Topeka ? Now that he’s back from serving in Iraq, former state Rep. Lee Tafanelli wants to serve again in the Kansas House.

“There are a lot of issues that I can hopefully get back to,” said Tafanelli, a Republican from Ozawkie.

Tafanelli was commander of the Kansas-based 891st Engineering Battalion, which had been in Iraq for about a year. The group returned earlier this month.

Before leaving for Iraq, Tafanelli had resigned his legislative seat and was replaced by Joann Flower, a former lawmaker from Oskaloosa. Flower on Thursday announced her resignation.

Republican precinct committeemen and committeewomen will meet soon to elect a replacement for Flower.

“I do believe they will meet in next 10 days, and I will definitely be up for nomination to get that seat back,” Tafanelli said.

Among the issues he is eager to tackle is property tax relief for senior citizens, he said.

Tafanelli said getting re-acclimated to the Legislature will be a challenge, but, he added: “I doubt that any of these challenges are going to be like anything I’ve experienced in the past year. I hope we can be civil in our disagreements and move the state forward.”