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Gotts Drops Out of KS House 63 Race

By David Meyer and Brian Hagen

09/10/2012

John Gotts (right) pictured with KS Governor Sam Brownback (left) from Gotts' campaign website.

(KAIR)--State Representative Jerry Henry, at this point, will not have a Republican challenger after all.

That comes as Idaho resident John Gotts sends a three page, notarized letter of resignation to the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office.

The Topeka Capital Journal reports that Gotts, already facing a formal objection to his candicacy, submitted the resignation letter Friday afternoon.

Gotts rented an Atchison apartment from James Madden in June when he filed to run as a Republican, but he never spent a night there, according to Madden.

The letter included remarks on Madden, Henry, and the "liberal media."

How does Henry feel now that his opponent has dropped out?(Play Audio)

Henry adds that it doesn’t change his strategy moving forward(Play Audio)

Madden, meanwhile, has said his beef with Gotts is financial rather than political.

He said Gotts is two months behind on his rent and that he leased the apartment to another tenant when it became clear Gotts wasn’t living there.

He also informed the secretary of state in a written objection.

The Capital Journal also reports Gotts and Chumly, a company Gotts owns, are facing two lawsuits in Idaho, one from former employees who say he owes them wages and one from a company that leased him office space.

Brad Bryant, the head of elections for the secretary of state, said he wasn’t sure yet whether the State Objections Board would still have to convene to hear Madden's objection, or whether it was necessary now that Gotts was dropping out.

According to Kansas GOP State Executive Director Clay Barker, if a Republican should choose to run in place of Gotts, the House District Precinct Leaders would meet to elect the replacement. However, no one has yet stated a desire to challenge Henry. The Kansas Secretary of State's office says that would have to be done within a three week window in order to ensure the candidate's name is on the ballot.