Candidates advance in Johnson and Wyandotte County primary elections

Shawnee City Council members Daniel P. Pflumm and Michelle Distler emerged from the primary Tuesday and became finalist candidates for mayor.

Pflumm garnered 30 percent of the vote and Distler 28 percent in complete but unofficial election results.

Pflumm, 53, is president of DanCo Systems Inc. Distler, 41, is publications director and emergency manager for Grace Christian Fellowship.

In Roeland Park, voters selected Erin Thompson and Linda Mau to advance to the April 7 general election for the Ward 3 seat on the City Council. Thompson received 49 percent of the vote. Mau received 48 percent.

For the Ward 4 seat, Michael J. Poppa received 44 percent and Joanna Rush received 41 percent to advance.

Voters in the Olathe School District selected Robyn R. Essex and Joe Beveridge to advance for the 7th District at large seat on the school board. Essex received 43 percent of the vote and Beveridge received 35 percent.

Voters in Wyandotte County also went to the polls Tuesday to select finalists for two seats on the Unified Government Board of Commissioners.

For the 1st District at large seat, which has been vacant since Mark Holland was elected mayor, Melissa Brune Bynum and Mark Gilstrap will advance from a seven-candidate field to the general election April 7.

Bynum received 23 percent of the vote and Gilstrap also received 23 percent. Coming in last, with 3 percent, was Tamika Pledger, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter and three counts of reckless aggravated battery in connection with a Jan. 30 vehicular incident that killed one teenager and injured three.

For the 4th District seat on the county board, Harold Johnson received 53 percent of the vote and advanced along with incumbent Tarence Maddox, who received 35 percent.

For the 3rd District at large position for the Board of Public Utilities, Chris McCord received 34 percent of the vote and Norman D. Scott received 32 percent to advance.

This story was originally published March 3, 2015 at 9:38 PM with the headline "Candidates advance in Johnson and Wyandotte County primary elections."