On Tuesday, elections took place for three positions on the City Commission and five on the School Board, with a 25% voter turnout rate according to the Lawrence Times. 

Candidates Brad Finkeldei and Amber Sellers returned to the City Commision for another four-year term while Mike Dever returned after an eight year absence. On the School Board, Carole Cadue- Blackwood, GR Gordon-Ross and Shannon Kimball were re-elected, and Yolanda Franklin and Anne Costello joined as new members. 

According to Douglas County Election Department, Dever won the election by an over thousand vote margin with a total of 8,277 votes. Finkeldei coming in second with 7,171, and Sellers beating out the other three candidates with 6,386 votes. 

A defining issue for this election cycle was affordable housing and displacement. Dever received wide support for his stance on the topic as his main issue. The City Commission plans to progress projects on the issue at the start of their term.

Cadue-Blackwood was re-elected with a total of 7,343 votes, a thousand over Costello with 6,081 votes. With 5,861 votes, Gordon-Ross won re-election as well. Franklin will serve her first term being elected by 5,144 voters. Kimball was a candidate in the two year bracket winning with 6,677 votes compared to the four-year term candidates. 

After controversial budget cuts, including closures of Pinkney and Broken Arrow elementary schools, a defining issue of this election was the future closure of schools. Newcomers Franklin and Costello along with Cadue-Blackwood are opposed to school closures whereas Gordon-Ross and Kimball voted for school closures during their time in office. 

The City Commissioners will take office on Dec. 5. According to the Kansas Association of School Boards, School Board members will start on Jan. 8.