From kansascitystar.com:

Ray Merrick, one of the top Republican leaders of the Kansas House, will head to the state Senate to fill an open seat.

Republicans in southern Johnson County on Monday night picked Merrick to fill out the term of state Sen. Jeff Colyer that expires in 2012. Colyer, an Overland Park Republican, represented the 37th Senate District. He resigned this month after being elected lieutenant governor.

Merrick, of Stilwell, served as House Majority Leader for four years. Republican leaders in his House district will appoint a new representative. It will be up to House Republican lawmakers to select a new Majority Leader. The leader is the No. 2 House lawmaker after the Speaker and helps controls the flow of bills, committee assignments and the legislative agenda.

Read the Rest…