Incumbent Republican Rob Olson from Olathe faces Democrat Steve Wright, also of Olathe, for the 23rd District Senate seat in the Nov. 6 general election.

Wright has served in numerous positions in the Olathe School District, including the human relations council and the 2007 bond committee.

Wright’s website opens with a page that says, “Support our Schools!” And that is what he plans to do, but not the way Gov. Sam Brownback proposes.

“The governor’s plan does nothing but shifts the state’s obligation to funding from the state to the local school districts and counties,” Wright said. “As a result, many schools have closed, quality teachers have been laid off and class sizes have increased.”

He plans on increasing funding for schools in the first 90 days in office if elected. He says he would also develop a statewide economic growth plan and fight to keep property taxes low.

Olson began his first term as a Kansas senator in 2011. He serves on the Commerce Committee as well as the committee on financial institutions and insurance.

He has sponsored a Senate bill that would require clinics to keep written records of all pregnancies that are terminated and submit them to the secretary of health. The bill died in committee.

Olson also supported the Freedom of Right and Conscience Act, which allows medical workers to refuse to participate in abortion procedures or provide abortion-inducing pharmaceuticals.