Retired teacher to challenge Kansas Rep. Jene Vickrey, majority leader

Democrat Christy Levings of Miami County will challenge Rep. Jene Vickrey, a Louisburg Republican and House majority leader, for his seat in the Kansas Legislature.

Levings, a retired elementary school teacher, lost to Vickrey in the 2014 general election.

Levings said in a news release she believes Gov. Sam Brownback and his conservative allies in the Legislature have created a turbulent economic climate in the state.

“I’ve seen first hand the detrimental effects, the policies advanced by Gov. Brownback and Rep. Vickrey. have had on the schools, students, working families and businesses in our district,” Levings said.

Levings and her husband, who is retired from the U.S. Postal Service, raise cattle on a small farm in rural Miami County.

This story was originally published January 6, 2016 at 11:00 AM with the headline "Retired teacher to challenge Kansas Rep. Jene Vickrey, majority leader."