Cloud County Republican Party Replacement Convention Selects Mike Cleveland as Next First District Commissioner

Mike Cleveland
Mike Cleveland

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly will be asked to appoint Mike Cleveland of Concordia as the next First District Cloud County Commissioner.

Cleveland has been selected to fill a vacancy created by this month's resignation of Mark Matthew, who was elected in November 2022 but has resigned from the board of commissioners, effective May 30th.  Matthew, who is also joining his wife Patricia Macfarlane in resigning their positions on the Cloud County Community College Board of Trustees, said the decision to step down is due to family and health concerns.

The Cloud County Republican Party held its Replacement Convention on Tuesday, May 30th.  The Republican precinct committeeman and committeewoman from each of the 12 precincts in the First District constituted the voting body for the replacement convention.  There were 17 precinct voters in attendance or by proxy at the convention.

Cleveland was one of two individuals nominated by a precinct member to be a candidate.  Cleveland received 10 votes.  The other nominee, Gregory Dockins of Clyde, received 7 votes.

Cleveland was nominated by Matthew.

Cleveland, a farmer with Higher Ground Farms, LLC, told us about his interest in the commissioner seat.

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Cleveland outlined his priorities he prepares to join the county commission.

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In April 2023, Cleveland filed for the Position 3, Sub-District 3 seat on the USD 333 Concordia Board of Education.  He is one of three candidates to have filed for the position, joining two-term Incumbent Tony Miller of Aurora and Jerlynn Johnston of Concordia.

According to Cloud County Clerk Shella Thoman, should a fourth candidate file for Position 3, Sub-District 3, there will be a primary election in August.  Two candidates then would advance to the general election in November, if that were to happen.

If elected to the school board, Cleveland told KNCK News he feels he can be successful in holding down two elected positions in the county.

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Following this week's replacement convention, a certificate of Cleveland's appointment will be delivered to the governor.  Thereupon, and not later than seven days after such certificate is received in the office of the governor, Governor Kelly shall officially appoint Cleveland to the county commission.