LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) _ A state lawmaker from Leavenworth who has been called to active duty in Iraq will be replaced in the Legislature by the man she defeated in the Democratic primary last August.

Democratic precinct officials in Leavenworth County voted 5-1 Monday night to replace state Rep. Melanie Sanders Meier of Leavenworth with Don Navinsky, a former Leavenworth County commissioner from Easton.

Meier, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, had wanted former state Rep. Candy Ruff to replace her until she returns in January 2010.

Navinsky said he would resign the House seat when Meier returns from Iraq. But he wouldn't say if he planned to run against her again in 2010.
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