Local candidate filing concludes Wednesday

Midway through the filing period, one candidate had declared for both Pawhuska City Council positions up for election, as well as the one open seat on the Pawhuska Board of Education.

On the first day of the three-day period, Michael Tolson filed as a candidate for a five-year term representing Office No. 1 on the Pawhuska School Board — which also is called the Board of Education. Eight-year board member Lori Loftis had recently announced her intentions to vacate the office.

Also on Monday, Steven L. Holcombe declared as a candidate for a three-year term in the Ward 2 seat on the Pawhuska City Council.

The current City Councilman for Ward 2, Garen Kirk, was appointed to the position in November 2014 following the resignation of longtime councilwoman Cathy Worten. A year ago, Kirk had been the lone candidate filing to serve out the final year of Mrs. Worten’s term.

Incumbent Ward 1 City Councilman Roger Taylor filed for re-election Tuesday morning. Taylor has represented Ward 1 on the Council since 2011. Other Council members chose Taylor to serve as mayor at least three times.

Candidates for the City Council positions must reside in pre-designated areas, which for Ward 1 is a centrally-located portion within the city limits. The area represented by the Ward 2 Council member is in the northern part of the city.

School board offices are not connected to specific geographical areas.

The period during which candidates can declare began at 8 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 7, and will conclude at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9.

Andrea Conner, the Secretary of the Osage County Election Board, said the candidate filing period is also underway for 11 other county school districts. A challenge period for candidacies will continue until Friday afternoon.

If required, elections for all boards of education and City of Pawhuska would be held Feb. 9, 2016. For more information, contact the Osage County Election Board at 630 Kihekah Ave., or by calling 918-287-3036.