Kansas State Sen. Jean Schodorf, R-Wichita, is planning to announce her intentions to run for the Fourth Congressional District Tuesday at Wichita State University.

“I’m going for it,” Schodorf, a "moderate" Republican, told Kansas Liberty.

Schodorf said she was inspired to run for Congress after meeting with city and county leaders in the Fourth District and hearing their concerns with the recession.

“These people are worried about the upcoming budget cuts in the state and of the unknown, they are worried about what is going to happen,” she said.

Schodorf told reporters in late July she was considering running, but that she had not yet made up her mind.

According to the Federal Election Commission, three Republicans have formally filed to run — Wichita businessman and Kansas Republican National Committeeman Mike Pompeo; retired airplane pilot and small-business owner Jim Anderson; and State Sen. Dick Kelsey, a conservative Republican representing Goddard.

Owner of Hartman Oil, Willis “Wink” Hartman Sr., is also planning to enter the race, a report said. Hartman could not be reached for comment Monday.

Anderson, a self-described “Reagan conservative,” said he is running as a concerned citizen, not as a politician.

“I’m just a citizen wanting to go to Washington and make a difference,” Anderson told Kansas Liberty. “I felt it was my duty and obligation to try and straighten this mess out.”

Anderson said he planned to run a grassroots campaign as a “true conservative” focusing on life issues, limited government and maintaining low taxes.

“I am going to work tirelessly to bring the Republican Party back to the conservative roots the party was founded on,” he said.

Schodorf appears to be the lone “moderate” Republican in the group of candidates. While in the Senate, Schodorf has regularly voted with Democrats as well as other "moderates."

The Democratic Party has two candidates in the race. Rep. Raj Goyle, a Democrat representing Wichita, has filed, and Robert Tillman, a retired court services worker, said he is intending to run but has not yet formally filed.

The Fourth Congressional District seat is being left by Rep. Todd Tiahrt, who is campaigning for Sam Brownback’s Senate seat.  Brownback is leaving the Senate to run for Kansas governor. 


Resources
Mike Pompeo for Congress
http://www.pompeoforcongress.com/media/

Dick Kelsey for Congress
http://www.dickkelseyforcongress.com/

Jim Anderson for Congress
http://www.anderson4congress.com

Raj Goyle for Kansas
http://www.rajforkansas.com/

Wichita oilman, Willis “Wink” Hartman Sr., says he will run for the 4th District Congressional seat in Kansas
http://www.kfor.com/news/sns-ap-ks--4thdistrict-hartman,0,2947031.story

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