slimbolen99 (anonymous) says...

How many advance?

March 1, 2011 at 7:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

Emporia, you get what you voted for. Hope you're happy.

March 1, 2011 at 8:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

barefooting (anonymous) says...

I m glad I voted today.

March 1, 2011 at 8:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

slimbolen99

I believe the top 9 vote getters will advance to the general election !

March 1, 2011 at 8:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

I hate to say it, but I smell a same old business as usual commission shaping up !!!

More entrance " ROCKS " and the same old unneeded spending, anyone !!!

March 1, 2011 at 8:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

If the voting in the general election, stays the same, there will be 4 business as usual commissioners and one, level headed, commonsense commissioner that will have the tenacity to say " NO " to usless unneeded spending and will be for spending cuts and fiscal responsibility and for all the people !!

So that will me business as usual and spending as usual !!

March 1, 2011 at 8:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

yev_kassem (anonymous) says...

If my numbers are right it looks like about 2200 voters....How many do we have registered in Emporia?

March 1, 2011 at 9:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

see you all tomorrow.

March 1, 2011 at 9:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mspringer (anonymous) says...

yev_kassem - There are 13,773 registered voters, 2,352 total votes cast in this election and a 17.08 percent turnout.

-Monica Springer

March 1, 2011 at 9:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

yev,

There are approx. 13,700 registered voters in Emporia .

March 1, 2011 at 9:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sandman (anonymous) says...

Sad state of affairs when that percent show up and vote. All you have to do is look at the news of our world, nation to realize just how important this freedom is so therefore should be acknowledged and fullfilled by ALL.

March 1, 2011 at 9:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Captain_Cheddar (anonymous) says...

Steve, we didn't get anything yet, LOL, though tell me what I should want to get and I'll listen thoughtfully

March 1, 2011 at 10:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

knute (anonymous) says...

You are correct sandman but I cannot help but wonder if the public in general simply knows that it's going to be business as usual no matter what and is so discouraged and disappointed with our government that apathy is here, right here in river city. Methusla indicated correctly that one common sense commissioner will speak out. I've watched the commission meetings over the years and it's pretty evident that the one who tries to act as described by meth soon tires of pounding the head on the wall. I waited too long to vote today; was called to work and polls closed. My fault. I noticed one of my two candidates did well. Heaven help us.

March 2, 2011 at 12:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mslater (Matt Slater) says...

No KB Thomas? Or are we still waiting for the General Election on that one?

March 2, 2011 at 3:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

mslater,

Troops all over the world, bringing democracy to people and we have a ffing17% voter turnout.

Mind boggling, ain't it?

March 2, 2011 at 7:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

Not only a bad turnout, but 102 voted for a candidate who had pulled out of the race early on. There was plenty of publicity about that. Good grief!

It's not only commissioners who waste our money. Those who did not vote wasted our money too. I don't know how much it cost to put on this election, but once again, those apathetic voters had their hands in our pockets too. A 12-hour window to jump in and vote, and still they couldn't care less.

People all over the world are clamoring for democracy and the right to vote, some even dying for that right as they overturn their dictators.

It seems that only a few of us active voters are holding the strings to this puppet show. Don't we feel powerful.

I'll tell you what will get people's attention: if the power went out during the Super Bowl or Castaways or Dancing with the Stars.

Bread and Circuses!

March 2, 2011 at 7:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

Just about $3.00 per vote.

i would like to see the Gazette do a story on the percentages of voters in each district who voted.

It might explain why meth and others think the powers that be are on the Northwest side of town. i'll bet they just got out and voted in larger numbers than people on the east side did.

DON'T JUMP, It's my opinion only. someone show me the numbers to prove me wrong and i will apologize

March 2, 2011 at 7:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

netloafer (anonymous) says...

Steve

If time permits I'm going to the courthouse today to see if I could get some of those numbers. Like you, I'd be interested in how many voters are registered in each district and how many actually voted. I'd also like to get a by district breakdown of who they voted for.

There's still a month till the general election. We need to find some way to get people out to vote.

March 2, 2011 at 7:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

netloafer,

please let us know if you can. After drowning my sorrows last night, I'm not in the best shape to check it out myself.

March 2, 2011 at 7:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

I am afraid that this election like all the rest is a done deal ! I really don' t see any use in having a general election, as there is only one out of the 9 candidates, who I believe will truelly represent all of the people and will listen to all of the people, make an unbiased " right " decision, based on common sense and try and do what is right and of benefit to all of the people !

I would like to thank and congratulate all of those who did not vote for apparently being satisified with the way things in Emporia are, have been and apparently will be .

" “Apathy is a sort of living oblivion.” ( Horace Greeley)

Create is right, it is you the apathetic voters who are continuing to keep all Emporians, under the absolute " Iron Rule " of the self appointed few, who are the ones who really dictate how everyone will live and be forced to live their lives according to them, their will and every whim and cause some Emporians to live in the " Oblivion of Apathy " !

