ShawneeDispatch.com

An incumbent was unseated by two challengers in Tuesday's Ward III primary election for Shawnee City Council.

Dennis Kissinger and Jeff Vaught will move forward to the April 6 general election.

Kissinger garnered the 293 votes or 35 percent of the 839 votes cast, according to unofficial final results. Vaught followed with 276 votes, or 33 percent. Incumbent Kevin Straub was third with 248 votes; Jeff Tollman finished fourth with 22.

Kissinger, a former city manager for Salina, said he was surprised, expecting he might come in third, but he thought the campaign information he put out and walking door-to-door helped his cause.

"I think the personal touch helps with this," he said. "I'll work hard again for the next month, but I think it'll be a good, positive campaign between Jeff Vaught and I."

Vaught, a commercial real estate broker, agreed that he also would be campaigning hard for the next month. He said he hadn't expected an incumbent to be beat in the primary, but he expects a good race in the general election.

"It'll be a nice, clean campaign now," he said.

Straub thanked those who supported him and said he would continue to work hard as a voice for them.

"I am concerned that the city will continue to look first at raising taxes on hard working families in Shawnee rather than finding ways to reduce city spending," he said. "Therefore, I will continue to advocate putting the city checkbook online so we have more transparency in our city government and so that all Shawnee residents can see exactly where their money is being spent. It has been a pleasure serving on the Council and I look forward to staying informed on city matters and maintaining a high level of involvement in the community."

Dennis Kissinger

Jeff Vaught

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