ELLINWOOD, Kan–Ellinwood attorney Kent Roth announced in a news release Friday morning he has withdrawn from the race for Congress in the 1st District of Kansas and endorsed a challenger.

“The risk of splitting the opposition vote makes it imperative to present a united front as the incumbent Congressman (Tim Huelskamp) advanced to the General Election in 2010 with less than 35% of the vote.  We should not make that mistake again,” Roth said.

“My goal remains seeing Tim Huelskamp defeated in the August 5 Republican primary election.  Alan LaPolice of Clyde, Kansas is the best person to win this election.  Alan LaPolice and I appeared before a Republican Central Committee open meeting in Salina where I was so impressed with his performance as to post a video of LaPolice on March 12.

” LaPolice is a Gulf War Veteran who earned my respect by his return to his family farm near Clyde, where he is actively engaged in farming after a successful career as a high school administrator in California.  We need to encourage more native born Kansans to return to their hometowns.”

Roth concluded his statement with ” Please vote for Alan LaPolice in the August 5 Republican primary election.”