Tammany Hall, will once again be the way Emporia is governed !

Congratulations to Bobbi Mylnar for her impressive win ! You Go Girl and you were my choice, ever since I talked with you at the first Meet and Greet the Candidates meeting ! You and Christian Keisler impressed me more than any of the others !

March 2, 2011 at 8:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

I still believe that the City divided into 5 or more districts, with representatives that are elected from each district woud be a much better people oriented form of government, ( commission / council ), than the way things are done now and quite possibly people would excerise their right of voting for someone from there district who they would vote for !!

And would quite possibly break the Tammany Hall type of government that has been prevalent for so long in Emporia !!

March 2, 2011 at 8:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jackslap (anonymous) says...

Hello Folks, I'm still looking for a Reddog sign.

March 2, 2011 at 8:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Buffalo_Breath (anonymous) says...

I like it when nobody else shows up to vote ... makes mine count that much more.

March 2, 2011 at 9:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

busybody (anonymous) says...

Apathy (and short memory) is alive and well in Emporia, Kansas ! ! ! !

March 2, 2011 at 9:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

I hope you will read what I had to say on the thread titled "Jack" by Phil Dillon.

Please add comments of your own.

March 2, 2011 at 9:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

netloafer (anonymous) says...

Steve
I went by the courthouse and got the numbers. I'm going to run them through excel tomorrow. But some things just jump right out. The midtown and south districts had less than 10% of registered voters who cast ballots. The northwest districts and country club heights had turnout of 25% or more.

The incumbent did not do especially well in the midtown and south districts. He did quite well in the northwest and country club heights.

I'll be digging into the data tomorrow.

I can get you a copy of what I got. I've got a meeting that will last till about 8:30 tonight. Will you be at work around then?

March 2, 2011 at 3:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

Thanks Phil, I'm a little under the weather so won't be in tonight. A copy would be nice, if you want to drop it off, i'll be sure to get it. if not, we can discuss it on here. thanks for checking it out.

March 2, 2011 at 3:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

Even what Phil has said so far doesn't surprise me. This data report will be very interesting.

March 2, 2011 at 3:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...

Thank goodness we live in a republic in which the rights of the minority are protected. A democracy is where you have 3 tigers and a sheep and that's not good for the sheep.

March 2, 2011 at 11:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

good morning all.

Well, some of the threads took a decidedly frank if not humorous turn yesterday.
In Emporia we now have;

1. POOCH POACHERS
2. SEAT BELT NANNIES, (OR NAZIS)
3. BOOK BURNINGS
4. POLE DANCER AFICIONADOS.
5. A MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE more or less telling a citizen to move away from Emporia.

I guess it is getting close to the Ides of March, isn't it?

March 3, 2011 at 5:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

create,
I finally read the piece by Mr. Sauder.

My question to you is, what did you expect from him? A article on low voter turnout? I think not.
Low voter turnout is what keeps the Status Quo the Status Quo.

What we got was a put on a happy face, rose colored glasses view of our town, along with a, if you don't agree with me,leave attitude.

What do you expect from someone who has never, ever, had to do without?

The article just proves there is a HUGE disconnect from our civic "leaders" and those average citizens they supposedly lead. JMO

March 3, 2011 at 6:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

Phil and others,

Like I have said
before, , the City Commission Candidate gene pool was pretty much stacked in favor of a certain area and favored certain people of Emporia !

If the City were divided into 5 individual and distinct districts, oh, say Northwest, West/, South / southeast, North / Northwest and Central ! With each district having its own representative candidates to vote for, it is quite possible that the voter turnout would be much better and the " People " representation would be more diverse and the governing of Emporia would be, quite possible, put where it should be, in the hands of " The People ", all of the people and not just a " Few People " !

JMO

March 3, 2011 at 6:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

How many from the east or south side of town declared for this race meth? Voter dissatisfaction is at an all time high and it would have been easy for a non-entrenched candidate to run and win.

Your idea, as much as I like it, would never work.

What would happen if this system was in place and nobody from a certain district filed to run? Would it then be left for the rest of the commission to appoint someone? Would that district just not be represented?

I am waiting to see the figures on individual district voting, but if the south end of town can only turn out 10% of it's registered voters, why do you think there would be someone willing to run?

What happens if only 1 candidate files in your district that you absolutely can't stand, but they are your only choice? If no one votes for them do they still win by default?

Our current system should work just fine.
IF WE COULD GET PEOPLE TO VOTE !

March 3, 2011 at 7:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

You are right Steve the system we have in place should work !!

