Latest news with #JosephShepard
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wichita City Council District 1: Shepard, DeShazer move on to general election
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Tuesday was Primary Election Day in Kansas. While not every race had a primary, and a majority of them did not, we know who is moving on to the General Election in November. The biggest race of the night was Wichita City Council District 1, a seat that is wide open because incumbent Brandon Johnson is term-limited. Joseph Shepard received 48% of the votes, followed by LaWanda DeShazer at 20%, Chris Pumpelly at 17%, Aujanae Bennett at 11%, and Darryl Carrington at 4%. The total turnout for voters hovered around 7%, which is the projection the Sedgwick County election office had hoped for. Both Shepard and DeShazer were ecstatic to have won the primary and are already thinking about their strategy for the next phase. What to expect from Wichita's five District 1 City Council candidates Shepard, the chief of staff for Lead for America, pulled ahead with by far the most votes in the race at 1,745 votes. He attributes his success to his voter base and his donors, who raised by far the most amount of money of any of the campaigns. He raised $40,000 of the combined total of $50,000. Shepard says he plans to tap into those who voted for other candidates or didn't vote at all for the general election. 'I also want to speak with those who did not support me. And I want to engage with them, I want to hear their heart, I want to hear their concerns, their concerns about my leadership. Their concerns about the future of Wichita, and I want to engage with them, because I feel like for far too long we've not done that and again, this campaign is about turning a corner and charting a new path,' he said. DeShazer's campaign garnered 743 votes and secured the second-largest amount of donations, totaling around $10,000. She says she thinks her experience handling finances as a former administrative officer for the Sedgwick County Fire Department gives her an edge and thinks that experience will differentiate her from Shepard, who stands on a very similar platform on issues. 'I want everybody to make an informed decision, and so I have to let them know that there is a difference,' DeShazer said. 'I've had so many different volunteers from so many different backgrounds, and they helped me get over this first finish line. We got a big one coming, but they helped me get over that one.' Shepard and Deshazer are your options for the Wichita City Council District 1 seat; both of these candidates will compete for Johnson's seat in November. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Western New Mexico University Board of Regents announces search for president
SILVER CITY, N.M. (KRQE) – The new members of the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents held their first official meeting Wednesday and provided an update on their plans to find a president for the university. Former WNMU President Joseph Shepard stepped down in January amid allegations of improper spending at the school, which Shepard has denied. A state audit revealed that WNMU spent more than $200,000 on travel and lodging from July 2018 to June 2023. The audit also found credit card spending totaling more than $145,000, which included furnishings for the president's residence. Story continues below News: Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham authorizes National Guard deployment to Albuquerque Trending: NMSU: 6 international students' visas revoked by federal government News: Suspect in custody after fleeing from police in a U-Haul with people in the back Education: Curanderismo in the classroom: Albuquerque high school teacher introduces students to Mexican folk healing The Board of Regents Wednesday announced that they would begin a search for an interim president, and they plan to seek proposals from national talent search firms to begin recruiting for the permanent president position. The board also accepted the 2023-2024 FY Audit Report, which 'found no major irregularities' and has already been accepted by the Office of the State Auditor, according to Vice President of Business Affairs Kelley Riddle. At the meeting, Riddle also told the board that a special forensic audit required by the State Auditor is underway and will be completed by June 30. The audit is being conducted by Jaramillo Accounting Group. As WNMU moves forward with new board members who were appointed by the governor, the New Mexico Department of Justice is continuing its legal efforts to recover $1.9 million that was paid to Shepard as part of a buyout approved by the former group of regents. Shepard and his legal team filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. A hearing to address that motion is set for June 16 in Luna County District Court. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
