Michael Lindsey, a self-described moderate Republican, filed this week to run against Democratic Rep. Barbara Ballard in the 44th district of west Lawrence.

Lindsey, 70, a retired AT&T employee, said he believes a Republican in the Legislature would have more ability to reverse the course of some of Gov. Sam Brownback’s policies.

“Since it’s a Republican-dominated Legislature, it would be better to work through the party in power,” he said. “I’ve been a registered Republican all my life, and my family is strong Republican. I don’t feel that the current GOP represents the party that I belong to, and I refuse to be pushed out by being considered moderate. I call it reasonable. The party has gone too far to the right.”

Ballard was first elected to the Legislature in 1992 and is seeking her 13th term in office. She is currently the ranking Democrat on the Social Services Budget Committee and the KanCare oversight committee. She also serves on the Appropriations and Transportation committees.

Michael Lindsey

The 44th District covers much of Lawrence between Iowa Street and Wakarusa Drive, and between Sixth Street and the southern city limit boundary. It also stretches north of Sixth Street to North 1700 Road, between Iowa Street and Lawrence Avenue.

The district leans heavily Democratic. Paul Davis carried the district with 74 percent of the vote in the 2014 gubernatorial election, and Barack Obama carried it with 63 percent of the vote in 2012.