Kansas Senator Jeff Longbine has represented the 17th District, which includes the majority of Geary County, since 2010 and plans to seek re-election in 2016.

In an interview with Junction City Post Tuesday Sen. Longbine confirmed his plans to file for re-election.

“It is my full intention to run again, I have not actually filed, I have not put the paperwork in to the Secretary of State’s Office, but it is my intention to run again,” Longbine said.

Currently Longbine Chairs the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee, and is Vice Chair of the 2015 Special Committee on Insurance and the Senate Select Committee on KPERS.

According to the official candidates list on the Secretary of States website no one has filed to run in District 17.

Looking ahead to the 2016 session Longbine has a couple of goals in mind.

“I am very, very concerned about the amount of one time transfers that have been used by the Governor and by the Legislature to balance the budget over the last 12 month period. Those monies will not be available to us again, and I think that leaves a very large structural hole in our budget. I’d like to see that addressed. I’m also very concerned about the amount of money that has been taken from transportation funds, and would very much like to see a plan to restore funding back to transportation at the levels it was intended to be.”

He added that Medicaid expansion is also something that deserves consideration. He hasn’t been able to decide at this point whether he would support its expansion but it is something he feels deserves discussion.

The 2016 session will kick off on Monday, January 11th.