Malone, Colton file to run for City Council during 2026 Primary; deadline approaching for incumbents
By Becky Uehling
Republican Correspondent
Two more have filed in Chase County for the 2026 Primary Election according to a listing on the Chase County Nebraska website. New filings as of Friday, Jan. 30 are non-incumbent Kristen Malone for Imperial City Council, and incumbent Nick Colton for Imperial City Council. There are two seats up for reelection this year on the Imperial City Council. Besides Colton’s seat, the other current holder of the other seat up for reelection is Jan Elliott who has not filed to date.
For the primary election, incumbents have until Tuesday, Feb. 17 to file for re-election, while the filing for non-incumbents is Monday, March 2. This does not include the villages in the county, which are only on the general election ballot based on state statute. Those wanting to run for a village office have until July 15 to file for incumbents, and Aug. 3 for non-incumbents. Filing for local elections is completed at the county clerk’s office at the courthouse, while statewide candidates can find paperwork to file on the Secretary of State’s website or in person in Lincoln.
New Filings in Chase County
Malone and Colton join the others who have filed for offices so far in Chase County, including the following: Jacci Brown, Commissioner District 2; Jan Elliott, Imperial City Council; Rebecca Bernard, Chase County Treasurer; Tori Mueller, Chase County Assessor; Kurt Bernhardt, Commissioner District 3; Marty Wheeler, WP School Board; Craig Loeffler, Imperial Mayor; Justin Mueller, Chase County Sheriff; and Rob Browning, Chase County Sheriff; Allison Sandman for Wauneta School Board; and Dan Reeves for Chase County School Board.
All Seats Up For Reelection
The local and county offices up for reelection this year in Chase County, and their current office-holders, include the following: County Assessor, Tori Mueller; County Attorney, Joel Burke; County Clerk, Wendy Moe; County Treasurer, Rebecca Bernard; County Sheriff, Kevin Mueller; County Commissioner District 2, Jacci Brown; County Commissioner District 3, Kurt Bernhardt; Mayor – City of Imperial, Craig Loeffler; City of Imperial Council Member (two seats) Nick Colton and Jan Elliott; Imperial Airport Authority, David Hanna; Wauneta Village Board (three seats), Page Johnston, Beau Kramer, Crystal Walgren; Chase County School District (four seats), Steve Wallin, Jeff Olsen, Dan Reeves, Cindy Arterburn; Wauneta Palisade School District (three seats) Allison Sandman, Laurie Maris, Marty Wheeler.
Chase County Clerk Wendy Moe said she will continue to update the list on the county’s website each Friday until the filing deadlines.
Voter Registration
Voter deadline for the final day for in-person voter registration and absentee ballot applications for the primary election is May 1. For the general election, the final day for in-person registration and mail-in ballot applications is October 23. For more information in Chase County contact Moe at 308-882-7500. To contact the Secretary of State’s office logon to https://sos.nebraska.gov/ or call 402-471-2554. Watch the Republican for continual election coverage throughout the year.