Republicans have elected State Rep. Peggy Mast of Emporia to a leadership position in Kansas House of Representatives.
State Sen. Jim Barnett of Emporia was elected to the Kansas Senate’s Organization, Calendar and Rules committee.
Mast was chosen assistant majority leader by the largest margin recorded in a day of balloting for state House and Senate leaders.
She defeated her opponent, Mario Goico of Wichita, by a 45-31 vote.
The Kansas government Web site lists Mast as vice chairman of Health and Human Services and the Social Services Budget committees and a member of the Energy and Utilities committee. She also serves on the Joint Committee on Legislative Post Audit.
Other elections for party leadership positions brought the following results:
House Republican leaders:
Rep. Mike O’Neal of Hutchinson defeated Rep. Melvin Neufeld of Ingalls to become speaker of the Kansas House. Neufeld had sought a second two-year term as speaker, but lost on a 41-36 vote.
Other Republican leaders elected are Arlen Siegfreid of Olathe, speaker pro tem; Ray Merrick of Stilwell, majority leader; Rob Olson of Olathe, majority whip; and Virgil Peck of Tyro, caucus chairman.
House Democrat leaders:
Paul Davis of Lawrence, minority leader; Jim Ward of Wichita, assistant minority leader; Eber Phelps of Hays, minority whip; Barbara Ballard of Lawrence, caucus chairwoman; Marti Crow of Leavenworth, agenda chairwoman; Cindy Neighbor of Shawnee, policy chairwoman.
Senate Republican leaders:
Steve Morris of Hugoton, president; John Vratil of Leawood, vice president; Derek Schmidt of Independence, majority leader; Vicki Schmidt of Topeka, assistant majority leader; Jean Schodorf of Wichita, majority whip.
Senate Democratic leaders:
Anthony Hensley of Topeka, minority leader; Janice Lee of Kensington, assistant minority leader; Laura Kelly of Topeka, minority whip; and Tom Holland of Baldwin City, caucus and agenda chairman.
In addition to Barnett, Morris and Schmidt, those elected to the Organization, Calendar and Rules committee are Pat Apple of Louisburg, Pete Brungardt of Salina, Carolyn McGinn of Sesdgwick, Ruth Teichman of Stafford, and Dwayne Umbarger, Thayer.