Do you suppose that if someone from " My " section of town should happen to file to run against 10 other candidates from a certain section of town, backed by a certain few people and the fact that those certain few people, say and have said, " Forget the South / Southeast section of Emporia, it is nothing but slums anyway and that West / Northwest is where the shakers, movers and Lords and Masters of Emporia live and if you don' t live as we live, you mean nothing, could just possible play a big part in voter turn out in both mentioned, sections of Emporia ?

A lot of people in my section of town feel that even if they do vote it will make no difference, as they will not be fairly represented anyway, as most of the candidates are from the other section of Emporia anyway . So there is a feeling of uselessnes, in my section of Emporia and you know what, I am begining to feel the same way, when I saw the make up of the current candidates that are running for City commissioner ! And I absolutely know and feel in my heart that after the general election, it will be the same old business as usual !!

But I voted, for all the good it will do !

March 3, 2011 at 7:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

netloafer (anonymous) says...

Steve I left 5 copies of the raw data for you at your place last night.

Sometime today I'm going to run some "what ifs." A best case scenario, a worst case, etc. I'd really be interested in seeing what the election would have looked like if central, east, and south Emporia turned out in the same % as northwest, which was close to 27%. Also interested in seeing what the impact might have been if northwest Emporia had been as apathetic and voted at 6%.

Will let you know.

March 3, 2011 at 8:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

Thank you netloafer, will check them out. I do appreciate your work.

methusla,

I am going to be brutally honest. The excuse of not voting, because it won't make a difference is bull$-it. The day the smoking ban passed in Emporia, there were at least 10 people smoking in my bar complaining about it, but they hadn't voted. If they had voted it would have made a difference, at least for a while and who knows it could have affected the state vote.

We both agree that there are "powers that be" behind the scenes here in Emporia. There are those in every town. I just disagree with you on the amount of power they hold. There are, I think , 10 candidates still running in the general election, (counting reddog).

You and most everyone else know the ones that are running with the support of the status quo.

HERE IS AN EASY-NO-BRAINER, LAZY MANS WAY TO PICK THE CANDIDATES:

Take a drive through Country Club Heights and the northwest side of town and see who has the most signs up in front of the $200,000.00 homes, then vote against them.

See who has spent the most money and ask "is this how they will spend my tax $?

bobbi mlynar didn't spend anything for the primary and she placed 1st?

Out of the 10 running, I know at least 5 who I think would make a good difference for our town. There is not one of them that I agree with on everything, but I know 5 who are running that would never get my vote, because I know how they think. You either vote for the ones you think would change things up or don't vote. The status quo hopes you wont vote.

THIS IS NOT DIRECTED AT YOU METH.

THE ONLY EXCUSE FOR NOT VOTING IS YOU ARE TOO FAT, LAZY, or STUPID AND YOU JUST DON'T GIVE A SH-T.

Emporian's say they are fed up, but they won't take 26 seconds to vote?

March 3, 2011 at 8:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

reddog,

Take notes, there will be a test.

The United States is the world's oldest surviving federation. It is a constitutional republic and representative democracy, "in which majority rule is tempered by minority rights protected by law."

I didn't like your little joke about sheep and tigers.

March 3, 2011 at 9:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

Steve,

You are absolutely right about why Sauder's article makes sense -- a large voter turnout would cramp the style of the ruling class of which Sauder, the boy who has never had to go without, is a member.

Also, you're certainly right about the huge disconnect between the civic leaders and the average citizens.

Good call.

March 3, 2011 at 9:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

I see they took the comment section off the "Jack" article.

March 3, 2011 at 9:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

Well, Steve, where you and I differ in how many candidates seen as " People " oriented and doing what will be best for all of the people is, you see 5 possible and I only see 2 possible !

And I do not have to drive around and see who has signs of support in front of their homes ! All I have to do is talk to the candidates or listen to their typical, carpet bagger, political, self indulgent rehtoric and answers to selected questions and how they avoid pointed and to the point questions to which side their bread is buttered on and where their allegiances lie !!

In my previous comment, what I was saying is .... I have talked to and know a lot of people that live in the particular section of town I live in and most of them all say the same thing, if someone one from our section, we could trust, would run for a Commission seat, we would vote, but 98% of candidates come from that other section of town, so what is the use ! This is what I term as " Stacking the candidate pool to affirm a certain election result . "

And I also disagree with your statement , that the powers that be, do not hold that much power ! The fact that they and their families and friends have held the " Power " for several decades, proves that they are fully entrenched and hold the power in Emporia ! And are teaching and grooming their siblings and family to do likewise !

March 3, 2011 at 10:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sunshinydy12_13 (anonymous) says...

I was saddened by the fact that I was the 113th person to vote at my designated voting building BUT was told I was the first person under 30 to do so. When will my generation realize that EVERY vote counts and we need to stop complaining and take control?

March 3, 2011 at 12:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

netloafer (anonymous) says...

