Submitted

GOODLAND–Representative Rick Billinger (R-Goodland) announced Tuesday he is running for the Kansas Senate to represent the 40th Kansas Senate District. Rep. Billinger is serving his second term, now representing the 120th House District and previously serving the 121st House District from 2011-2012 prior to redistricting.

Rep. Billinger currently serves on the Committees for Insurance and Financial Institutions, Commerce, Labor and Economic Development, and Pensions and Benefits. He has previously served on the Education and Local Government Committees.

Rep. Billinger attended school in Park and graduated from Wheatland High School in Grainfield. An Army Veteran, Rep. Billinger was a member of the First Calvary Eighth Engineers. After his military service, he attended Colby Community College and Fort Hays State University where he graduated with a degree in General Business Studies.

In addition to opening Billinger Farm operations in Goodland in 1987, Rep. Billinger worked for over 30 years in the modular home business, starting as partner and eventually becoming owner/operator of the business.

Representing Northwest Kansas in a number of capacities for the past 20 years, Rep. Billinger has served as both City Commissioner and Mayor of Goodland. He currently serves as an executive board member of the Boy Scouts of America and is a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, the National Rifle Association, Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Wheat Growers Association, Pheasants Forever, American Legion and the Elks Lodge.

The 40th Senate District includes Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton, Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace Counties as well as part of Phillips County. The District is currently represented by Senator Ralph Ostmeyer (R-Grinnell), who today announced he will not seek re-election.