Seven more place names in hat for 2026 county elections as incumbent filing deadline passes for primary
By Becky Uehling
Republican Correspondent
Seven more have added their names since Friday, Feb. 20 for positions up for 2026 elections in Chase County, according to Chase County Clerk Wendy Moe. The filing deadline for incumbents in the primary was Tuesday, Feb. 17, while the deadline for non-incumbents in the primary is March 2.
New filers and the offices they have filed for include the following: Joel Burke, Chase County Attorney; Wendy Moe, Chase County Clerk; Laurie Maris, WP School Board; Charles Haarberg, Chase County School Board; Luke Curl, WP School Board; Christopher Bustillos, Chase County School Board; Scott Leibbrandt, Imperial Airport Authority.
Those wanting to run for a village office have until July 15 to file for incumbents, and Aug. 3 for non-incumbents. Village races will only appear on the general election. Filing for local elections is completed at the county clerk’s office at the courthouse.
All offices in Chase County up for reelection this year, and filings for each so far of both incumbents and non-incumbents as of Friday, Feb. 20, are as follows:
Attorney: (1) four-year-term
• Joel Burke.
Assessor: (1) four-year term
• Tori Mueller
Clerk: (1) Four-year term
• Wendy Moe
Sheriff: (1) Four-year term
• Justin Mueller
• Rob Browning
Treasurer: (1) Four-year term
• Rebecca Bernard
Commissioner District 3: (1) Four-year term
• Kurt Bernhardt
Commissioner District 2: (1) Four-year term
• Jacci Brown
City of Imperial Mayor: (1) Four-year term
• Craig Loeffler
Imperial City Council Members: (2) Four-year term
• Jan Elliott
• Kristen Malone
• Nick Colton
Imperial Airport Authority: (1) Four-year term
• Scott Leibbrandt
Chase County School Board: (4) Four-year term
• Dan Reeves
• Charles Haarberg
• Christopher Bustillos
Wauneta Palisade School Board: (3) Four-year term
• Marty Wheeler
• Allison Sandman
• Laurie Maris
• Luke Curl
Wauneta Village Board: (3) Four-year term (General Only)
• Beau Kramer
Clerk Moe said she will continue to update the list on the county’s website each Friday until the March non-incumbent deadline has passed.
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.