By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
Two Junction City Commissioners are vying for seats in the Kansas House of Representatives, Jeff Underhill and Nathan Butler. Underhill is running unopposed on the ballot for the 65th District seat while Butler was the top vote-getter ahead of John Seibel Tuesday night in the 68th District Republican primary election count. However in that race involving portions of Morris, Geary and Riley counties the votes have to be canvassed and provisional ballots reviewed before final official results can be released. Michael Seymour II, Democrat, will meet the winner in the November general election.
In his 515 report this week Junction City Manager Allen Dinkel noted that if either of the commissioners are elected they can serve as both a state representative and city commissioner. It happened in the past when Bill Levinson served in both capacities. It is the choice of the individual commissioner. "I have already been asked what happens if a Commissioner decides to resign. Again, who knows, but if they do, a replacement is chosen by the City Commission. This process will be addressed by the Commission at that time and there is not set process."
Dinkel added that the replacement would serve the remainder of the term of the commissioner that they replaced. That is regardless of the length of the term. Butler has informed JC Post that he would resign from the city commission if he is elected to the Kansas House while Underhill confirmed for JC Post that he plans to remain on the commission to help with existing projects.