Text about pope is
1st salvo in campaign

It’s more than two months until the Aug. 4 primary, but the race for 70th state legislator is already heating up.

In a text message sent to Republican voters throughout the 70th District, which includes Marion and the northern and eastern halves of the county, candidate Brandon Rein is accusing opponent Greg Wilson of disrespecting the late Pope Francis.

Rein’s message included a screenshot from Facebook in which Wilson, responding to postings about the pope’s death, writes: “He is and was a POS.”

Rein, mayor of Abilene, further criticizes Wilson as being selected July 14 by “a room of insiders” who “picked him in a closed-door precinct vote” that Rein described as “a backroom deal.”

He goes on to say, “43 people decided who represents you in Topeka.”

Rein also was a candidate when Republican precinct committeemen and women selected Wilson to fill Scott Hill’s seat after Hill was appointed in similar fashion to the state senate.

Rein lost to Wilson, chairman of the Dickinson County Republican Party, 43-30.

In addition to parts of Marion County, the district includes most of Dickinson County and a small portion of McPherson County.