Filing Opening For Bourbon Council, School, But Will Anyone Show Up?

Filing for the 2024 Bourbon City Council and Crawford County R-1 School Board opens Dec. 5, but whether candidates will emerge remains to be seen.

Whether voters care enough to go to the polls also is up in the air.

During the April 2023 election, only 12 percent of Crawford County voters turned out, fueled by the county and city of Bourbon requesting 3 percent sales taxes on recreational marijuana.

In 2022, only 5 percent of county voters showed up to the polls.

Of the city’s 958 registered voters, a scant 12.1 percent showed up to weigh in on the marijuana tax and a ballot issue that would have foregone elections if the number of candidates was equal to the number of open seats.

Ward 1 Alderwoman Margie Brine and Ward 2 Alderwoman Mary Heywood faced no opposition in their bid for another two-year term.

In the Crawford County R-1 School District, no election was necessary after incumbents Stephen Waldron and Sean Kaysinger filed. Ryan Cole filed for a position that was unopposed when Suzanne Louderman chose not to run for reelection.

In 2022, Mayor Dave Lafferty, Ward 1 Alderman John Nelson and Ward 2 Alderwoman Sonya Sewald were all unopposed.

Not even 50 voters showed up to decide on implementing a use tax on online purchases made outside the state.

The tax passed.

Nobody other than incumbents decided to file for the school board election.

Marty de la Torre and Jessica Sutton were unopposed.

The last day to file for the 2024 municipal election will be Dec. 26 and certification will be Jan. 23, 2024.

Filing can be done at Bourbon City Hall or the Crawford County R-1 Central Office.