Hedges, Bukowski, Adams win seats in Fort Scott election

Voters on Tuesday decided to release two of the three incumbents running for Fort Scott City Commission seats, replacing them with two newcomers.

Challengers Gary Bukowski and Jim Adams placed second and third, respectively, in Tuesday's election, with Bukowski netting 902 votes, or 20.8 percent, and Adams getting 624, or 14.4 percent.

Candidate Dick Hedges was the only incumbent who won reelection, receiving the highest number of votes at 914, or 21.1 percent. The other incumbents, Mayor Gary Billionis and John Keating, came in fourth and fifth, respectively, with Billionis getting 605 votes and Keating netting 587. Sixth place went to candidate Thom Prue, who received 459 votes.

Mike Lancaster, who failed to make it past the primary, earned 216 of the 231 total write-in votes. In the weeks leading up to the election, Lancaster campaigned vigorously as a write in candidate. He placed large yard signs throughout town and also placed a one-page insert ad in the Fort Scott Tribune that listed his qualifications.

With 19 votes separating Adams and Billionis, the 10 provisional votes cast did not make a difference.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the election was Adams' victory. Going into Tuesday, he predicted his chances were slim.

"I'm very happy," Adams said shortly after jotting down the results of the vote on the back of a business card at the Bourbon County Courthouse Tuesday night. "I think I have a lot of good people helping me. I'm a little surprised, but it's just so close."

The newly elected commissioners will be sworn in April 17. The new governing body will be comprised of Bukowksi, Adams, Commissioner Barbara Wood, Hedges and, at this point, an undetermined fifth commissioner. One seat on the the commission is vacant, because Commissioner Nick Graham recently resigned from the commission. His last meeting was Tuesday. Once the new commissioners have been sworn in, the city commission will have to select Graham's replacement.

Asked if voters wanted new people as commissioners, Adams, 52, said "I think the citizens are ready for some new ideas. I think that's the main thing."

Bukowski, like Adams, has no experience serving on a governing body. However, Bukowski said on Wednesday he's looking forward to the responsibility of his elected position.

"I hope we can make some meaningful changes in the way the city is managed," Bukowksi said.

He said he has ideas on how to accomplish that goal. He said, however, that he's not going to "jump in and start asking for dramatic differences" at the onset of his term.

"I'm going to listen and learn and go from there," he added.

Bukowski, too, was surprised by the results. He thought the incumbents would have fared better.

"With three incumbents on the ticket, I thought it would be a challenge," he said.

For Keating, the election marked the end of a 16-year run as commissioner.

"When I hear the radio talk about commission meetings, I've got to remember that I don't have to go," Keating said laughing.

He admitted disappointment in not winning a seat, but he also said he has "no anticipation" at this point as to whether he'll run again.

Keating said the new commissioners, along with the city and staff, will continue to lead the city in the right direction.

Over all, voter turnout across the county stood at 22 percent of the registered voters, which was 15 percentage points less than that of the general election in 2005. Of the 5,304 registered Fort Scott voters, 1,440 voted in the city commission race.