As previously reported by Raccoon Valley Radio, a bipartisan committee in Guthrie County is seeking to change the way County Supervisors are elected. In order for that special election be held on August 4th, the committee needed to turn in a petition with 437 valid signatures. They exceeded that number and turned in over 600 signatures. At Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, a vote took place which would call for that special election in August. The Board, by a vote of 3-2, opposed the measure. Supervisors Jerry Caraher, Mike Dickson and Cliff Carney voted ‘nay’. Chair Tom Rutledge and Everett Grasty voted ‘ay’.

Because the petition is believed to be valid, County Auditor Jerri Christman will now have to contact the Secretary of State’s Office to find out what to do now, in regards to the election. The Supervisors that voted ‘no’ didn’t have any immediate comment. Steve Brannan is one of the members of the bipartisan petitioning committee and says he wasn’t surprised at the result of the vote. “We also realize that three of the County Supervisors didn’t think it was a great idea. So I guess it didn’t shock me. We are going to find out, and Guthrie County is going to find out and the Board of Supervisors will find out that this petition is valid. It’s going to be okay and we’ll find out from the Secretary of State’s Office that this will move forward.”

Brannan will tell us more about the petition and possible special election today on Let’s Talk Guthrie County. It airs during the 9 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. hours on K107.9 and www.raccoonvalleyradio.com.