(AP) — A Manhattan man says he wants moderates of both the Democratic and Republican parties to form a new political party in Kansas.

Aaron Estabrook says his proposed political party would give moderates a voice to respond to extremism he sees in the current political parties. Kansas also currently recognizes the Libertarian party.

Early this year, Estabrook filed political action committee finance papers for the Moderate Party of Kansas.

Estabrook once voted for Republicans and worked for Tim Huelskamp when he was a state senator. But he switched to the Democratic party in 2006, citing the Iraqi war as one reason.

The Moderate Party must collect nearly 17,000 signatures on petitions by June 1, 2014, in order to be recognized as an official party.