Two state representatives who face Republican challengers were all in attendance before a crowd of about 115 people Monday night as part of a GOP Snack and Chat at the Senior Citizens Center.

Two of the races that county Republicans wanted to hear about involved the 68th and 64th Districts. Voters will cast their ballots on Aug. 3 during the primary election. Dickinson County Pepublican Central Committee, Dickinson County Republican Women and Dickinson County Farm Bureau

In the 68th District, which includes Abilene, Herington and Hope, Rep. Tom Moxley, Council Grove, touted his record that he said has stayed consistent since he become a state lawmaker four years ago.

He pointed to a campaign flier he had made during his initial campaign in 2006. He said those are the same pledges he made to voters then and he adheres today. Limited government with an eye on spending on the economy are what he continues to stand for. He said in the past four years the state’s general fund has been virtually flat.

He also believes that four years ago people were tired of the bickering and he has done his part to not do that. The key to long-term success in the 68th District is to press for economic development as well as quality schools and quality roads.

“If you do not do that your community will die,” he said.

A farmer and rancher, he also is concerned about what state lawmakers do to impact the local level of governments.

His opponent, Calvin Seadeek, Council Grove, is a law enforcement officer. He and his wife, Michele, opened a hunting supply store in Council Grove.

“I have concerns about our state and what our children and future generations will face,” Calvin Seadeek said.

He said the state has continued to grow and debt. While he watches with great dismay about what has happened in Washington, he said, there is a mood for less government, lower taxes and reduced spending among Kansans when they look at the state government.

The right formula will bring more companies and more jobs, which will ultimately raise more tax revenue, the challenger said.

“I’d rather take $1 (in taxes) from 100 people than $10 from 10 people,” Seadeek said.

Mike Musselman, rural Clay Center, has been involved in a family farm operation for the past 10 years, and he believes constituents in the 64th District need someone who reflects their values.

Musselman, who is married with four young children, said it is important for them to grow up in a state that is fiscally and socially responsible. The state government is growing too fast.

Incumbent Vern Swanson, R-Clay Center, said over the past four years he has been appointed to important committees that reflect positively on his leadership and have served the district’s constituents.

He has spent a lot of time in Chapman the past two years as a volunteer and as a state lawmaker as the community recovers from the June 2008 tornado.

He encouraged constituents to vote, noting there is no Democrat running, which means the Aug. 3 primary will determine who will serve the next two years.

Steven Johnson, Assaria, was invited but could not attend. Following the primary, he will face Democrat Don Svaty, D-Ellsworth, in the general election for the 108th District. In the 107th District, Rep. Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, had a prior commitment in Ottawa County. She is running unopposed in the primary and general election.

County commission

LaVerne Myers, 1120 Eden Road, Abilene, is unopposed for the First District, which includes Herington, Navarre, Woodbine, Hope, Enterprise and Carlton. Myers is a lifelong resident who was a farmer and rancher. As a dairy farmer he did not have much time for the duties of a county commissioner. He has three grown children and one of his son has taken over the family farm.

Governor

Gary Mitchell, rural Solomon, spoke on behalf of U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, who is seeking the gubernatorial bid for governor.

Joan Heffington, Derby, said she represents a choice for Republicans.

“I’m not a Washington insider,” Heffington said.

She has worked as a traffic investigator for the city of Wichita and worked at Boeing. The Wichita State University graduate in 1999 started a private company and eventually started an organization that fights excesses in the legal profession, including those she terms as frivolous. Too many elected officials have ties to legal backgrounds.

“The Bible says you cannot serve God and money,” Heffington said.

As governor she would be an advocate of job creation and also an advocate for all Kansans.

As a faith-based candidate, she would “put Him (God) back in control,” Heffington said.

Secretary of state

J.R. Claeys, Salina, touted his experience in small business, from growing up on a family custom harvesting operation, to being an advisor for the Small Business Administration under the President Bush administration. He was president of a national trade association.

Claeys said the secretary of state has more than 600 statutory duties and the center for filing papers by corporations and non-profit organizations. If the secretary of state office efficient, it means it reduces paperwork and fees.

“The most important job is being the chief election officer,” Claeys said.

The candidate said he has helped oversee international elections and has been involved in voter identification process. He predicted Kansas will have a voter identification law in place in 2011.

Elizabeth “Libby” Ensley, Topeka, said the two important jobs were registering voters and as well as assisting businesses. She worked at the secretary of state office for 11 years and spent the past 18 years in the Shawnee County election office and she oversees elections. She has been endorsed by former secretary of states Jack Brier, Bill Graves and Ron Thornburgh.

She has convicted 12 people of voter fraud. Ensley agreed that voter identification was necessary.

Ensley said she would also advocate legislation that would allow military men and women to have the same ballot accessibility as those in local precincts. She explained that now those who are serving overseas, for example, can vote in elections, but their ballot does not allow them to vote for precinct committeemen and women or on local questions.

“That’s a real travesty that needs to be changed,” she said.

Kris Kobach, Piper, also is seeking the job. He was unable to attend.

Attorney general

Ralph DeZago, Herington, and state Sen. Derek Schmidt, Independence, credited each other for running a clean campaign.

DeZago has been a trial lawyer for 29 years. He grew up in New York and worked for James Buckley, brother of conservative icon William F. Buckley.

DeZago said the attorney general’s job is to enforce laws.

“It’s all based on a premise that the attorney general’s job is to keep you safe,” he said.

His years as a trial attorney would benefit Kansans.

“If you were a victim of a violent crime do you want somebody who has tried someone in a court of law or someone who has written tax policy?” DeZago said.

The Herington attorney said he had experience as a prosecutor and public defender. He has managed a public defender’s office in Salina.

Schmidt said he was the first member of his family to graduate from law school. He advocated Republicans support one another.

He said the 2006 governor’s race was an example of what happens when the GOP does not stick together. Democrat Kathleen Sebelius was elected and that set off a chain reaction that was not kind to Republicans. She recruited Paul Morrison to run against Rep. Phill Kline. Morrison unseated Kline, then resigned following a scandal, which led to the appointment of Stephen Six as state attorney general. She also appointed Democrat Dennis McKinney as a state treasurer after Republican Lynn Jenkins was elected in 2008 to serve as representative for the Second District. When Sebelius resigned in 2009 to join the Obama administration, former Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson became governor and he appointed Democrat Chris Biggs to be secretary of state when Republican Ron Thornburgh resigned in February.

“This fall is about electing leadership,” Schmidt said.

State treasurer

Ron Estes, Wichita, is a native of the Topeka area who was elected as Sedgwick County treasurer in 2004 and 2008. During that time he has implemented cost-saving measures that have benefited taxpayers.

“The state treasurer is an administrative department,” Estes said. “We need to provide services in an efficient manner.”

Insurance commissioner

Neither challenger James Powell, El Dorado, nor Sandy Praeger, Lawrence, attended. Powell’s son, David, spoke on behalf of his father. Bob Tomlinson, who was supposed to attend and speak on behalf of Praeger, had to cancel following the death of his father.

David Powell said his father has been an insurance agent for the past 33 years who values hard work and traditional family values.

U.S. Senator

Tom Little, Wichita, spoke on behalf of his campaign and advocated about being fiscally conservative. Abilene veterinarian Mike Whitehair spoke on behalf of Jerry Moran. Todd Tiahrt did not have a representative speak at the event.