TOPEKA — On Friday, a second candidate threw a hat in the ring to serve as 111th District state representative.
Longtime Hays and Ellis County commissioner Barb Wasinger announced her candidacy for the state seat after filing in Topeka.
She will run as a Republican. Incumbent State Rep. Eber Phelps, who filed for re-election in November, is a Democrat. As of Friday, Phelps and Wasinger were the only candidates to have filed.
Below is Wasinger’s statement on her candidacy:
Today, I filed for the office of State Representative for the 111th District of Kansas. Based on my 13 years of experience on both the Hays City Commission and Ellis County Commission, I know I can provide an independent voice and effective leadership in Topeka fo the district. My service to the community has given me a unique perspective on both rural and urban issues, which I believe can have an impact as I work with the majority party in the Kansas State Legislature.
I believe in fiscal responsibility and a commonsense approach to spending taxpayer dollars, For example, one of my proudest moments as an Ellis County Commissioner was when we closed a $3.3 million funding deficit two years ago without raising taxes. This illustrates what can be accomplished when elected officials work in collaboration with one another.
It has been my honor to represent the people of Hays and Ellis County in my past and current positions, and I look forward to continuing my work as your State Representative in Topeka.
Barb Wasinger