Gene Dorsey will move on to the Nov. 5 general election after Tuesday’s primary.

Dorsey and Mike Kelso, both Democrats, were vying to advance in the race for the District 4 County Commission seat that includes Eudora.

With 22 of 23 precincts reporting and 96% of the vote in, Kelso had 661 votes or 39 %, and Dorsey had 1,038 votes or 61 %. Results will become official after the canvass.

Dorsey said he is happy that he came out on top, but the harder work will start as the November election nears.

He recognized that Kelso was polling stronger in Eudora polling places, and said he will work harder to become better acquainted with residents.

“That means I’ve got to reach out more to Eudora folks and let them know I’m going to represent them as much as anybody living in Lawrence,” he said. “I’ve been to a lot of events in Eudora, and a lot of people know me, but obviously not enough people know me.”

Kelso said Tuesday night that he always thought the winner would come down to a Lawrence versus non-Lawrence vote and that’s what happened.

Kelso won Eudora precincts while Dorsey took all of the Lawrence precincts.

Kelso said he will continue serving on the county Planning Commission, and if in two years, the district isn’t being served the way he hopes, he would run again.

“I wish the winner of the November election good luck. I wish Gene good luck, too,” he said.

Dorsey will join Libertarian Steve Jacob of Lawrence and Republican Tim Bruce of Eudora in the November election. The district includes parts of southeast and eastern Lawrence, Eudora, Eudora Township and part of Wakarusa Township.

Voting for the general election will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 5 Advance in-person voting will begin Oct. 16. Advance ballots will be mailed Oct 16, as well. Oct. 29 is the last day to apply for an advance voting mail ballot.

Advance voting information is still to be determined, but can be accessed here. 

To read District 4 candidate profiles, click here and here.