(Updated to include more information about Mastroni’s replacement.)
Republican Party precinct leaders on Thursday night picked Tatum Lee, a self-described strong constitutional conservative, to fill the House seat of the late Leonard Mastroni.
Lee, 40, is the development director of R-Calf USA, which represents U.S. cattle and sheep producers on domestic and international trade and marketing issues.
Recruited for the position by Republican state Rep. Alicia Straub, the Ness City Republican’s family has been ranching since 1885.
Lee only became interested in the seat within about the last week when she was contacted by Straub.
Lee said she helped Straub in her primary win for the state Senate over incumbent Mary Jo Taylor.
“I have a real passion for rural American,” Lee said in an interview. “I have a real passion for farmers and ranchers. We feed the world.
“This district runs off of farming and ranching and oil and gas. If those industries aren’t strong, our rural communities aren’t strong,” she said.
“We have to have a strong voice to get to Topeka to be able to speak for our needs.”
She described herself as a “strong constitutional conservative.”
“I value the writings of the forefathers and the strong framework that they provided,” she said.
Lee added, “The reason I am running is because I value liberty and our liberties are being eroded.”
The party leaders picked Lee over former state Rep. John Ewy and Cameron Bradshaw, who works as a field representative in Congressman Roger Marshall’s campaign for the U.S. Senate.
Shannon Golden, executive director of the state Republican Party, said Lee finished with 40 votes, followed by Ewy with 13 and Bradshaw with 6.
House District 117 covers all or parts of Edwards, Hodgeman, Kiowa, Ness, Finney, Ford,
Pawnee and Rush counties.
Lee will only serve out Mastroni’s current term. Mastroni is still on the ballot after he died on Sept. 30.
If Mastroni is officially declared the winner on Nov. 3, Republican precinct committee leaders will need to meet a second time to pick someone to serve in 2021-22.
If someone mounts and wins a write-in campaign for the seat, however, the second meeting to pick a replacement would not be needed.
Lee is not running a write-in campaign for the seat, but said she would run for the full term if, or when, precinct leaders meets a second time to fill the position.
