By Matt Unruh ~ Great Bend Post

Tom Simpson, a semi-retired family physician from Sterling who works part time in the emergency room at Great Bend Regional Hospital, has announced his candidacy for the Kansas House of Representative 113th District that covers parts of Barton and Reno Counties, and all of Rice County.

Simpson is running for the seat that was filled by Representative Bob Bethell since 1999 until he died in a car accident on May 25th.

Bob Bethell’s wife Lorene Bethell is filling the seat in the 113th District left void by his death and will remain there until the end of the term in January.

Simpson says Lorene Bethell has no interested in running for re-election in the 113th District, and Simpson is the only candidate running for the seat at this time.