A former Leavenworth County commission officially filed Thursday for a spot representing a portion of Leavenworth County in the State Senate.
Republican J.C. Tellefson lives in the northern portion of Leavenworth County.
He said in a release that he will be seeking the 3rd District seat in the Senate now held by Democrat Tom Holland. The 3rd District includes most of Leavenworth County aside from the cities of Leavenworth and Lansing, as well as all of Jefferson County and part of Douglas County.
Formerly, Tellefson announced his intention to file by petition. But the state redistricting process meant that he would have had to start that process over should his district change when the final maps are approved. By filing with the state, Tellefson will simply have to fill out new paperwork to remain a valid candidate should the boundaries change, according to a representative of the Kansas Secretary of State’s office.
Tellefson, a retired U.S. Navy commander and former financial counselor and small business owner, said in a release that he hoped to bring some civility to the Kansas Legislature.
“We can no longer afford to take one step forward and two steps back,” Tellefson said. “The level of discord coming out of Topeka is not productive to finding real, lasting solutions. We need to build consensus and find ways to cooperate with each other if we want to move our state forward.”
He said his priorities were fiscal responsibility, economic development and consensus-building. Tellefson stated in a release that the Legislature could do more to “ensure taxpayer dollars are targeted in a way that gives Kansans the greatest return on their investment.” He also said he plans to draw upon previous experience: Both as a small business owner and as a county commissioner from 2007 to 2011.
It was during that time that Tellefson said he helped move forward and finish several projects, including the agreement that paved the way for the addition of 400 new jobs at the Veterans Affairs’ Central Plains Consolidated Patient Account Center in Leavenworth and the completion of the county’s first connection to the Kansas Turnpike at County Road 1.
But Tellefson said he is also hoping to maintain an “open-door” policy for his constituents.
“Kansans are tired of the rhetoric, and ready for results,” Tellefson said. “I am running a positive campaign that is focused on listening to the constituents in my district, and having an open door policy where everyone feels welcome to express their ideas and be a part of determining our state’s future.”
Tellefson was born and raised in Robinson, Kan., graduated from Hiawatha High School in 1971 and from Kansas State University in 1975.
He and his wife Cheryl live in northern Leavenworth County. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.
