Former state rep, Maryville resident look to unseat state Rep. Katie Stuart

A former state representative and a Maryville resident have plans to jump into the race for the 112 House District.

Wendy Erhart, a Republican, on Wednesday plans to formally announce her campaign for state representative in the 112th House District.

Former state Rep. Dwight Kay, R-Glen Carbon, on Tuesday confirmed to the Belleville News Democrat he would be running for the seat as well, setting up a contested primary for the Republican nomination in March.

Kay, who served three terms in the state house, said he wants to have four debates before the primary, to see who would move onto the November 2018 general election.

Kay works for Cassens Transport in Edwardsville.

The seat is held by state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, who defeated Kay in 2016.

Erhart voted in the Republican primary election in 2000, 2008, 2010, 2014 and 2016, according to the Madison County Clerk’s Office.

Erhart is a strategic initiatives manager with a local community development lender. She has previously worked for banks, according to her LinkedIn page.

According to Erhart’s campaign, she graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1993. She lives in Maryville with her husband, Doug, and daughter, Katie, and is a board member of the Collinsville Food Pantry.

Erhart served 10 years as a board member with the Southwestern Illinois Leadership Council.

This will be her first campaign for public office.

This story was originally published September 12, 2017 at 12:35 PM with the headline "Former state rep, Maryville resident look to unseat state Rep. Katie Stuart."