TOPEKA — Senator Mitch Holmes (R-St. John) said family considerations factored into him “retiring” from the Kansas State Senate’s 33rd District. Holmes withdrew his name for the August primary in the 33rd District.
He served in the Kansas Senate for one term. Holmes defeated Ruth Teichman in the Aug. 7, 2012 Republican primary with 53 percent of the vote. He ran unopposed in the general election. Senator Holmes served in the Kansas House of Representatives for four terms from 2005–2012.
“My wife and I made two lists — ‘Reasons to run again’ and ‘Reasons to not run. Reasons to not run’ was a much longer list,” Holmes said.
Running in the 33rd District August Republican primary are Stafford’s Mary Jo Taylor and Hanston’s Larry Salmans.
The winner will face Ellinwood Democrat Matt Bristow in the November general election.
“There are still a lot of things I’d like to accomplish in the area of ethics reform, but my family’s needs are greater now than in previous years,” Holmes said. “The legislature will get those reforms done with or without me. I’m looking forward to tackling other projects that have been on hold for a long time.”
Holmes was instrumental in correcting the KPERS crisis, moving low-turnout, off-cycle elections to on-cycle elections, and eliminating barriers in the investigative process for the Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services. While in the Senate, Senator Holmes served as the Chair of Ethics and Elections and on the following committees — local government, Agriculture, Public Health and Welfare, and Federal and State Affairs.
Senator Holmes and his wife reside near St. John located in the 33rd Senate District with their family. The 33rd Senate District covers Barton, Edwards, Kiowa, Lane, Ness, Pawnee, Pratt, Rush Scott, Stafford and parts of Hodgeman and Rice counties.