Yoder undecided

Rumors continue to circulate about whether Kevin Yoder plans to seek the Republican nomination to challenge 3rd District U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore next November.

Last month Yoder, R-Overland Park and chair of the state’s powerful House Appropriations Committee, said he was one of several Republicans considering a run for the 3rd District. Last week, some Republican insiders said Yoder had decided against seeking the 3rd District nomination.

“I’ve made no formal decision,” Yoder said. “But I have certainly turned my attention to the latest (state) budget shortfall. Right now, I’m focused on trying to fix the state budget and that has caused me to divert my attention from future political office.”

Yoder said he does not have a self-imposed time table to make a decision about a possible run against Moore, D-Lenexa.

“I’m truly focused on the appropriations process, and as we get that more established and we get the answers we need and get a game plan together, then I might turn my attention back to the 3rd District race,” he said.

The main goal is to defeat Moore, Yoder said. He said if a strong Republican candidate emerged to challenge Moore, he would support that candidate even if he felt comfortable the state budget crisis had been solved.

“My goal is about helping put forward the best candidate possible,” he said. “I’ve put my name in the pool as someone who is interested in running, but I think the unifying goal is we want to make sure Dennis Moore doesn’t return to Washington.

“Even if I was satisfied that the appropriations process is taken care of, if we had a good candidate that can win, I’m not interested in dividing the Republican Party. The only issue is whether there is a candidate that steps forward that will stand a good chance of beating the incumbent.”

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