Non-Incumbents Pass On Filing For Bourbon Council, School Board

Though filing for the April 2024 election was extended one day, interest in serving on the Crawford County R-1 School Board or Bourbon City Council remained as low as ever.

The filing period closed Dec. 27.

School board incumbents Jason Gobin and Andrew Graddy were the only candidates to come forward, yet another year an election won’t be held for the school board.

Last year, Stephen Waldron and Sean Kaysinger filed for their respective seats, but Suzanne Louderman declined another term.

Ryan Cole filed for the spot.

In the city of Bourbon, Mayor Dave Lafferty and Ward 1 Alderman John Nelson were the only candidates to file.

Ward 2 Alderwoman Sonya Sewald opted not to file for what would be a third term.

City Clerk Cathy Bremer told the Independent News that someone can come to city hall to file as an official write-in candidate.

If no one comes forward, the board can appoint someone after the election. That member would serve a one-year term to expire in April 2025.

Bourbon voters rejected a proposal last year that would have foregone elections if the number of candidates was equal to the number of seats. 

The city has had just two elections in at least the last eight years, none for mayor.

Any city resident seeking to file as a write-in must be 18 or older, a citizen of the United States, an inhabitant and resident of the city for one year next preceding the election and a resident at the time filed. Candidates must also reside in the ward they seek to represent.