Thomas “Tom” White has filed as a write-in candidate for mayor of Sutton, giving voters at least one declared candidate for the position.
White filed with the Clay County Election Commissioner’s Office on Sept. 4. Because he is running as a write-in candidate, his name will not appear on the ballot. Voters wishing to support him will need to write his name in the space provided and fill in the corresponding oval.
White has lived in Sutton for approximately 12 years and is originally from Harvard, where he attended school. He and his wife now make their home in Sutton.
White said his decision to run grew from a desire to become more involved in the community and help address the city’s needs.
“I just want to be more involved,” White said. “I want to do what I can to help out and see that things that need done get done.”
He previously served on Sutton’s economic development board for approximately one to two years. White also became familiar with the Sutton City Council when he attended numerous meetings during work on the community’s ball field project.
White brings additional leadership experience through his career with Cooperative Producers Inc. He began as the location manager in Holdrege before coming to Sutton as location manager. He later became an area manager responsible for as many as eight CPI locations.
As he approaches retirement, White has returned to serving as location manager at CPI’s Sutton location. He said he currently plans to retire Jan. 31, 2028.
White said the employees already working at the Sutton location were an important factor in his decision to come to the community.
He began seriously considering a run for mayor after reading that no candidate had filed for the position.
“I read through it and thought, ‘Why isn’t somebody stepping up?’” White said.
White’s filing changes the situation outlined in an earlier Clay County News article. At that time, no candidate had filed for mayor. If no one were elected, Nebraska law provided that the Sutton City Council president would assume the office for the unexpired term.
With White now registered as a write-in candidate, Sutton voters have the opportunity to elect their next mayor. If White or another qualified write-in candidate is elected and accepts the office, the provision placing the council president in the mayor’s position would not come into play.
White encourages other Sutton residents who are interested in serving the community to consider entering the race.
Prospective write-in candidates must first obtain the required paperwork from Sutton City Hall, then submit the completed documents to the Clay County Election Commissioner’s Office in Clay Center. The deadline to file as a write-in candidate is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23.
