June 1 was the deadline for local candidates to file with the Sedgwick County Election Office. Eight candidates filed to challenge the incumbent Wichita mayor, Brandon Whipple, who is seeking reelection. Another 10 candidates filed to run for the three of six City Council seats up for election this year. Three seats on the USD 259 school board drew nine candidates, most of them seeking the at-large seat.
Races in which more than three candidates are filed will compete in the Aug. 1 primary. These include the mayor’s race, City Council District 4 and USD 259’s at-large seat. The general election is set for Nov. 7.
2023 Wichita Mayoral Candidate Forum
The Wichita Beacon is partnering with The Wichita Independent Neighborhood Association Inc. to present a mayoral candidate forum.
When: Monday, July 17, 2023, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Woodland United Methodist Church
1100 W. 15th St. North, between North Payne and Salina Streets
More information is available here.
City Council
The Wichita City Council has six members representing different parts of the city. This year City Council Districts 2, 4, and 5 are up for election. Only residents of each district vote on that district’s representative.
The only incumbent running is Becky Tuttle in District 2. Jeff Blubaugh of District 4 is finishing his second term and unable to run. Bryan Frye of District 5 is running for mayor.
The council is responsible for setting policy for city government, reviewing and approving the city’s budget, repealing or enacting city ordinances, levying taxes and appointing members to advisory boards and task forces. Council members are elected to four-year terms and may only serve for two terms.
These are the candidates running for City Council listed by district. City Council elections are nonpartisan. In races where more than three candidates are running, those candidates will compete in the Aug. 1 primary to narrow the field to two. Candidates competing in a primary are marked with an asterisk.
District 2
Marcey Gregory
Becky Tuttle
Hatim Zeineddine
District 4
Bentley Blubaugh*
Dalton Glasscock*
Alan R. Oliver*
Judy Pierce*
District 5
Gary W. Bond
J.V. Johnston
Ben Taylor
Mayor
The mayor is elected citywide. The mayor is considered head of the City Council and helps determine the agreed-upon stances. The six members of the council and the mayor have one vote each. The council together appoints a city manager who is responsible for city government’s day-to-day operations.
The mayor is elected citywide to a four-year term and may only serve two terms.
These are the candidates running for mayor. The mayoral race is nonpartisan. All mayoral candidates will compete in the Aug. 1, 2023 Wichita primary to determine two candidates who will advance to the Nov. 7 general election.
Jared Cerullo*
Shelia M. Davis*
Bryan Frye*
Anthony Gallardo*
Tom Kane*
Celeste Racette*
Julie Rose Stroud*
Brandon Whipple*
Lily Wu*
School board
Most of Wichita is served by USD 259, known as Wichita Public Schools. The Wichita school board has seven members – six representing different parts of the city and one at-large member.
This year Districts 3 and 4 and the at-large seat are up for election. Due to a change approved by voters in November, only residents of a district may vote on that district’s representative. The at-large position is elected citywide. School board members serve four-year terms. There are no limits on how many terms they may serve.
The only incumbent running is Stan Reeser in District 4.
The school board is responsible for approving the school district’s nearly $1 billion annual budget, approving funds to be spent, shaping school policy and supporting school programs.
School board elections are nonpartisan. In races where more than three candidates are running, those candidates will compete in the Aug. 1, 2023 Wichita primary to narrow the field to two. Candidates competing in a primary are marked with an asterisk.
District 3
Ken Carpenter
Ngoc Vuong
District 4
Jason Carmichael
Stan Reeser
At-large
Jacob A. Bakk*
Harlan E. Bascombe*
Jesse Borosky*
Brent T. Davis*
Melody McCray-Miller*
