Schlapps back Pompeo in race for Tiahrt's seat in Congress

City Council member Sue Schlapp and her son Matt decided not to run but will support Mike Pompeo.

BY BRENT D. WISTROM
The Wichita Eagle

For months, politicos in Kansas' Republican Party have expected a crowded field of contenders for the seat Rep. Todd Tiahrt is leaving.

Monday, two people took their names off the list of potential candidates.

Matt Schlapp, a former political aide to President Bush, and his mother, Wichita City Council member Sue Schlapp, endorsed Mike Pompeo.

Pompeo and state Sen. Dick Kelsey -- both conservative Republicans -- are the only candidates who have filed for the District 4 congressional seat thus far.

The Schlapp endorsements are substantial, said Ken Ciboski, a Republican who is an associate professor of political science at Wichita State University. If Matt Schlapp had run, he could have split the vote with Pompeo.

"I think Mike's the person to beat," he said. "He's got the names, he's going to have the money.... I think he's got an upper hand right now."

But it's still early. The primary is Aug. 3, 2010.

Pompeo probably needs to get his name out more, Ciboski said.

Pompeo, 45, is president of Sentry International, an oilfield and industrial machinery company, and a Republican national committeeman.

The Schlapps decided not to run while on vacation in France in March, Sue Schlapp said.

Matt recently started Cove Strategies in Washington, D.C., which lobbies on behalf of Koch Industries, with his wife. He hopes to bring his young family back to Wichita, Sue said.

Sue said she was also urged to run, but her credentials were outweighed by her son's. And, she added, she has long supported and respected Pompeo.

Pompeo was chair of her most recent council campaign.

Sue said both she and her son plan to remain active in Kansas politics.

Other names that have been floated for the Republican side of the race include state Rep. Steve Brunk, R-Bel Aire; state Sen. Susan Wagle, R-Wichita; state Sen. Carolyn McGinn, R-Sedgwick; state Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence; and Wichita businessman and entrepreneur Wink Hartman.

Reach Brent D. Wistrom at 316-268-6228 or bwistrom@wichitaeagle.com.