Posted on Sat, Sep. 28, 2013

John Carmichael, a local lawyer and state Democratic Party secretary, was unanimously elected by Democratic Party precinct members on Saturday to replace Nile Dillmore, D-Wichita, who announced in August that he would resign his seat in the Kansas House of Representatives.

Three of the four precinct members were present for the vote, which took place at the jury room at the Sedgwick County Courthouse. The fourth couldn’t make it because of a business obligation.

Carmichael, who was unopposed in his bid for the seat, will represent the 92nd District at least until the 2014 election.

“I’m looking forward to carrying on the fine legislative tradition of Nile Dillmore,” Carmichael said Saturday.

Carmichael will not officially begin his term until after Dillmore’s retirement date, which is Sept. 30. Then, he’ll have to be sworn in. The process could take about two weeks, he said.

But he’s already been hearing from constituents about problems in the district, he said.

“I’ve got a steep learning curve ahead of me,” he said. “ I have about 90 days to get ready before I have to be there in January.”

Dillmore, a 13-year veteran of the Legislature, said in August that he wanted the end of his time with the Legislature to coincide with his October retirement from his regular job with a Wichita credit union.

Reach Denise Neil at 316-268-6327 or dneil@wichitaeagle.com. Follow her on Twitter: @deniseneil.

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