Senator Greta Goodwin, D-Winfield, may be the only Democrat filing for the 32nd District Senate seat — which includes Wellington and Sumner County — but she is not the only candidate in the race for what has ben her senate seat since 1997.
    Republicans Steve Abrams, Arkansas City, and George Leach, Mulvane, have also filed to unseat Goodwin.  They will first face-off in the Aug. 5 primary.
    Goodwin has been a critic of gaming measures for Sumner County.
    The 32nd District map covers Sumner and Cowley Counties, and the City of Mulvane which crosses into Sedgwick County.
    Abrams is leaving a 10th district seat on the state Board of Education.   
    Paul Casanova, D-Andover; David Dennis, R-Wichita, and Marty Marshall,  R-Wichita, have each filed to fill Abram’s BOE seat.
    According to reports from Ark City and Winfield media, Abrams is an Arkansas City Republican who has held a seat on the State Board of Education since 1995.  He has chosen not to seek re-election for that position and instead make a run for the Senate.
    Also running on the Republican ticket is George Leach of Mulvane.  Leach, a retired veteran who spent two tours of duty in Vietnam, works as a safety director for Dondlinger and Sons Construction in Wichita, but he will soon retire from that job.
    Abrams, the immediate past chairman of the Kansas State Board of Education, was the center of controversy several years ago when he helped push school science standards that questioned evolution and had the support of intelligent design advocates.
    Abrams has a veterinary practice in Arkansas City. Prior to serving on the state BOE, he served on the USD 470 board in Arkansas City.
    A resident of the 32nd District for 33 years, Leach said he felt it was his turn to serve the public.
    "I am fixing to retire, and I wanted to do something to give back," said Leach. "I think we need a sound, reasonable decision maker to represent our district."
    Responsible government spending and taking care of veterans and the young people serving in the current war are two things Leach said will be his highest priorities.