UPDATE: Monday, September 10, 2012

A former Democratic lawmaker seeking to return to the Kansas House is dismissing questions from a tea party leader about whether he lives in the district where he's running.

Former Rep. Tom Sawyer, of Wichita, said Monday the allegations by Kansans for Liberty president Craig Gabel are "crazy."

Sawyer is the Democratic nominee in the 95th House District against freshman Republican incumbent Benny Boman. Sawyer also is a former House minority leader and ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1998.

Gabel says interviews with neighbors and other evidence gathered by the tea party group suggest no one lives at the address Sawyer listed when he filed for office in June.

Sawyer said he's lived there since 1993.

A state board expects to consider Gabel's objection to Sawyer's candidacy this week.

Monday, September 10, 2012

A Wichita tea party group's leader is questioning whether a former Democratic legislator who is running again for the Kansas House lives at the address he claims as his home.

Kansans for Liberty President Craig Gabel is challenging former state Rep. Tom Sawyer's right to run as the Democratic nominee in the 95th House District.

Gabel said Monday that interviews with neighbors suggest that no one lives at the address. Online tax records list Sawyer as the home's owner.

Sawyer did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.

A state board is expected to consider Gabel's challenge later this week.

The seat is held by freshman Republican Rep. Bennie Boman, who's seeking re-election. Sawyer ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1998 and last held the House seat in 2009.