INDEPENDENCE — (July 20, 2009) – Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt today took the first step toward becoming a candidate for Secretary of State in 2010 by appointing a Wichita business leader as treasurer.

Schmidt appointed Gary C. Allerheiligen, C.P.A., of Wichita, as campaign treasurer. A partner with the international accounting firm Grant Thornton L.L.P., Allerheiligen provides tax and business advice to his clients. He is former chairman of the board of the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce and is president-elect of the Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Schmidt, 41, has served in the Kansas Senate since 2001 and as the Republican majority leader since 2005.  He previously served as counsel to Kansas Governor Bill Graves, as an assistant Kansas attorney general, as legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum,, and as counsel to U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel. Schmidt is a fifth generation Kansan.

Schmidt said he looks forward to continuing his conversations with Kansans about what the state needs in its next Secretary of State and will make a formal announcement about his candidacy later this year.