and-file party members.

“We viewed the caucus as the best way to have the most participation, rather than a party committee making the decisions.”