( Ed. note: For much more information on next Tuesday’s election, see our special “Primary Election Information” section beginning on Page 6 of this edition. It includes biographical information on all the candidates for Kingfisher County offices who will appear on the ballot. It also includes multiple questions that each candidate answered. There’s also additional information on the Corporation Commission candidates, the U.S. House of Representatives District 3 candidates as well as early voting information, polling place locations and where to view a sample of your specific ballot.)

In an unusual turn of events, there were no Democrats who filed for Kingfisher County sheriff or county court clerk for the June 18 primary election.

There was only one Democrat who filed for the District 2 county commissioner seat, but it takes two candidates from a political party before there can be a primary election race.

Same goes for the open seats for the state Corporation Commissioner and the federal Congressional seat.

That means only Republicans will be voting in next Tuesday’s election.

District 2 Commissioner

Another restriction in this month’s primary election is that only registered Republicans who live in District 2 may vote on this race.

Most of that district is north of the Cimmaron River.

There are only two county commissioner candidates on the ballot: Mike Sparks and Austin Whittenburg, both of Hennessey.

Whichever candidate wins in this primary election will run against Democrat David Roller of Hennessey in the Nov. 5 general election.

Sheriff

Candidates are Aaron Pitts, Jeremiah Loper and Jonathan Riedlinger, all of Kingfisher, and Forrest Smith of Okarche. Note: In order to win this race outright a candidate must get 50 percent plus one of the votes cast. If that doesn’t happen, then the top two vote-getters will compete in a runoff primary election Aug. 27.

Court Clerk

Candidates are Lauren Stroh of Okarche and Jessica M. Conner of Kingfi sher.

No Election Necessary for County Clerk

Emily Lee, the first deputy clerk in the county clerk’s office, was the only one to file for that position so she won outright.

State Corporation Commissioner

On the GOP ballot are Russell Ray of Edmond, Justin Hornback of Broken Arrow, and J. Brian Bingman of Sapulpa. Longtime Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony did not seek re-election.

Only one Democrat (Harold Spradling) and one Libertarian (Chad Williams) filed and will be on the general election ballot against the winner in the Republican race.

U.S. Congress

Candidates are Republicans Frank D. Lucas, the incumbent from Cheyenne, Robin Lynn Carder of Sand Springs and Darren Hamilton of Ft. Supply.

No Democrats filed.

Retirements of County Incumbents

The reason for all the new names running for those county offices listed above is because most of the incumbents announced before the filing period that they planned to retire at the end of the year.

That included District 2 County Commissioner Ray Alan Shimanek, Sheriff Dennis Banther, Court Clerk Lisa Markus and County Clerk Jeannie Boevers.