Kansas GOP Picks Ex-U.S. Rep Tiahrt For Key Position

Kansas Republicans have picked former Congressman Todd Tiahrt to fill a key party leadership position, ending a spirited three-person race.

The GOP State Committee voted Saturday to name Tiahrt to the
Republican National Committee. A seat in the state’s three-member
delegation was open because RNC member Mike Pompeo stepped down after winning the 4th Congressional District seat of south-central Kansas.

Tiahrt, who held the 4th District seat for 16 years, will serve the remainder of Pompeo’s term on the RNC, which runs through the
2012 Republican National Convention.

He faced Kris Van Meteren, a longtime Republican activist from
Ozawkie, and Randy Duncan, of Salina, the party’s chairman in the
1st District of western and central Kansas.

Tiahrt received 100 votes to 55 for Van Meteren and 24 for Duncan.