An exclamation point was put on the 2006 Kansas election cycle with the election Monday of Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline as Johnson County district attorney.

With his election at a county Republican Party caucus in Lenexa, Kline will succeed Paul Morrison, the Republican-turned-Democrat who easily defeated him five weeks ago in the race for attorney general on the strength of a 53,000 plurality in Johnson County.

That outcome was on the minds many at the caucus at Lenexa’s Westside Family Church, many of whom cited Kline’s divisive influence within the party and questioned his ability to hold the position for Republicans in two years.

But with 360 of the 640 county precinct positions held by conservatives, Kline had enough to prevail over Steve Howe, a 16-year veteran with the district attorney’s office. Kline won with 316 votes to 291 for Howe.

“I am honored by the faith the party has vested in me as its nominee for attorney general in 2002 and 2006 and by the vote today,” Kline said after his election. “I will continue to passionately focus on the protection of our children and the vulnerable and to ensure the safety of our neighborhoods and communities.