Riley County commissioner Robert Boyd and county register of deeds Debbie Regester have announced they will file for re-election Tuesday morning.
Both made their announcements first on KMAN.
Boyd was elected to his first term as representative of Riley County’s 2nd District in 2012 and touted his leadership experience.
“It’s with humility and excitement that I announce my candidacy for the Riley County commission to the 2nd District,” Boyd announced during his appearance on KMAN’s “In Focus” Tuesday morning. “The position of Riley County commissioner is very much a hands-on position as it actually handles day-to-day business of the county.”
Regester, who has held the position for eight years, said she’s running again because of her joy for the job.
“Well, No. 1 I love Riley County, I love the citizens and I love my job,” she said. “I just enjoy what I do and I feel like I do a pretty good job for Riley County.”
Like many offices at the local level, Regester said funding is an issue.
“The main challenge is funding,” she said. “And we, of course, get all of our revenue by our recording (fees) and we have taken several blows on that.”
In 2014 the state began phasing out the mortgage registration fee, which local leaders have said will result in a loss of $1 million for the county by the time it is completely phased out in 2019.
The fee — largely opposed from state realtor and banking associations — was 26 cents on every $100 borrowed. Of that, 25 cents went to the county and a penny went to the Heritage Trust Fund, which provides matching funds to preserve historic buildings.
Boyd, a Republican, has been critical of Topeka and what he says have been measures that are anti-local government.
“I believe leadership’s not seeking consensus, rather it’s building consensus,” he said Tuesday morning. “As we go forward, I’m excited about the opportunity to serve again. I look forward to earning each and every citizen’s vote, and placing my resume and my vision for Riley County going forward to the citizens.”
Boyd, who was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam, has a primary challenger in Marvin Rodriguez.
