A Democrat will challenge incumbent Republican State Representative J.R. Claeys for the 69th District Seat in the Kansas House of Representatives. Gerrett Morris of Salina tells KSAL News that he plans to file to run for the seat.

The 40-year-old Morris graduated from Southeast of Saline High School and Cloud County Community College, before going on to attend Fort Hays State University. For the last 17 years he has been the Horticulture Supervisor at Rolling Hills Zoo.

Morris tells KSAL News that he decided to run because he is “troubled by what has been going on in Topeka.”

Former Saline County Clerk Shirley Jacques is the treasurer for Morris’s campaign. He plans to officially file by petition by the end of the week.

Morris unsuccessfully ran for the seat in 2010.