Rep. Bill Wolf will return to Topeka for a third term as Representative of the 112th District, winning his bid for re-election Tuesday with nearly 60 percent of the votes.

In the unofficial election results posted Tuesday night by Barton County Clerk/Election Officer Donna Zimmerman, Republican candidate Wolf received 3,432 votes. Democratic party challenger Christina Stein received 2,307 votes — just over 40 percent — and there were eight write-in votes.

"I found (the race) interesting," Wolf said. "Our age and experience levels are completely different. I have granddaughters her age." Stein is a children’s social worker/substitute teacher in her mid-20s, while Wolf is a retired businessman.

"I don’t have any doubt that her heart’s in the right place," Wolf said of Stein. "It’s good to see a young person take an interest in politics."

Stein said the top issues for constituents of the 112th District were the economy and education. "Going door to door ... definitely the economy has been the major issue," she said.

"I think that I’ve learned a lot from it," Stein said of her bid for office. "I met a lot of interesting people."

Wolf also named the economy as one of the major issues lawmakers will address in 2011. "How are we going to come up with sufficient money (for) the necessary things we have, without increasing taxes? That will be a head scratcher," he said. Dealing with illegal immigration is another major issue.

"It will be different having a Republican (governor) in power," he said. "Hopefully, some of the things we were stalemated on the last four years — we’ll see some of those turn around."