Late this week a race developed for the Republican nomination for the 9th District seat in the Kansas House.
Chad VanHouden, Chanute, filed Thursday morning. Kent Thompson, incumbent by appointment last fall, filed Friday. The filing deadline is noon Monday.
VanHouden, 31, has worked for MRH Insurance, Chanute, since 2009. This is his first foray into elective politics.
“When I was 13, I had a four-wheeler accident,” VanHouden recalled. “When I was recovering the community showered me with love and prayers. I’ve always wanted to give something back and I thought this would be a good way.”
He is the son of Charles VanHouden, Chanute surgeon.
Thompson, 49, won appointment to replace Ed Bideau, a Chanute attorney who was elected to the House in 2012 and then died last September.
He previously served three four-year terms as an Allen County commissioner, completing his last term in January 2009. Thompson has a real estate business in Iola, has farming and ranching interests and with wife Susan owns an Iola liquor store.
No Democrat has filed in the race, and if none does the Aug. 5 GOP primary election most likely will decide who will serve the 9th District the next two years. An independent candidate could slip in just ahead of the primary, but would have to do so by petition.
Paperwork must be filed with the Secretary of State’s office in Topeka.
