HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The canvassing of the ballots from last week’s election is completed with eyes on the second district county commissioners race. In the end it did not change the outcome with challenger Ron Hirst keeping his lead over incumbent James Schlickau.

Hirst outdistanced Schlickau 1,109 votes to 1,076, a difference of just 33 votes.

But 92 provisional votes in the district that still needed to be counted. In the end it didn’t matter with Hirst actually gaining four more votes. The final total was Hirst 1,134 and Schlickau 1,097, a difference of 37 votes.

The outcome means there will be two new commissioners at the start of the new year with former Hutchinson mayor Bob Bush taking over the seat being vacated by Brad Dillon.