Henry says he'll run for Senate

An Atchison-based member of the Kansas House of Representatives says he’s ready to throw his hat into the ring to try and unseat Kansas Sen. Dennis Pyle, it was reported.

Jerry Henry, a Democrat who has served in the Kansas House since 1993 and who currently represents the 63rd District, recently announced his plans to file for candidacy for the First District Senate seat currently held by Pyle, a Hiawatha Republican who has held the position since 2005. Pyle has announced plans to seek re-election to the Senate seat.

The district covers Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Jackson and Nemaha counties, and parts of Marshall and Pottawatomie counties.

Henry, who is in his 12th two-year Kansas House term and is the ranking minority member of the House Appropriations Committee, said the decision to run for the Senate seat was not taken lightly.

“People across the district, from Doniphan County to Pottawatomie County, have told me that Senator Pyle doesn’t share their values,” Henry said. “People of the First District want someone who values K-12 education, public safety, sound fiscal policies.”

A native of Seneca, Henry has served as executive director of Achievement Services for Northeast Kansas, a non-profit organization that works with developmentally disabled adults, for 38 years.

“One of the largest reasons I serve in the Legislature is to ensure that impoverished, sick, disabled and elderly Kansas citizens have a voice in the lawmaking process,” he said.

His career in public service began in 1986, when he was first elected to serve on the Atchison City Commission. He served on the commission for four years and as Atchison’s mayor for one year.

Henry and his wife Linda are actively involved in St. Joseph Catholic Church in Atchison, where Jerry is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He and Linda have three children and six grandchildren.

In his last House of Representatives election, Henry was endorsed by Kansans for Life, Kansas Farm Bureau, the Kansas chapter of the National Education Association, Kansas Livestock Association, the AFL-CIO and Kansas Contractors Association, it was reported.

Henry is not the only Democrat who plans to run against Pyle, as Hoyt resident Lauren Van Wagoner has announced a similar plan. A representative of the Kansas Secretary of State’s office said that as of Monday, only Van Wagoner had officially filed for election to the Senate seat.

The candidate filing deadline is June 1, it was reported. The primary election will be held Aug. 2, followed by the general election on Nov. 8.

The Holton Recorder

109 W. Fourth St.
Holton, KS 66436
Phone: 785-364-3141
 

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