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Political novice to join county By Chris Strunk Last Updated: November 08, 2018 Lacey Cruse got out the vote. The Wichita Democrat energized enough Wichita voters to win the District 4 seat of the Sedgwick County Commission Nov. 6, defeating two-term incumbent Richard Ranzau. Cruse, a political newcomer, received 55.2 percent of the vote to Ranzau's 44.6 percent. "It's no secret I am new to politics, but that means I bring a fresh perspective to the table," Cruse said during the campaign. In a diverse district, which stretches from the Sedgwick-Harvey County line to Lincoln Street in Wichita, Cruse won 12 of the 20 voting precincts south of Valley Center, while Ranzau picked up every other precinct. "I'm disappointed, obviously," Ranzau said. "I think it's not good for the county, but I tried to tell people this district is a tough district for Republicans to win." Cruse's apparent strategy to marshal votes in the larger Wichita precincts was successful. Those precincts saw higher-than-usual turnout, giving Cruse enough cushion to survive the losses she suffered in Valley Center and the rural areas of the district. Cruse received 16,138 votes, while Ranzau received 13,024. The general election turnout was much higher than in the primary in August, which saw about 7,000 Republican and 5,400 votes in the Democrat race for a total of 12,400. During the primary, the margin in Wichita precincts between Ranzau and challenger Hugh Nicks was smaller, with Ranzau winning most of them. In the county commission's first district, which includes Bel Aire and Kechi, Republican Pete Meitzner won over Democrat Renee Duxler, 53.2 percent to 46.6 percent. Meitzner will replace Dave Unruh, who is retiring. Jim Howell won re-election to District 5, which includes the southeast part of the county. Commissioners take office in January. They are elected to four-year terms. In a local contested Kansas House race, Republican Emil Bergquist of Park City won the 91st District, beating Libertarian David Loomis 73 percent to 27 percent. |
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