Steve

I've run a best case scenario, assuming all districts would vote at 27%.

Results are interesting. Mylnar and Gilligan place one and two and increase their respective margins versus other candidates. Tebbets makes up a deficit against Joel Phipps and comes in third. Phipps moves down to fourth. Agler remains fifth, but his margin over Keisler doesn't increase significantly. Myers retains his place, but lose significant ground to Keisler. There was no significant movement for Bordanaro. I found it interesting that Helen Hill could have made it past the primary instead of Jose Endres. That was based on her strength in the midtown and south versus Endres, whose strength was primarily northwest.

With Hill now out of the race there is a potential for her supporters finding a candidate who is willing to buck the status quo.

It just reveals the simple answer to this. If people in central, east, and south would vote beyond the 6 to 7% they currently are, things can change. We've got to get people out to vote!

March 3, 2011 at 12:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

O.K. Meth, you only see 2 candidates out of the field. Vote for those two and don't vote for the 3rd.

When we cast a vote, we are doing nothing more than trusting those we vote for to uphold our ideals. Casting a vote means we think and hope that candidate will represent us.

Sometimes we are disappointed with our candidates after they take office. Then in the next election we can hold them accountable.

Nothing in Life is guaranteed, especially politics.

If nothing else use your third vote for the person who you think could do the least damage. But I think if you try real hard you'll find that 3rd candidate you can vote for. In 2 years there will be another election, another chance for change.

I stand by my thinking, to not vote is giving tactic approval of the way things are going. It is a defeatist attitude and I'm one Emporia voter that's tired of it.

No white flag from this voter, but to each their own I guess.

March 3, 2011 at 12:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

netloafer,

Thanks for running the numbers. I find it really depressing the percentage of lazy asses who won't spend 1 minute out of their day to vote.

March 3, 2011 at 12:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

booker5m (anonymous) says...

A sorry state when you cant get aleast 50 percent out to vote. Be willing to bet the ones who didnt vote will sit around and complain about how the city is run

March 3, 2011 at 12:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

Steve,

I fully agree, about people not voting and have done everything I can to get people out to vote, short of marching them to the polls by gun point and paying them to vote, although that is also sometimes done !

All I can say is, I don' t think I will vote for nor trust anyone who believe that wasting money needlessly is or would be a good choice . Hint, Hint !!

I have excersized my right to vote going on 50+ years now and my father and mother both voted , as far as I know and can remember, in every election held ! My mother even served as a poll worker for many years, so voting is something my family and I take very seriously !

I did vote for a 3 rd candidate, I thought may just be able to back up the other two I voted for ! Unfortunately my third choice did not make the general election cut !

Now I am at a quandry as to who to make my third choice in the general election !!

March 3, 2011 at 1:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

netloafer (anonymous) says...

Steve

I ran a coupl of other scenarios and it appears that as turnout increases the chances for a candidate supported by midtown, etc. increase.

Also, in the general election the 373 who voted for Helen Hill will need to find another candidate. That leaves the possibility for young Mr. Keisler to move into the top tier. They wouldn't appear to help Tom Myers, and even if he won all the previous Hill votes he wouldn't make it.

I'm done. I've fiddled with a lot of numbers that tend to prove what we all seem to know. If people from the under-represented parts of town would vote, things could change.

March 3, 2011 at 2:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

So now the question is, will candidates work those sections of town for votes or stay in the districts where there was a 27% turnout in the primary?

March 3, 2011 at 3:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

and I'll put the question to you, methusla.

If a candidate is running for office and knows that certain districts routinely fail to vote in elections, while others routinely get out the vote, where should they spend their time, money and effort? More importantly, who should they gear their campaign too?

It's not "the powers that be" fault.
It's the lazy non voters fault.

So we need to let the average citizen know that they are really not a citizen, unless they exercise their right and obligation to vote. Only then will the powers that be, be the power of the people. WOW that sounds like something from the 70's.

March 3, 2011 at 4:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

Steve,

I am not saying what you say is wrong or not true about voter turnout in the East and South area of Emporia !

But what I am saying is, that area of Emporia is thought of and has been labeled as some as the unimportant section of Emporia and that is why a lot of the people in that section of Emporia feel that it is useless for them to vote !

And I do not know how to convince them otherwise, and believe you me I have tried and tried and tried, to get them to attend Commission meetings and vote ! And nothing seems to work !!!

March 3, 2011 at 6:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

justaflushaway (anonymous) says...

Steve, hope your feeling better.
Guess I missed something, but, if you have a minute, tell me where I can find something about the 3 threads below, I appreciate it, of just give me a idea about them. thanks in advance!

3. BOOK BURNINGS
4. POLE DANCER AFICIONADOS.
5. A MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE more or less telling a citizen to move away from Emporia

March 3, 2011 at 7:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )