Democrat Jim Ward, weighing run for governor, to announce future plans

Jim Ward, the House Democratic leader who has been weighing a run for governor, says he will announce his future plans on Saturday.

In April, Ward said publicly that he had been approached about running; he said he would decide after the legislative session, which ended in June.

The Wichitan would join former Wichita mayor Carl Brewer and former state representative Josh Svaty in the Democratic race. Kansas Democrats are having their first contested primary for governor since the 1998, when Rep. Tom Sawyer, D-Wichita, ran to block anti-gay minister Fred Phelps from taking the nomination.

Ward, a former Sedgwick County assistant district attorney, was first elected to the House in 2002. He has developed a reputation as an aggressive debater and has been stinging in his condemnation of Gov. Sam Brownback.

A media advisory described Ward’s event as a public announcement. It will take place 11 a.m. at United Association Local 441 Plumbers and Pipefitters at 1330 E. 1^st Street North in Wichita.

This story was originally published August 15, 2017 at 11:48 AM with the headline "Democrat Jim Ward, weighing run for governor, to announce future plans."