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Kelly Kultala

Sen. Mark Gilstrap

Three-term incumbent Mark Gilstrap lost a Democratic primary challenge to Kelly Kultala for the 5th District Kansas Senate nomination in voting Tuesday.

Unofficial results as of Wednesday morning showed Kultala beating Gilstrap 2,649 to 1,698 votes. Kultala, the community outreach director for Youthville, a private, nonprofit children's foster agency, had served as the 5th District commissioner for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan., from 2001 to 2005. She listed education, health care and jobs as important issues in the primary campaign.

Two of the state's top Democrats, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, had thrown their support to Kultala in the primary, with Hensley questioning Gilstrap's Democratic credentials. Among their criticisms was Gilstrap's support for Republican Phill Kline in the 2006 attorney general's race.

Kultala said Wednesday she was surprised at the size of her victory in Wyandotte County, where she garnered 1,599 votes to Gilstrap's 1,227. In Leavenworth County Kultala won with a better than 2-to-1 margin, receiving 1,050 votes to Gilstrap's 471.

"We had hoped to split Wyandotte County 50-50," Kultala said.

As for the Leavenworth vote, "We were amazed," Kultala said. "I never dreamed we could win by that margin. I just hoped to have one more vote than him."

Kultala attributed her victory to 5th District residents wanting "some new leadership. Sen. Gilstrap was a very nice man with a great family."

For his part, Gilstrap said the "relatively low voter turnout" contributed to his defeat.

"Obviously, that worked against me," he said. "I'd looked at it one of two ways: I'd either win big or lose big."

Another factor, he said, was what he called "the 12-year curse. I've been in there 12 years. I don't think the voters necessarily dislike me - I think they would just like someone new."

Despite his defeat, Gilstrap said his political ambitions haven't been quashed.

"I'm kind of a political junkie," he said, and after relaxing for a time he would probably look at ways to "keep my foot in it one way or another" by seeking political office again.

With the win, Kultala now will face Leavenworth Republican Steve Fitzgerald in the Nov. 4, general election

In the Kansas Senate 10th District, which includes a patch of Wyandotte County near Lake Quivira, Republican voters chose Mary Pilcher Cook over Sue Gamble, 4,893 to 3,760, although the candidates received four and three votes respectively in the county.

For the Democratic race for the Kansas Senate 10th District, Pete Roman defeated Michael Bolton with 1,500 votes to 1,424. Each candidate received a single vote in the county.

Other Wyandotte County races

In the Democratic contest for the 29th District Court Division 9 judgeship, Daniel Cahill defeated Reginald Davis, 5,376 to 4,528 votes.

For the 29th District Court, Division 16, the Democratic winner was Constance M. Alvey, with 5,145 votes to Muriel Yates Harris's 4,276.

Because no Republican is running for either office, Cahill and Alvey will have no opponents in the general election.

Comments

1. 

   bbi1of12 (anonymous) says…

   The article is right about Sen Gilstrap. Even his opponent acknowledges he's a nice man (now that she's trounced him in the election). He represented the people of the district well-- always respectful of their wishes-- all of which were pretty conservative-- he never voted for a tax increase and always on the look out for education and Kansas jobs (like the power plant expansion would have brought.) Kultala, voting the way the Governor wants won't do that but the Democrats have bought their choice.

   It's time for someone new alright, but it needs to be Steve Fitzgerald who will vote much like Gilstrap did BUT will be part of the Senate majority and so will actually get things done for our district and town. Kultala, however nice or not nice, will be a novice back-bencher mouthpiece for the Governor in the Senate-- no committees and no power whatsoever.

   August 7, 2008 at 9:11 p.m.

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2. 

   Bob_Busk (anonymous) says…

   I disagree with the above post. Kultallah is not nice. We in Organized Labor couldn't stand her. She is not liked by the employees of the Unified Governmrnt.

   Other than that you're spot on. Kultallah is bad news for the 5th District. Voting for her would be a completely wasted vote.

   August 11, 2008 at 11:32 a.m.

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